6 options at cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2022 NFL Draft

The Cincinnati Bengals hold the 31st overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and they don’t necessarily have any glaring holes. Still, they do have positions that could use depth or potential starters like a cornerback.

Currently, Chidobe Awuzie and Mike Hilton have the starting jobs under control, but some red flags surround the other starting corner, Eli Apple. This could be a spot where the Bengals add someone to compete with Apple for that job in training camp.

Here are six potential options at cornerback for the Bengals to take a look at throughout the three-day draft period.

6. Tariq Woolen (UTSA)

• 22-years-old
• 6’4″, 205 pounds 

Tariq Woolen is a guy who flies under the radar out of UTSA, and he won’t be a first-round pick, but if Cincinnati decides to find cornerback help potentially at the end of the second round or in the third or fourth round, Woolen could be a guy on their radar.

Woolen is a converted wide receiver, so he is still raw at the position, but the upside for him and the pure ability and skill he has makes him an exciting and intriguing prospect in this draft class. He just could be one of the bigger sleepers that turns into a starting level cornerback in the NFL. In addition, he ran a 4.26 40-yard dash which was the second-best of anybody who ran it.

Woolen also had the best vertical jump at the combine. Again, you can look at combine numbers and take it for what’s it worth, but for a young talent like Woolen, who is still developing at the position to see those things gives you a lot of hope in the possibility that working with NFL level coaches could develop him into something special for there defense.

The Roadrunner product would be a very nice addition to Cincinnati and wouldn’t necessarily have to start right away. He could develop with a minimal snap count behind Eli Apple and give him some competition for that number two cornerback role beside Chidobe Awuzie and lead slot corner, Mike Hilton.