3 college offensive linemen the Bengals should keep an eye on next year

Offensive linemen Bengals should keep an eye on: Alex Leatherwood

There was a time it was widely expected that Alex Leatherwood would enter his name into the 2020 NFL draft. If that were the case, there is a chance he could’ve been the Bengals second or third-round pick. Instead, the Alabama tackle opted to return to school for his senior campaign.

It was a smart move for the 6’6, 310-pound pass protection specialist. He cracked the starting lineup for the Crimson Tide as a true sophomore, earning a spot at guard. Then, during his junior year, he kicked back out to tackle, a position he has prototypical size for. He’ll look to absorb all the knowledge he can from Bama’s elite coaching staff to polish his abilities on the outside.

By the time the draft comes around, he’ll have a ton of experience in the SEC to properly prepare him to play in the NFL right away. Plus, he’ll have the previously mentioned versatility on his resume as well.

If the Bengals lay the foundation for the future properly in 2020, Leatherwood could be an ideal pickup for the team to make a playoff push in 2021. He’d be able to come in and start right away at a number of positions if Cincinnati can figure out the other spots along the offensive line.