With the Cincinnati Bengals‘ fifth-round pick at No. 166 (they traded up from 174), they selected Tycen Anderson of Toledo, now giving them two safeties in the 2022 NFL Draft. They took Daxton Hill with their first-round pick and now added Anderson in the fifth round.
The immediate thought here revolves around Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell, both of whom will be free agents this time next year. Bates is slated to play on the franchise tag and Bell’s contract is up after this year. Are the Bengals preparing for a life without both of those guys?
Anderson is yet another versatile player now on the Bengals’ roster, which is something the organization is clearly putting a major emphasis on this year. They’re also adding fast guys, as Anderson ran a speedy 4.36 40 at the combine.
The Bengals traded up for Toledo S Tycen Anderson, adding another impressive, versatile athlete into the mix.
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) April 30, 2022
He had a really high relative athletic score and ran a 4.36 40. This Bengals defense is getting speed.
Bengals draft Tycen Anderson in the fifth round
Lou Anarumo mentioned that he was very intrigued by Anderson and was happy to see the team move up to make sure he remained in the state of Ohio. Anderson spent his collegiate career at Toledo, racking up 44 tackles, two defended passes, and a sack through 10 games last year.
Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo on Tycen Anderson: "He was very intriguing to me." Anarumo cited the measurables, said the team did a good job of moving up to get him.
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) April 30, 2022
Trading up to nab Anderson now marks two times that the Bengals moved up in this draft. As Jay Morrison of The Athletic noted, the last time Cincinnati did this was in 2019. Those moves didn’t pan out but this is a whole different team now.
The last time the #Bengals traded up twice in the same draft was 2019. Those moves netted them Michael Jordan and Ryan Finley.
— Jay Morrison (@JayMorrisonATH) April 30, 2022
I apologize for that trip down memory lane.
The Draft Network had this to say about Tycen Anderson:
"I’m not sure what the ceiling is for Anderson with marginal ball production (two career interceptions and none since 2018), but his pursuit skills are going to shine on the second level and he could potentially fulfill a more frequent snap role if he sustains his burst and explosiveness with some added weight to accommodate the wear and tear of playing in traffic."
The Draft Network has Anderson’s ideal role as more of a linebacker while also helping out on special teams.
PFF tweeted that he allowed just 233 yards, which was the lowest among MAC cornerbacks. Obviously the NFL is a whole different ball game but he clearly shined bright during his days with the Rockets.
The Cincinnati Bengals pick Toledo CB Tycen Anderson at No. 166 overall.
— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 30, 2022
233 yards allowed (lowest among MAC CBs with a minimum 200 coverage snaps) 🔒 pic.twitter.com/ejeX0FsrQM
Cincinnati has made defensive versatility and speed a priority with their picks so far and it’s showing.
"3 positions the Bengals should target on Day 3 of 2022 NFL Draft"
What do you think of this pick Bengals fans?