
The Bengals seem to be more optimistic about the outlook of their offensive line than most, which is why they don’t address the position until the fifth-round here, selecting Michael Onwenu.
Onwenu certainly has the size the hold his own in the NFL, standing at 6’3″ and weighing 350 pounds. With such a dense frame, he’s easily able to maintain his ground and diffuse bull rushes.
His demeanor matches his strength. Scouts refer to him as a bully, which is a characteristic every team wants in the big men upfront. This competitiveness means he would certainly be able to pave holes for Joe Mixon and company, with his heavy hands, a powerful punch, and determination.
Looking at the big picture for the offensive line, Onwenu could potentially compete for a starting guard spot right away, although it’s never ideal to thrust a rookie into the starting lineup along the offensive trenches.
The team has Michael Jordan, who they’re expecting to take a step in his development and lock down one of the guard spots. Recent free-agent acquisition John Miller played the right guard spot well, but franchises are always looking for upgrades. Onwenu may or may not present that out of the gate, but he does have what it takes to be a good starter with some time under his belt.