Bengals Draft: 6 reasons why Zach Tom is a perfect fit for Cincinnati

Wake Forest’s Zach Tom makes a lot of sense for the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2022 NFL Draft. However, the left tackle is not among conversations surrounding Bengals nation. He should be.

The Cincinnati Bengals will have some tough decisions to make this week. With that, they will have to weigh the needs, values, roster construction, draft depth, and strengths and weaknesses of players. Zach Tom should play a role in the team’s decision-making process.

True Position Versatility

“Position versatility” is an overused phrase for offensive linemen. Teams would be better off striking it from their lexicon rather than using it as a guide to help select offensive linemen.

If you believe that was the choice, position versatility was just one of several reasons the Bengals went with Ja’Marr Chase over Pennei Sewell. However, there are a few who think that was never the option. Perhaps if it were a choice between Chase and a lineman, that lineman would have been the unicorn that is Rashawn Slater.

Why? Position versatility.

Sewell made it very clear that he had no intentions of playing guard in the NFL.

The Chargers slated Slater at left tackle and never looked back. But he would have been a starter no matter where he ended up playing along the offensive line.

Slater went on to earn second-team All-Pro honors last year as a rookie. Also, at what is considered the most important position along the offensive line, left tackle.

Tom is the closest thing to Slater in this year’s draft. Tom started his Demon Deacons career at center. The prevailing thought is that if he can play center and tackle, he should be able to play guard.

Slater played all five positions at while art Northwestern. Moreover, he did so at an elite level.

Tom performed exceptionally as a center and a left tackle.

The term “versatile” given offensive linemen coming out of college often does more harm than good. It is seen as a positive until it isn’t. The truth is that players do not play equally well across the offensive line. Those who do are the exception rather than the rule.

Tom could be an exception.

Overall Performance

According to Pro Football Focus, Slater allowed five pressures over 355 pass-blocking snaps in 2020. In 2021, Tom allowed only eight pressures over 633 pass-blocking snaps.

While playing center, Tom gave up zero sacks, one quarterback hit, and 11 hurries on 555 pass-blocking attempts. That was three years ago.

All of these are excellent number and Tom has even more room to improve. He only played one year at center and only two years at left tackle but, with more experience and good coaching, his potential is to infinity and beyond!

Tom has the athleticism to handle speed rushers and the power to block defensive tackles blocking stunts and twists. He is not what offensive line coach Frank Pollack would call a “glass eater.” However, “glass eater” should not be synonymous with “good.” Tom is an excellent left tackle.

Sometimes, Tom can get pushed back by more powerful rushers who get into his chest. But that is less of a problem from the tackle spot than from the guard or center position. Furthermore, it does not happen to him often.

Highlight Performance

During the draft process last year, a big reason why Slater received so much attention was because of his performance against the 2020 second overall pick, Chase Young.

Tom had a similar experience with an excellent performance against Florida State’s potential first-rounder Jermaine Johnson. Unfortunately for Johnson, he had no answers for Tom when getting after the quarterback.

Jonah Williams

The Bengals have a decision to make on Jonah Williams. Will the team exercise the fifth-year option on the left tackle or not?

While they are deciding on what role Tom would play going forward, having him on the team this year and next could provide them some leverage when it comes to Williams’ contract situation.

At the very least, Tom would be a high-quality backup left tackle, left guard, and center. Best case, Tom could come in and force the team to move Williams to left guard.

If the Bengals decide not to exercise the fifth-year option on Williams, they will need a left tackle in the near future. If that happens, it would be nice to have someone of Tom’s caliber already on the roster, with a year of NFL experience.

Measurables

If you are someone who loves measurables, you will love Tom. He ranked in the 90th percentile in the bench press at the combine, 20-yard shuttle, broad jump, vertical jump, 40-yard dash, and ten-yard split. In addition, he ranked in the 80th percentile in the three-cone drill and the twenty-yard split.

According to MockDraftable, Tom ranks favorably to this year’s first-round tackle prospect, Bernhard Raimann, and you guessed it, Rashawn Slater.

Draft Value

Tom is no longer a hidden gem.

The Wake Forest left tackle has been and continues to be an underrated player in this year’s draft class. However, he has vaulted up Pro Football Focus’ draft board over the last couple of weeks.

PFF had Tom ranked 92nd overall two weeks ago. Today, PFF has him 64th overall. That is a full round higher.

Nevertheless, Tom remains underrated among other draft services. Mock Draft Database has him overall rank at 139. That is way up from 253 two weeks ago. Currently, NFL Draft Buzz All Scouts’ Average Overall Rank is 107, up from 142.

The possibility of selecting Tom in the fourth round is long gone. However, if he is available in the third at 95, he would automatically be one of the biggest “steals” of the draft.

We do not know where Tom will fall in the draft. We also do not know what the Bengals are going to do at 63 or 95, but Tom must be in consideration.

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