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Stripe Hype

Draft Needs and First-Round Picks for every AFC North team

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May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M) gestures as he walks across the stage after being selected as the number twenty-two overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to the Cleveland Browns at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M) gestures as he walks across the stage after being selected as the number twenty-two overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to the Cleveland Browns at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 9, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) walks off the field after the AFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) walks off the field after the AFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Cincinnati Bengals (12-4)

  • Hold the #24 overall pick
  • Entirely new coaching staff
  • Vontaze Burfict set to serve a three-game suspension to open 2016

Draft Needs

  • LB
  • DB
  • NT

Potential First-Round Picks

  1. Eli Apple – Corner, Ohio State
  2. Jaylon Smith – Linebacker, Notre Dame
  3. Andrew Billings – Nose Tackle, Baylor

After a heartbreaking injury to the team’s franchise quarterback and an even more depressing playoff loss, the Cincinnati Bengals are looking to reload and back up an insanely impressive 2015 season with an even stronger 2016.

More from Stripe Hype

Losing offensive coordinator Hue Jackson to the Cleveland Browns hurt, but losing every position coach on the entire defensive coaching staff was even worse. Marvin Lewis, Paul Guenther and Ken Zampese will be up to their necks in work, trying to create a new offensive scheme and catch up the litany of new coaches on the team’s staff. With no true needs, the Bengals could end up selecting a defensive back, nose tackle or linebacker in the first round. However, if the team sees a best player available at wide receiver or on the interior of the offensive line, it’s possible Cincinnati could make a surprising move.

Next: Numbers don't lie: Andy Dalton is a franchise QB

Several key players are set to hit free agency and plenty of young guys will be ready to step up if players don’t stay, so the Bengals are prepared for dire circumstances. Regardless of what happens in free agency, however, Cincinnati will be trying to preserve its already lengthy Super Bowl window by adding even more depth to what many consider to be the deepest roster in the NFL.

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