2015 NFL Draft: First round winners and losers analyzed
By Daniel
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Loser: Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals didn’t make much of splash in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. They selected offensive tackle Cedric Ogbuehi with the 21st pick overall out of Texas A&M. Drafting an offensive lineman in the first round is never the sexiest pick or the selection that drives fans wild, but it is often times the smartest move. However, I’m not sold that this was the best that the Bengals could have done.
Ogbuehi was once considered one of the best offensive lineman in his class, but then he suffered an unfortunate knee injury in 2014 and has had some minor back problems. He obviously has rehabilitated impressively and the Bengals clearly like him, but it still seems risky to spend a first round pick on a player with a knee injury in his history. That is especially true if the player weighs 306 pounds like Ogbuehi.
Fortunately for Ogbuehi, he won’t be under any pressure to start to Cincinnati right away. Although I think that also points to the fact that offensive lineman wasn’t exactly a desperate need for the Bengals heading into 2014. This team’s strength is its offense and it finished 15th a year ago in total offense, whereas it finished 22nd in total defense.
Not to mention, offensive tackle D.J. Humphries was available for selection at the time of their pick, too. He seemingly has a higher ceiling of potential, but is still a raw prospect. The Bengals must see something incredibly special in Ogbuehi and I honestly hope he proves me wrong.
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