9 hidden-gem prospects Bengals should target on Day 3 of 2022 draft

Seventh Round

Jerreth Sterns, WR (Western Kentucky)

Jerreth Sterns followed his Houston Baptist University teammate, quarterback Bailey Zappe, to Western Kentucky and they did not miss a beat. In his one season with the Hilltoppers, Sterns caught an unbelievable 150 passes for 1,902 yards and 17 touchdowns! My goodness.

Sterns was a significant part of Zappe’s incredible 2021 season, where he threw for 62 touchdowns and almost 6,000 yards while completing nearly 70 percent of his passes. Wow.

While Zappe did not make this list, drafting a backup quarterback in the fourth or fifth round and teaming him up with his college teammate in the seventh would not be a bad move for the Bengals.

Sterns lived behind defenses in the same way that he should live in the minds of NFL scouts. He was also great underneath, working in the middle of the field and off receiver screens and hitches.

Furthermore, he can be a reliable punt returner who should be able to use his run after catch ability in the NFL.

As of now, Mock Draft Database has Sterns ranked 291st. There will be a bidding war for Sterns if he does not get drafted. It would be wise for a team who likes him to spend a seventh-round pick on him.

Tre Williams, EDGE (Arkansas)

Tre Williams will be a bit of a controversial choice. That is because of an off-the-field issue in December. However, the potential is there.

Do not be fooled by the 5.08 40. Willaims plays with incredible strength and suddenness at the snap.

He was so unblockable against Texas A&M that they had to move their best lineman, Kenyon Green, from right guard to left tackle to slow Williams’ onslaught. It did not work.

Williams even caused Mississippi State’s Charles Cross some problems. Cross, a left tackle,  is PFF’s fifth overall ranked player.

Right now, PFF has him as an undrafted free agent and ranks him 346th overall. However, over at Mock Draft Database, Williams is 250th and is going in the seventh round.

If he falls out of the draft, there will be a market for Williams. However, a team might not want to miss out and use a late pick on a guy with some upside.

Williams, a fifth-year senior, finished the season with 28 tackles, six and a half tackles for loss, and six sacks.

The potential is there, but teams may wait until after the draft to attempt to lure him to their squad.

As the great Barbadian enchantress, Rihanna sings, “shine bright like a diamond.” So let’s hope the Bengals can mine the 2022 draft well.

Who Dey?!