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2020 NFL Draft: Cincinnati Bengals trade-up targets

By Branden Peplowski

Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images /
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STILLWATER, OK – NOVEMBER 30: Defensive back Brendan Radley-Hiles #44 of the Oklahoma Sooners drills quarterback Dru Brown #6 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys after he vaulted to a first down in the third quarter on November 30, 2019 ,at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. OU won 34-16. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK – NOVEMBER 30: Defensive back Brendan Radley-Hiles #44 of the Oklahoma Sooners drills quarterback Dru Brown #6 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys after he vaulted to a first down in the third quarter on November 30, 2019 ,at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. OU won 34-16. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

Bengals select LB Kenneth Murray with the 20th pick in the 2020 NFL draft

The Bengals make a big leap to move up 13 spots and it takes four draft picks to make the move with Jacksonville. Cincinnati is getting the 20th selection in the first-round, while Jacksonville lands two second-rounders, a fourth and a sixth-rounder over the next two draft years.

This is a bold move that gets the Bengals ahead of teams like Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Baltimore to land one of the top linebacker prospects in the 2020 NFL draft. This move makes the Bengals a team looking to make a big splash in Zac Taylor’s second year. A team that won only two games last year wants to add plenty more in 2020.

After taking their franchise quarterback with their first pick, they fill another top need with a player who can start during the 2020 season. Murray is ranked as the third best linebacker and 22nd overall prospect in Daniel Jeremiah’s top 50 rankings. He produced a solid sophomore and junior seasons at Oklahoma having over 100 total tackles each season.

The Bengals do have a young linebacker core that consists of Germaine Pratt and Jordan Evans on the outside. They have a need up the middle where Murray can step in and compete for the starting gig on day one.

The middle linebacker spot is currently filled by Hardy Nickerson who had a poor season in 2019. Backup middle linebacker Josh Bynes has put up some good numbers coming over in free agency from Baltimore. The 10-year veteran can be a role model for the rookie linebacker.

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