Cincinnati Bengals: Tobin smart to push back on report, keep everything on table

In an offseason where everything is critical for the Cincinnati Bengals, player personnel director Duke Tobin pushes back on an ESPN report and is keeping all options on the tables.

Duke Tobin demonstrated some pre-draft smarts by pushing back on an ESPN report that the Cincinnati Bengals will not be trading the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Tobin, who said it was news to him, didn’t necessarily pour hot water over the fanbase but did demonstrate a willingness to remind everyone that the 2020 NFL Draft is still some time away.

"“I don’t know that any decision has been made for what we’re going to do in April. We’re early in the process,” Tobin said. “We certainly haven’t had any meetings to determine that at this point. Those will be meetings we’ll have as we go through the process.”"

Social media, specifically Bengals social media, has been on fire since the season ended and most especially, since the National Championship. Heisman Trophy winner and likely first overall pick Joe Burrow has essentially been allocated to Cincinnati buy a fan base deserving of a winner. To comment otherwise or suggest the Bengals could anything OTHER than select Burrow is seen almost like sacrilege.

All that aside, rumors that Carolina would love to move up and draft the LSU standout have been amplified by the Carolina Panthers hiring former Tigers OC Joe Brady. Brady, the architect of the most powerful and dynamic offense in all of college football, has provided a unique game of “connect the dots” for Burrow to the Panthers. And while the Bengals have no history of dealing the first pick, it’s intriguing to consider the possibilities, especially with Zac Taylor coaching at the Senior Bowl this week.

For fans who recoil at the thought, Cincinnati could possibly take a pass on Burrow, credit Tobin for talking about the organization taking their time, and evaluating the talent available in the draft. While Burrow is likely if not at the top of their list, Tobin suggesting due diligence should be reassuring. Additionally, for a franchise that has a lot of holes to fill, keeping options open and everything is on the table, should be viewed as a positive by the fans.

2-14 demands the Bengals dot all the “i” and cross all the “t”. If Burrow is as advertised, Cincinnati should absolutely waste zero time in calling his name. Tobin offering a reminder that they have time to make a decision indicates they are more interested in getting it right, than getting caught up in all the hyperbole.