Since the hiring of Zac Taylor, the Cincinnati Bengals have coined a new phrase: It’s a new dey. With help from a roster full of star potential, Taylor took the Bengals to their first Super Bowl since 1989. It’s about time they make another significant change in history.
The Bengals have not traded up in the NFL Draft since 1995; that means 26 NFL Drafts have passed without a trade to move up in any round. Sure, they’ve traded down, but it’s about time Cincinnati takes their chances and swing for the fences.
If these prospects are available to trade up for, the Bengals need to make a move.
5. Devin Lloyd
Mark my words, Devin Lloyd can be this year’s Micah Parsons.
Lloyd is an uber-talented, positionally flexible linebacking prospect from Utah. Standing at 6’3″, weighing 237 pounds, he can move around the box like no other player on this Bengals roster.
Speed is a trait setting more and more linebackers apart in this league. I said Lloyd could be a Micah Parsons type player in this league; Parsons ran a 4.39 at his pro day last year. That number blows the Utah linebacker out the roof.
At the combine, Lloyd ran a 4.66; however, he is a prime example of playing faster than the numbers show.
Devin Lloyd is a menace (#0 by the way) here he chases down the ball carrier, shedding a block, and showing the excellent closing speed to make an open field tackle. pic.twitter.com/ynTMcIZQkM
— Ben Glassmire (@BenGlassmireNFL) March 23, 2022
Now, I understand that linebacker is already one of the youngest positions on the Bengals roster; Lloyd is just that good. With Germaine Pratt and Logan Wilson playing at a very solid level, Lloyd would have the ability to come in and be a spark plug as a rookie. Throw him in blitz packages, drop him into coverage, spy opposing quarterbacks, whatever you need him to do, he can do it at a strong level.
The only way I’d feel comfortable with the Bengals trading up for Lloyd is if he somehow falls into the picks 20-24 range. If Nakobe Dean goes before Lloyd, and we see a run on wide receivers, there’s a chance for a move.