Cincinnati Bengals: A Look into the 2022 NFL Draft Team Needs
By Tyler Kirk
Cincinnati Bengals Draft Needs:
2. Center
There is a common theme when it comes to the Cincinnati Bengals draft needs. It all starts and ends with their offensive line. This 2022 NFL Draft class is loaded with offensive lineman that can help this Bengals team compete at a high level for years to come. While the Bengals starter at Center, Trey Hopkins, has been playing well in the playoffs, according to Pro Football Focus, Trey Hopkins has an overall grade of 51.4 on the season. This isn’t allowing the Bengals to maximize their full potential on offense.
If the Cincinnati Bengals can add a young talented center early in the 2022 NFL Draft, I think it would be huge for them. If you look at the AFC North and the interior the Bengals have to play it would include, Cameron Hayward, Brandon Williams and Calais Campbell. A center is responsible for a lot of the calls across the offensive line and to help with Burrow in his protection reads at the line.
By adding youth to the position, it will help stabilize what will be a young core for years to come in Cincinnati. When you add talent at center, it will help gel all the other spots on the interior.
3. Tight End
This may come as a big surprise for the Cincinnati Bengals fans reading this article. I think that the Bengals absolutely love C.J. Uzomah who is currently 29 and will be a free agent heading into March.I think that he is the emotional leader of this offense who you can see breaking down every pregame huddle.
My thought process is this: in a draft class where the tight end class is so deep, it makes sense for the Bengals sign C.J. to an extension while also drafting a tight end to groom for the future.
Now if the Bengals decide to not sign Uzomah to an extension, I think this gets more interesting. I think that they could look to draft a tight end early in the 2022 NFL Draft. I would look for them to add a tight end that fits their offensive scheme, which focuses on the tight end stretching the seem vertically. Typically, the tight ends in this type of scheme are usually taller players that are reliable through the air. I would look for that to continue here for the Cincinnati Bengals.