5 Linebacker prospects the Cincinnati Bengals can target in the 2020 Draft

With so much negativity surrounding the team, many fans are looking at the 2020 draft as a beacon of hope. Here, we look at 5 linebacker prospects the Bengals can target to shore up a unit that has needed help for years.

The Cincinnati Bengals defense has been put in a vulnerable position all year due to their lack of talent and depth in the linebacker room. Often, they only play two linebackers at a time and go with a 5 man front, which makes them easy to game plan against. They’ve been through three defensive coordinators in the last two years but the truth is, they are unlikely to find one who will succeed until they address the unit.

The front office doesn’t seem to prioritize the position as much as other areas. They got lucky, scooping up Vontaze Burfict as an un-drafted free agent. Burfict was able to make the unit respectable until his career went off the rails. Since then, the team has struggled at drafting the position, missing on players like Malik Jefferson. However, there is still hope for last years third rounder, Germaine Pratt, who could develop nicely.

Regardless of Pratt’s development, there is an obvious need to continue to bring in new faces. If the team can find one or two viable starters, it would go a long way in helping them return to contention. Here we look at prospects they could target in the early, middle, and late rounds of the draft.