3 prospects the Bengals should target outside of Day 1 in 2022 NFL Draft

The Cincinnati Bengals have nailed the NFL Draft the past two seasons; players from the 2020 and 2021 draft classes played a huge role in making our run to the Super Bowl. It’s easy to point out the success of first-round picks Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, but Cincinnati wouldn’t have found the same success without some of the team’s Day 2 and 3 selections.

In both classes, Cincinnati has found true difference makers outside of the draft’s first day. In 2020, the Bengals took Logan Wilson with the 65th pick. While fans were excited about the pick the moment it was announced, it’s safe to say Wilson has exceeded expectations through his first two seasons.

Cincinnati followed their success by taking Evan McPherson with the 149th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the earliest a kicker had been drafted since 2016. McPherson arguably had one of the greatest seasons a kicker has ever had in the NFL and he did it as a rookie. 

Day 1 picks will win games, but nailing the late-round picks will win championships. If the Bengals can find another gem in the draft, expect the 2022 season to play well into the early months of 2023.