How a dream draft scenario is playing out for the Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are fortunate that they don't have a lot of glaring needs ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. Cincinnati's roster is equipped to compete for a Super Bowl as it is right now. But that won't stop Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin (Cincy's de facto general manager) from trying to bolster […]
The Cincinnati Bengals are fortunate that they don't have a lot of glaring needs ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Cincinnati's roster is equipped to compete for a Super Bowl as it is right now.
But that won't stop Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin (Cincy's de facto general manager) from trying to bolster Cincinnati's roster for the 2023 season and for the future.
One position the Bengals are expected to target in the draft is defensive back.
Cincinnati could use some depth at cornerback — especially with Chidobe Awuzie coming off a torn ACL (Awuzie is also entering the final year of his contract with the Bengals).
The good news for Cincy is that a dream scenario might be playing out for the Bengals in the draft.
South Carolina Gamecocks cornerback Cam Smith was viewed as a consensus first-round pick after the end of the 2022 season, but his draft stock has plummeted in recent weeks.
Some mock drafts have Smith falling to No. 61 overall in the draft, which is a pick below Cincinnati's second-round selection (No. 60 overall).
If Smith is there at No. 60, the Bengals shouldn't hesitate to select him while maniacally laughing at the teams that allowed the former South Carolina standout to fall that far.
Smith isn't a perfect prospect, but he's athletic, confident, and he plays smart football (he never seems to panic). He needs to be a more physical cornerback and cut down on penalties (he got away with some calls at times in college that he might not get away with at the next level). But all of the ingredients are there for Smith to be a starting cornerback in the NFL. And if the Bengals can land him in the second round, they'd basically be adding another first-rounder to their roster.
By the way, Smith was one of the only cornerbacks in the SEC last season that was able somewhat to shut down Tennessee Vols wide receiver Jalin Hyatt. The superstar Tennessee wide receiver, who could be a first-round selection on Thursday night, was limited to six receptions for 65 yards against South Carolina. Hyatt's longest reception was 16 yards.
We'll see if Smith actually falls as far as analysts are predicting. I find it hard to believe that he'll still be there at No. 60, but with some prominent analysts feeling like that will be the case, it's a scenario that Cincinnati should at least be prepared for this weekend.
