Cincinnati Bengals: Senior Bowl allows Zac Taylor a jump start on the draft

After a dismal season, the Cincinnati Bengals will begin to rebuild a faltering organization. Before the NFL Draft, Zac Taylor has an opportunity to see some great talent at the 2020 Senior Bowl.

After finishing the 2019 NFL season 2-14, the Cincinnati Bengals scored both the first overall pick in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft and perhaps equally important to a rebuild, a gig coaching in the Senior Bowl. For head coach Zac Taylor, it’s a unique opportunity to get out in front of draft preparation by seeing potential rookies upfront and in person.

This is, without fail, a critical point for the Bengals franchise. With dwindling attendance, and a history of being asleep at the wheel during free agency and the trade deadline, Cincinnati needs to get the next four-month right.

This is also huge for Taylor. It’s been a disastrous beginning to what many saw as a promising head coaching career. The insight to be gained by being on the field with players who will be available later down the draft board can help reboot the Bengals. If Taylor connects the dots, the payoff could be the catalyst to get out of the AFC North cellar.

Cincinnati has a lot of needs. Beyond quarterback, which should be addressed with their first pick, they will also want to address a bad offensive line, linebacker, defensive backs, and even the receiver position. With A.J. Green a question mark next season and beyond, as well as John Ross being injured more often than healthy, it’s a position needing forward-thinking.

Taylor has an opportunity to address a lot of those needs in Mobile. The Senior Bowl can be a key tool in figuring who might and might not be a fit for the Bengals. Worth considering is how Jon Gruden and the Oakland Raiders used the game last season to find and draft safety John Abrams in the first round. While Cincinnati looks all but set with their first pick, it’s what they can do in later rounds to rebuild a struggling franchise.