Cincinnati Bengals: Projecting rookie roles in 2021
By Kyle Smith
Projecting Cincinnati Bengals Rookie Roles – Jackson Carman (IOL)
Jackson Carman comes to the Bengals to protect their former number one overall pick. This follows three years of protecting the most recent number one overall pick’s blindside at Clemson.
While on the clock with the No. 38 pick, the Bengals found an offer that was too good to pass up and moved back to the No. 46 pick. In doing so, the Bengals passed on Teven Jenkins, Liam Eichenberg, and Walker Little, all of whom were considered better prospects than Carman by several different draft sites.
As the news of Carman’s selection began to break and people began to unravel the Bengals’ plans to utilize him, it started to make more sense. It’s clear that he has the build and the skills to move inside to play right guard, and potentially be the future of the right tackle position.
Jackson Carman should be the day one starter at right guard but if he’s not, Bengals fans shouldn’t panic. This is a guy who has strictly played left tackle throughout his career. Learning a new position isn’t easy and he’s learning a new side to the line as well. Ideally, he performs well in camp and starts against the Vikings in Week one.