Bengals: 3 players who make trading the first overall pick to Miami a smart move

The Cincinnati Bengals could have the opportunity to close out their first round of the 2020 NFL Draft by making a selection on the defensive side of the football. With their third selection and the 26th pick overall, an EDGE rusher is a great way to round out opening night in Las Vegas.

A.J. Epenesa is 6′-foot-6” and weighs in at 280 pounds. This guy is all power and will make an impact Week 1 of the season for the Bengals. He’s got tremendous length and hands to match. At Iowa, he was a playmaker. He collected 30.5 tackles for a loss, 22 sacks, eight forced fumbles, and deflected seven passes. Most simply put, he’s an interrupter that makes things happen.

He’s also the kind of rushers that will run an opponent ragged. He has an all-out, relentless kind of game that has him playing through every whistle. Additionally, he is solid as a run defender whose tenaciousness will be huge in a division where he will face the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson twice a season. Epenesa sheds blocks extremely well and has shown both efficiency and durability as an every-down type of player.

Without fail, A.J.Epenesa would be a cornerstone kind of selection that fans would love beginning his first day as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Closing Argument

So, would the Cincinnati Bengals be so bold as to step outside of their typical comfort zone and paint with broad strokes in an effort to get better in a significant way? It’s an interesting question and one that isn’t easily answered. Make no mistake, drafting Joe Burrow is significant. That said, Cincinnati isn’t a rookie quarterback away from the playoffs in 2020 or maybe even 2021.

Burrow might be all those things fans are hoping for. It’s also worth noting that the Bengals would likely secure draft picks in 2021 and 2022. If Cincinnati can secure more for a Heisman Trophy winner, and a player reportedly coveted by the Miami Dolphins, then they should get a nice return for such a bold move.

It’s fair to say Burrow stands to make the Bengals better. The trade I suggest would probably make them better than .500 this coming season, and perhaps the most exciting team in not just the AFC North, but in the NFL.