7 players Bengals could have drafted instead of Jackson Carman

Asante Samuel Jr. was selected by the Chargers one pick after Cincinnati took Carman

The Bengals clearly had high hopes that Trae Waynes would return to action after missing all of 2020 due to an injury. They had also signed Chidobe Awuzie, Eli Apple, and Mike Hilton in free agency, giving them plenty of options at cornerback.

Perhaps that’s why they didn’t go with Asante Samuel Jr. at pick No. 46 but not taking him has been a mistake. The Florida State product has 31 tackles, seven defended passes, and two interceptions through nine starts.

The Bengals didn’t get to face Samuel this past week, as he was out with an injury, but the guy has been rock solid when he is on the field. If Micah Parsons wasn’t running away with the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, Samuel would certainly be in the conversation to win it.

With Samuel, Cincinnati would have had a very good cornerback in their secondary, and considering how lackluster Waynes has been for them this year, that’d have been a welcomed addition.