Bengals need to seriously consider drafting Braden Fiske after amazing NFL Combine performance
The NFL Scouting Combine is all about checking boxes. Clubs want to evaluate character, medical history, and athleticism testing to match what they see on film. Needless to say, Florida State defensive lineman Braden Fiske confirmed the latter Thursday afternoon in front of the Cincinnati Bengals and 31 other franchises. Fiske blew everyone away with […]
The NFL Scouting Combine is all about checking boxes. Clubs want to evaluate character, medical history, and athleticism testing to match what they see on film.
Needless to say, Florida State defensive lineman Braden Fiske confirmed the latter Thursday afternoon in front of the Cincinnati Bengals and 31 other franchises.
Fiske blew everyone away with a phenomenal all-around testing performance, including a 4.78 40-yard dash, 33.5" vertical jump, and a 4.37 short shuttle after measuring in at 6-4, 292.
Fiske was already an enticing defensive line prospect to begin with, but confirming his elite athleticism makes him a clear target for the pass-rush needy Bengals this April.
Florida State DL Braden Fiske has what the Bengals need
Whether he's a 5-tech, 3-tech, or shaded 4i, Fiske has a role to play for the Bengals' defensive line. Cincinnati should be desperate for any and all pass-rushing juice up the middle to complement Trey Hendrickson and Myles Murphy from the edges.
Relative to his density, Fiske tested above the 80th percentile in terms of both speed and explosion, per analytics guru Jim Cobern. His composite athleticism score puts him above the 90th percentile, per A to Z Sports' Travis May.
There's only so many ways you can say this guy can move. He can move.
Being a premier athlete isn't enough, though. The best NFL players were also extremely productive in college, and not just from a volume standpoint. Fiske put up extremely solid production relative to the defenses he was a part of at both Western Michigan and FSU. Per Cobern's data, his total production score accounting for market share, strength of schedule, and strength of team ended up just shy of the 90th percentile.
For most players with this profile, being selected in the first round becomes inevitable. Fiske's case has a slight drawback to it.
Fiske turned 24 years old this past January after playing college ball for five seasons. He's already in his physical prime, and he hasn't even played a down of NFL football yet.
This is an issue when it comes to long-term outlook. Fiske likely already had one of his best football seasons last year for the Seminoles, which takes away a season he could've produced for the Bengals. By the time his rookie contract expires, he'll be 28 years old. That's how old some players are when they're signing their third NFL contract.
Fiske's age will be the reason why he won't get his name called in the first 32 picks, but anything can happen on draft night. Everything else about his profile should make him a Day 2 pick at the very worst, and that's typically where the Bengals like to add defensive linemen anyways.
Cincinnati needs the explosion and quickness Fiske has right now. The team is expected to use an early draft pick on his position, and he did his best to separate from the rest of his peers. When he turns 27 and is eligible to have his rookie contract extended, the Bengals can have that conversation then.
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