Cincinnati Bengals mock draft after first week of 2022 free agency

Round 4: Pick 136 – Isaiah Thomas, EDGE (Oklahoma)

Pass rush hasn’t been a huge need for the Bengals this offseason for a few reasons. First and foremost, the unit improved in 2021 with the addition of Trey Hendrickson. Secondly, Joseph Ossai should be healthy enough to return in 2022 and that’s going to be huge for the pass rushing attack in Cincinnati.

Isaiah Thomas of Oklahoma gives the Bengals a nice rotational player to add to their young pass-rush. Thomas had seven sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss for the Sooners in 2021 and could add a nice “oomph” in Cincinnati’s young and improved defense.

Round 5: Pick 174 – Jack Jones, CB (Arizona State)

Why not go with another cornerback? While Chidobe Awuzie, Mike Hilton, Eli Apple, and Kaiir Elam (drafted in the first round) would be a nice foursome, Jack Jones gives the team another depth piece at corner. He’s honestly a starting-caliber corner that could be had in the fifth round. That’s a hell of a value pick.

Jones won’t be an immediate starter but for a team that needs to make sure their secondary is well-stocked, adding someone with the ability to be a starter down the road, especially in as late as the fifth round, is a smart decision.