With the conclusion of Super Bowl LVI and the Cincinnati Bengals unfortunately being on the wrong side of the results, it’s time to ramp up our mock drafts!
I’ve done a few mock drafts for the Bengals so far but this is the first one taking place after the Super Bowl, officially marking the start of the offseason for our stripes.
For this mock, I used The Draft Network‘s mock draft simulator, meaning there were no trades. Cincinnati knows they have to shore up their offensive line and do so in this mock but I also took into account that the team probably adds help in free agency too.
If you haven’t checked it out yet, I did a piece on the three best offensive linemen in free agency and why the Bengals should bring each of them in. Even if they only sign one of these three guys, their o-line will be in much better shape than it currently is.
Let’s dive into this mock draft and see who joins the Bengals!
Round 1: Pick 31 – Zion Johnson, OG (Boston College)
There’s versatility with Zion Johnson out of Boston College. He spent two seasons at left guard and another at left tackle during his college career but the Bengals would likely slot him in at one of their guard spots.
This past season saw Quinton Spain lock down the left guard position but he’s a free agent so there’s a chance he doesn’t return. Even if he does, the Bengals still need a right guard so either Spain could move to right guard or Johnson could play there.
Either way, landing Johnson in the first round would be a good situation for Cincinnati.