Round 2
With their second pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select Dontay Corleone, a defensive tackle out of the University of Cincinnati.
The Bengals will not have to travel far to find their next interior defensive lineman. The Colerain High School turn University of Cincinnati Bearcat gets to stay home for the beginning of his NFL career.
Already one of the best run stoppers in college football, @GoBearcatsFB defensive tackle Dontay Corleone (@dontaycorleone) is a load to handle at the POA. 6-2, 320 pounds with impressive core strength and physicality. pic.twitter.com/aYFVYAo5EC
— Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft) November 24, 2022
This pick is necessitated by the potential oils of DJ Reader in free agency. The present starting defensive tackle is entering the last year of his contract. There has not been much discussion about an extension for Reader just yet and with the potential extensions for Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins, and Ja’Marr Chase on the way, a new contract for Reader may not come.
Enter Corleone. The Bearcats' d-tackle finished the 2022 season with three sacks, 11 QB hurries, 5.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and 45 total tackles. At one point, he and teammate Ivan Pace Jr. were the highest-graded defenders in the nation according to Pro Football Focus.
Highest-graded defenders in the country:
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 7, 2022
🥇 Dontay Corleone (DI, Cincinnati) - 93.9
🥈 Ivan Pace Jr. (LB, Cincinnati) - 93.1
If this holds, it’d be the first time ever one school had both of the top-two 🤯@GoBearcatsFB pic.twitter.com/61NI6QLOSz
Currently, “The Godfather” ranks 59th overall in PFF’s 2024 draft rankings. With his obvious connections to the Queen City and Reader’s expiring contract, expect a lot of buzz for the Bengals to be in play for Corleone and could be an offer that Bengals fans happily can’t refuse.
Is there a term for the opposite of an OL pancaking a defender? If so, Dontay Corleone did it on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/pqGWJwFGLb
— Tim Adams (@timpadams1) September 27, 2022
With the 2023 NFL Draft in the books, it is never too early to think about what options will be available in next year’s offering.
We love the Bengals 3,000. Who Dey?!