Draft season never ends. No sooner was this year’s event in the books, than media analysts were predicting how the Cincinnati Bengals would attack the first round in their way-too-early mock drafts.
The Bengals bolstered their defense substantially with five new players selected on that side of the ball. Even so, with contract wrangling and expiring deals, there will be plenty of turnover on the roster a year from now.
Finding rookies who can excel from Day 1 on cheaper contracts will be a necessity with bumper contracts expected for Joe Burrow and his receiving corps in the near future. The next few first-round picks will be pivotal if the Bengals wish to remain relevant in the AFC North.
With that in mind, here is a look at five players who have been earmarked as potential fits come the opening day of the 2023 NFL Draft. They are ranked in order of what we believe to be the best fit.
All stats courtesy of ESPN.com.
All grades courtesy of PFF.
5. Jordan Addison, Wide Receiver, Pittsburgh
Selected by: Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports
Jordan Addison has been the talk of college football this offseason. Last year’s Biletnikoff Award winner, given to the country’s top receiver, announced his intention to transfer away from Pittsburgh. He became the highest-profile player on the open market.
After some shopping around, the initial rumors of a move to USC proved to be right. Meaning Addison will team up with esteemed play-caller and new Head Coach Lincoln Riley, and perhaps more importantly, the talented quarterback Caleb Williams.
It will be difficult for Addison to improve on his numbers from last year. Kenny Pickett’s premier target notched 1649 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns, at an impressive 15.9 yards per reception.
Addison is a smooth route runner and displays excellent speed to beat teams deep. The biggest drawback will be his size. Addison is a lean 6’0″, 175 pounds and has a wiry frame that may need bulking up to survive the rigors of the NFL.
Receiver will be an important position to watch closely for Bengals fans. Tee Higgins will be angling for a mega-deal next offseason, while slot option Tyler Boyd will be in the final year of his contract in 2023. Addison’s experience in the slot and on the outside means he could be considered a long-term replacement for either of those players.
4. Joey Porter Jr, Cornerback, Penn State
Selected by: Zack Patraw of Sports Illustrated
The name will be all too familiar for fans in Cincinnati. There is plenty of history and beef between Bengals fans and former Pittsburgh Steeler Joey Porter, both in his time as a player and also as a coach so it would be quite the sight to see his son line up with stripes on his helmet.
That said, Porter Jr. looks set to be one of the top-rated cornerbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft. He returns for his senior season in State College, having become a full-time starter halfway through his sophomore campaign.
Porter Jr. is long and physical, measuring in at 6’2″, and has lined up almost exclusively on the outside for Penn State. Porter Jr. has the speed to match the top receivers in the Big 10 but as with all bigger cornerbacks, he needs to show he can change direction and backpedal well enough vs NFL wideouts.
The biggest concern will be the 10 penalties he racked up in 2022. Porter is grabby and aggressive and if it is getting called at the college level you can be sure it will be a problem in the pros.
If the Bengals are selecting a round 1 cornerback then one of two things has happened — This year’s second-round selection Cam Taylor-Britt won’t have shown enough for the coaching staff to believe he can hold down an outside corner spot or Chidobe Awuzie has had another standout year meaning keeping him past his current deal becomes unaffordable.
Both are possibilities but fans will hope the Bengals won’t be returning to the secondary on opening night next year.
3. Trenton Simpson, Linebacker, Clemson
Selected by: Seth Trachtman of Yardbarker
Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson has had to wait his turn but 2022 should be the year when he explodes into the public consciousness. Earning comparisons to fellow former Tiger Isaiah Simmons, the 6’3″, 225 pound Simpson has the size and athleticism to be the do-it-all linebacker the NFL values so highly.
Simpson became a starter in his second year and recorded 6.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. That was reflected in his PFF grade of 89.8 in pass rushing. He also improved his coverage ability, allowing a receiving % of 70.4 as opposed to 83.3% in 2020.
Simpson’s versatility would be a real boon in Lou Anarumo’s defense. The coordinator was clearly excited by the options a chess piece like Daxton Hill gives him and he would likely be just as giddy with a weapon like Simpson. He has lined up in the slot, as an overhang, and in a more traditional linebacker role.
As we move more to positionless football it’s easy to imagine Simpson being utilized in blitz packages, dropping into coverage, and generally wreaking havoc. We have seen players like Micah Parsons dominate early in their career with such a role and Simpson has that potential.
Bengals starter Germaine Pratt enters a contract year this year and should the Bengals choose not to renew his deal, a player like Simpson would mesh nicely with the likes of Logan Wilson and Akeem Davis-Gaither.
2. Nolan Smith, Edge Rusher, Georgia
Selected by: Walter Football
Nolan Smith can consider himself one of the unsung heroes of the Georgia Bulldogs National Championship winning side. It’s unusual that a five-star recruit and one that was number one overall in the 2019 class has to play second fiddle to his teammates. Unfortunately, when you are part of one of the most loaded defensive line groups in the history of the sport, you have to bide your time for the spotlight.
He still managed eight tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks but you can expect him to become a bigger part of the pass rush plan in 2022. The departures of Travon Walker, Jordan Davis, and Devonte Wyatt will give Smith chance to shine, and with Jalen Carter still a force on the interior he won’t bear the sole load of getting to the QB.
Smith lacks some of the ideal length and explosion from a top-tier edge talent but has enough in his locker to find himself in consideration at the backend of the first round. One of the biggest plus points he has is his ability to set the edge in the run game, earning a PFF grade of 90.2 vs the run.
For the Bengals, it would be a case of you cannot have too much pass rush. Trey Hendrickson was phenomenal in his first season as a Bengal and Sam Hubbard is a sturdy, reliable edge defender. This year will be key to see what they have in Joseph Ossai and that will shape whether they believe reinforcements are necessary.
If Smith can show more flash on passing downs and the Bengals fail to get the production they want from guys like Cam Sample, Wyatt Hubert, and Ossai then they are likely to look for fresh blood along the defensive front.
1. Michael Mayer, Tight End, Notre Dame
Selected by: Joe Marino of The Draft Network
The Bengals have been continuously linked with a certain Rob Gronkowski over the offseason. Ever since the veteran tight end made complimentary comments about Joe Burrow, coupled with the obvious need at the position, Gronk and the Bengals developed a small amount of buzz.
The chance of it happening, however, remains incredibly low. Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer could offer a similar style of player in next year’s draft. He has been tagged with the moniker ‘Baby Gronk’ throughout his career and it’s clear to see why.
Mayer was Jack Coan’s favorite target, with 71 receptions in 2021. He was second only behind deep threat Kevin Austin in receiving yards, with 840 and 7 touchdowns. Measuring in at 6’5″ and 251 pounds, Mayer is one of the most complete tight end prospects in recent years. A dynamic threat as a receiver as well as a tough blocker, he has top-20 pick written all over him.
This is the pick that makes the most sense for the Bengals considering their current roster. Hayden Hurst will shoulder most of the burden this year, but it is a one-year deal for a player a couple of years removed from high-end production. Drew Sample has underwhelmed and the Bengals could choose to cut him loose.
If the Bengals have another successful year they are unlikely to be in range to snag Mayer. However, should they get the chance he would add another layer to one of the most complete pass-catching groups in the NFL. The thought of Chase, Higgins, Boyd, and Mayer, even if only for one year, is mouth-watering.
Would you want to see any of these prospects with Cincinnati next year?