1 EDGE rusher Bengals can target in each round of 2022 NFL Draft

Round 2 – Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina

Height – 6’4″

Weight – 258

South Carolina edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare led the Gamecocks in sacks for the last two seasons. That said, he only registered 4.5 last year. On tape, he lacks the explosion that you would seek from a Day 1 edge rusher hence why he may last until pick 63.

In terms of the Bengals, he should have some appeal. He fits their model for the defensive end position. He has plenty of length, with his 34.75-inch arms and interestingly bulked up from 258 pounds to 271 pounds between the combine and his pro day.

That could be a sign that he is seeking to improve his sturdiness in the run game where he recorded an underwhelming grade of 68.1, according to Pro Football Focus. He would start life as a rotational end but probably not on obvious passing downs given his lack of suddenness.

Round 3 – Myjai Sanders, Cincinnati

Height – 6’5″

Weight – 247

The Bengals could find the answer to their edge needs close to home. Myjai Sanders has long been considered one of the best pass rushers in this class. Once the darling of ‘way too early’ mock drafts, Sanders stock has taken a bit of a hit. Now solidly considered a middle-round prospect, he could represent great value late on Day 2.

It was a shock to see Sanders measure in at 228 pounds during the combine in Indianapolis, however, it was later revealed he was battling illness for the week. Even at 247 pounds, Sanders is skinny-framed and that can lead to him being bullied at the point of contact. It would give NFL teams some concern about his ability to set the edge at the next level.

With a prospect like that, you would want to see stellar pass rush production and Sanders’ 2.5 sacks in 2021 are a further concern. Undoubtedly, Sanders was the focus for opposing offenses who prioritized neutralizing the threat he posed.

Sanders’ twitch and bend are his key strengths and he has the ability to beat tackles around their outside shoulder. That will always give him opportunities at the next level and a chance to see action on obvious passing downs from Day 1.