2022 NFL mock draft: Texans pass on QB in QB-heavy predictions
2022 NFL mock draft: 3rd pick
56. Scouting Report. OT. Alabama. Evan Neal. Pick Analysis. 3. player
The Cincinnati Bengals put a bandage over the offensive line for the 2021 season.
They signed veteran offensive tackle Riley Reiff to bookend former first-round pick Jonah Williams. They also used a second-round pick on Clemson’s left tackle Jackson Carman, who is projected to kick inside to guard at the next level.
How things will all shake out remains to be seen, but there is no question that the Cincinnati Bengals have to do whatever it takes to protect Joe Burrow.
They were obviously not overly worried about Burrow getting hurt last year as they didn’t simply throw their top draft asset at the offensive line just for the sake of it. The Bengals went with a weapon in Ja’Marr Chase, and you can understand why they did it.
With that being said, the Bengals’ last two top picks Burrow and Chase will have to swallow their LSU pride and join forces with Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal here.
He has been a starter at guard and tackle for the Crimson Tide, and at 6-foot-7, 360 pounds, he’s a mountain of a man.
Whether the Bengals would be taking Neal here to play left tackle and kick Jonah Williams over to the right, or have him as the replacement for Riley Reiff in 2022 — it doesn’t matter.
I don’t think the Bengals will be bad enough to get this kind of pick, but they would probably love to add Neal.