Original Pick- Carl Lawson, Edge, Auburn
Much like the Mixon selection, the Bengals should have no doubts that they made the right choice in picking Carl Lawson.
Lawson, despite his injuries, has been an important piece for the defense. He’s mainly used as a situational pass rusher, where he wins his reps at an extremely high rate. In his first year, he showed just how dominant he can be, acquiring 8.5 sacks. As defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo looks to get his unit back on track, look for him to find ways to utilize Lawson more, allowing him to reach double-digit sacks.
Original Pick- Josh Malone, Wide Receiver, Tennessee
Josh Malone is no longer with the Bengals after failing to meet expectations. The hope was he could step in and fill the void left by Marvin Jones, but he never developed into that pro comparison.
Looking at every player selected between the team’s second and third picks in this round, nobody stands out more than Deatrich Wise. He’s accumulated 11.5 sacks to begin his career and would be a nice addition to the pass rush rotation.
Original Pick- Ryan Glasgow, Defensive Tackle, Michigan
At this point in George Kittle’s career, it doesn’t seem possible that he could actually be available for the Bengals third pick in the fourth round.
Kittle is arguably the best at his position in the entire league. He plays with a tenacity and fire that seems to give his teammates energy to feed off. Earning over 1,000 yards receiving a season ago, he’s a major threat in the passing game. Not to mention, he’s not afraid to put his hand in the dirt and go to work blocking.
Ryan Glasgow hasn’t been a bad player by any stretch, but he’s struggled to stay on the field due to injury.