With the 2022 NFL Draft a little over two weeks away, draft content is everywhere. The Cincinnati Bengals hold the No. 31 overall pick as well as the No. 63 pick in the second round. Who might be their ideal targets with those selections?
Chad Reuter of NFL.com put together a list of every team’s ideal top two selections and for Cincinnati, he said it was Georgia defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt and Virginia tight end Jelani Woods.
Reuter offered this analysis:
"By shoring up the offensive line in free agency, the Bengals opened up many possibilities for themselves early in the draft. Even if they decide to bring back Larry Ogunjobi (whose failed physical preempted an agreed-to pact with the Bears) on a one-year deal to contribute after recovering from his foot injury, they could use another interior pass rush threat like Wyatt. Their depth is lacking at tight end, as well, after losing C.J. Uzomah to free agency; Woods can serve as a literally big threat (measuring 6-7 and 259 pounds) down the seam and in the red zone for Joe Burrow while also offering strength as a run blocker."
Bengals’ ideal prospects are Devonte Wyatt and Jelani Woods
Opening up the pocketbook and bringing in not one, not two, but THREE offensive linemen to fix the team’s biggest weakness now allows the Bengals to go in another direction come draft weekend.
Wyatt is definitely someone who would make the Bengals a better team. The Georgia defensive tackle appeared in 13 games this past season for the National Champions and recorded 39 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles during that time.
As Reuter mentioned, he could be a nice piece in this defense with or without a Larry Ogunjobi return. Per PFF, Wyatt was the only SEC interior defensive lineman to put up stellar grades in both the pass-rushing and run-defending departments.
Devonte Wyatt: Only SEC Interior DL to post 80+ grades as both a pass rusher AND run defender last season💪 pic.twitter.com/sdNRhqixoi
— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 10, 2022
As for Woods, he’s a red-zone threat and that could be a nice luxury for the Bengals to have, especially with C.J. Uzomah off to the Big Apple for the next chapter of his career. Woods finished his final season at Virginia with eight trips to the end zone while hauling in 44 receptions for 598 yards.
Cincinnati signed Hayden Hurst to replace Uzomah in the short-term but Woods could be a long-term tight end option for the stripes.
“I definitely feel like I can add a similar impact, and even more…I can pretty much do it all and be that guy.”
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) April 5, 2022
Jelani Woods on making a bigger impact than Kyle Pitts in his rookie year.@UVAFootball | @RhettNFL pic.twitter.com/Olgtbbg7mo
The Bengals can add just about anyone in the first round so if Wyatt is there and Cincy goes with him, it’d be hard not to be amped about that.
As far as the second round goes, there should be plenty of talented tight ends available at that point. I’m a big fan of Trey McBride but I’m not sure if he’ll fall to the Bengals at pick 63. Woods is a more realistic prospect for them at that point.
What do you think, Bengals fans? Would you be okay with these two prospects wearing the black and orange stripes in 2022?