Bengals select Trevor Penning with No. 31 overall pick in SI mock draft

The Cincinnati Bengals feel destined to take an offensive lineman in the 2022 NFL Draft but then again, we all said the same thing last year. This year feels different though, as their offensive line was a huge reason why they came up short in Super Bowl LVI.

Even just one decent offensive lineman being a part of that unit could have made that game end differently. Now, the Bengals will be thinking about their offensive line every single day until the new season begins.

In Sports Illustrated’s recent mock draft, written by Kevin Hanson, the stripes go with Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning.

Here was what Hanson had to say on why he had Penning landing with Cincinnati:

"Before the 2021 season, the Jaguars and Bengals had similar longshot odds to win Super Bowl LVI. Unlike the Jaguars, the Bengals vastly exceeded all expectations. Counting the playoffs, Joe Burrow was sacked a combined 70 times in 20 games. Yes, Chase was the right decision in the Chase vs. Penei Sewell debate, but improving Burrow’s protection has to be the team’s top priority this offseason. Penning would immediately become an upgrade over right tackle Isaiah Prince, who graded out as PFF’s 82nd of 83 qualified offensive tackles in ’21. I’d expect the Bengals to devote multiple draft picks to address their offensive line woes."

Trevor Penning brings toughness to Bengals OL

According to Drae Harris of The Draft Network, Penning is a starting tackle in the NFL with the ability to play on either side of the line. Harris notes that while Penning has experience on both sides, he prefers him on the right side.

Either way works for Cincinnati because they have the ability to move Jonah Williams out of the left tackle spot. If they prefer Penning on the right side, Williams could stay on the left side. Otherwise, they could flip the two.

Truthfully, if Williams moves out of the left tackle position, it’d be because the team goes after someone like Terron Armstead or even Orlando Brown if he hits the open market.

Penning is someone the Bengals could put right to work and that’s what makes him an appealing name late in the first round. Northern Iowa might not be a draft factory like Alabama is but that makes Penning’s rise to the top of the draft that much more impressive and shows that he’s clearly a special player.

How would you feel about the Bengals drafting Trevor Penning No. 31 overall?