The Cincinnati Bengals currently work through the NFL’s scouting combine process as the calendar turns to March and the rush to the draft begins in earnest.
While free agency will decide much about the draft outlook in the coming weeks, the Bengals have continued to put in work on notable prospects such as Georgia tight end Brock Bowers.
The question, of course, is who might actually be available to the Bengals at No. 18. Some of that hinges on how other teams approach the draft, which includes runs at certain positions on the podium.
In our latest first-round mock, for example, Bowers goes higher than anticipated and a run on the offensive line has the Bengals looking inward at the key spot.
1. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
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Williams is a rare prospect, so there’s no point in debating who the No. 1 pick is, even if the NFL will want to keep things interesting.
2. Washington Commanders: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Is Maye the top pick in a different draft class? Maybe, but either way, he’s a fun fit here with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
3. New England Patriots: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Syndication: USA TODAY
Some might argue Daniels over all other passers, which is fine. He falls a bit here, but lands in a pretty interesting spot with Jerod Mayo.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch
Operation get Kyler Murray more weapons goes over well here, to say the least.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Jim Harbaugh likes to build through the lines — smart, considering nothing matters if Justin Herbert isn’t on the field.
6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Syndication: The Daily Advertiser
Best player available here on the offensive side of the ball for a Giants team that needs a spark.
7. Tennessee Titans: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
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Brian Callahan saw Joe Burrow get hit far too many times to want Will Levis to go through the same thing.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas
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The Falcons desperately need to get better at rushing the passer, so Murphy brings some versatility.
9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
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Chicago follows the Bengals-Burrow-Chase model and goes and gets the No. 1 pick a No. 1 wideout to develop with.
10. New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
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Is the line going to be perfect? Doubtful. Go get Aaron Rodgers a blue-chip safety valve.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
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Danielle Hunter’s future with the team is a question mark and even if it wasn’t, adding a pass-rusher here makes sense.
12. Denver Broncos: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
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Best player available for the Broncos, who if they remain here, probably missed on a trade up for a passer.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Want to win games in the AFC West? Better have many ways to rush the passer, consistently.
14. New Orleans Saints: JC Latham, OL, Alabama
Syndication: Tuscaloosa News
Boring, but the Saints need cheap contracts at premium spots and Latham fits.
15. Indianapolis Colts: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
It’s an arms race in the AFC — on defensive backs trying to keep up with all these quarterbacks.
16. Seattle Seahawks: Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Seattle loads up on more pass-rush, especially with someone like Leonard Williams a free agent.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Trevor Lawrence needs some help after a miserable showing in pass blocking last season.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL, Oregon
Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
So the Bengals probably prefer an offensive tackle with Jonah Williams a free agent. But Jackson Powers-Johnson gives them some instant flexibility, with him able to shift Ted Karras to left guard to push Cordell Volson. Maybe not the most ideal situation, but nothing matters if Joe Burrow isn’t on the field.
19. Los Angeles Rams: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
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Ahkello Witherspoon is a free agent, so it’s time to think about high-upside contracts at the premium spot.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
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Joey Porter Jr. gets a running mate in a division with Burrow and Lamar Jackson.
21. Miami Dolphins: Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
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Another weapon for Tua Tagovailoa as he approaches his own big-money extension.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Jer’Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
The Eagles continue to overhaul the defense in the background with cheaper, younger pass-rushers.
23. Houston Texans: Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
It’s time to protect C.J. Stroud at all costs, which includes spending a big pick right here.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Guyton, OT Oklahoma
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Tyron Smith is a free agent, and the Cowboys could use an upgrade on the right side, too, so it’s hard to go wrong here.
25. Green Bay Packers: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Syndication: The Knoxville News-Sentinel
Green Bay thinks about the future with the best player available here.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
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Mike Evans could be on the way out the door and this pick would make some sense even if he stays.
27. Arizona Cardinals: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
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Now the Cardinals go to the other side of the ball and address a premium position.
28. Buffalo Bills: Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
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Stefon Diggs or not, Gave Davis is probably gone.
29. Detroit Lions: Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
Syndication: Journal-Courier
Detroit had some problems on the back end last year, so this is aimed at fixing the issue.
30. Baltimore Ravens: Payton Wilson, LB, North Carolina State
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
With three linebackers set to be free agents, the Ravens reload.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Graham Barton, OT, Duke
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
The 49ers set eyes on the trenches, nabbing good value in the process.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
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All the talk is about wide receiver, but why not a long-term plan at tight end who might be able to diversify the offense?
