Bengals reportedly showing interest in player who could be a massive steal in middle rounds
The Cincinnati Bengals made a big addition to their offensive line this offseason by signing Orlando Brown Jr to a four-year deal. Brown will play left tackle for the Bengals after spending the last two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. The addition of Brown is obviously a positive for Cincinnati, but it might mean […]
The Cincinnati Bengals made a big addition to their offensive line this offseason by signing Orlando Brown Jr to a four-year deal.
Brown will play left tackle for the Bengals after spending the last two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The addition of Brown is obviously a positive for Cincinnati, but it might mean saying goodbye to former first-round pick Jonah Williams.
After the Bengals signed Brown, Williams, who started at left tackle for Cincy last season, requested a trade.
Williams will be a free agent after the 2023 season and he likely thinks he'll have a better free agent market if he plays left tackle for a team this season.
It remains to be seen how the Williams situation will play out, but the Bengals are looking for offensive linemen in the draft either way.
One of the offensive linemen that Cincinnati is reportedly showing interest in is BYU offensive tackle Blake Freeland.
According to Pro Football Network, the Bengals attended Freeland's Pro Day recently and put him through a unique workout.
From PFN: Freeland displayed his athleticism during position drills as offensive line coaches from the New York Jets (who privately worked out Luke Wypler and Paris Johnson Jr. during Ohio State’s Pro Day), Cincinnati Bengals, and New Orleans Saints put him through an excruciating workout that was described as unique. Freeland did a lot of drills to simulate pulling across the line of scrimmage and was asked to pick up tennis balls on the way. He’s solidified himself as a top-50 pick for a zone-blocking-heavy offense.
Freeland has been projected as a third or fourth-round pick, but it appears he's climbing draft boards thanks to his strong workouts.
The former BYU standout started at right tackle as a true freshman before moving to left tackle. The Bengals would likely want Freeland at right tackle since Brown will hold down the left tackle spot for the next four seasons.
Cincinnati could target Freeland in the second round (No. 60 overall) if a better option doesn't fall to them in the first round (Tennessee's Darnell Wright would be the ideal selection, but he might not fall to the Bengals).
I'd say it's all but a certainty that Cincinnati will take an offensive tackle in the early rounds. It might not be in the first round, but the Bengals appear poised to add some more protection for quarterback Joe Burrow.