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2020 NFL Draft: Grading and analyzing all 255 picks for all 32 teams

By Sayre Bedinger

UNSPECIFIED LOCATION - APRIL 23: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) In this still image from video provided by the NFL, LSU quarterback Joe Burrow appears in Athens, Ohio during the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft on April 23, 2020. (Photo by NFL via Getty Images)
UNSPECIFIED LOCATION - APRIL 23: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) In this still image from video provided by the NFL, LSU quarterback Joe Burrow appears in Athens, Ohio during the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft on April 23, 2020. (Photo by NFL via Getty Images) /
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2020 NFL Draft, Joe Burrow
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 27: Quarterback Joe Burrow of LSU looks on during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Cincinnati Bengals. . Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. AFC North. Last place. player. 56

2020 NFL Draft Picks

  • 1. QB Joe Burrow, LSU
  • 2. WR Tee Higgins, Clemson
  • 3. LB Logan Wilson, Wyoming
  • 4. LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State
  • 5. EDGE Khalid Kareem, Notre Dame
  • 6. OL Hakeem Adeniji, Kansas
  • 7. LB Markus Bailey, Purdue

Top pick: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

Nobody questioned how the 2020 NFL Draft was going to start. LSU’s Joe Burrow established himself with one of the best seasons from an individual player we have ever seen at the collegiate level.

The Ohio native returns to his home state to take on rejuvenating a franchise that has plenty of talent and weapons, but needs the right catalyst to get everything going.

Steal: Markus Bailey, LB, Purdue — 7th round

If Markus Bailey is healthy, he could wind up being the best of the Bengals’ linebacker picks, and that’s saying something.

When healthy, he does a tremendous job on all three downs, not only playing the run and playing in the trenches but also in coverage. I loved this pick for the Bengals because it completed a trio of linebacker picks that could ultimately prove to be Cincinnati’s starting trio for the foreseeable future.

Overall Grade: A

Joe Burrow headlines the class, but the Bengals did well in all seven rounds and didn’t move off of any of their spots, which is really rare nowadays.

Despite his athletic testing, I like Tee Higgins in the second round and the Bengals have plenty of complementary pieces offensively to get the most out of his skill set.

Logan Wilson and Akeem Davis-Gaither with back-to-back picks in the third and fourth rounds is really fun, and in particular, I think Wilson is going to be an impact player year one that not a lot of people have been talking about.

Khalid Kareem has a chance to factor into the rotation off the edge, and if all goes according to plan, Hakeem Adeniji could be poised for a successful transition to the interior offensive line as a pro where the Bengals need help.

Markus Bailey was a very nice seventh-round selection as a top 100 guy whose injury issues pushed him down boards.

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