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Bold Predictions for the Cincinnati Bengals’ 2020 Draft

By Aaron Burd

IOWA CITY, IOWA - SEPTEMBER 07: Defensive end A.J. Epenesa #94 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates his sack during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on August 31, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA - SEPTEMBER 07: Defensive end A.J. Epenesa #94 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates his sack during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on August 31, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 25: Linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither #26 from Appalachian State of the South Team during the 2020 Resse’s Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 25, 2020 in Mobile, Alabama. The Noth Team defeated the South Team 34 to 17. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 25: Linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither #26 from Appalachian State of the South Team during the 2020 Resse’s Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 25, 2020 in Mobile, Alabama. The Noth Team defeated the South Team 34 to 17. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

The front office will target Senior Bowl players

With the difficulties that have come from the recent COVID-19 outbreak, teams are not able to get as good a look at prospects as they normally would. Having coached the South Team in the Senior Bowl, Zac Taylor and the Bengals have a leg up on 30 other teams. Since they’ve gotten a better look at the Senior Bowl participants than any other prospects, the front office may feel safer selecting players they encountered in Mobile.

Akeem Davis-Gaither is a player who the Bengals’ staff got to coach first hand, as he was on the South Team’s roster. The linebacker from Appalachian State made a name for himself in Mobile and is likely to be a third-round pick in the draft. He’s slightly undersized for a linebacker, but he’s a great athlete who can fly all over the field. He would be a much-needed injection of athleticism to a linebacker corps that has been lacking in it for years.

Marlon Davidson is another prospect who could be high on the Bengals’ board because of the Senior Bowl. He may have only made it through one day of Senior Bowl practices, but in that time he made a name for himself. While the defensive line in Cincinnati is one of their biggest strengths, the Auburn lineman would fit well into an already loaded unit.

The North Team may have been coached by the Detroit Lions’ staff, but the Bengals’ also got a good look at their players as well. Zack Baun, Josh Jones, and Denzel Mims are just a few of the players from the opposing team who could have piqued the coaching staff’s interest.

Familiarity with prospects is harder to find in this draft than ever before, expect the Bengals to lean on the prospects they do have familiarity with.