Bengals 7-round mock draft: protecting Burrow at all costs

The Bengals came up just short of the Super Bowl last season, so here is an early look at a mock draft to get them back to the big game in 2022.

The Bengals became the Cinderella story of 2021, as they went from a top-five worst team to competing for a Super Bowl over the course of the year. While their efforts came up just short of winning the big game, there is plenty of time to get back to the championship game. A good draft filling their major needs will be key this offseason.

Here is a seven-round mock draft from the Draft Network simulator for the Bengals that can help them get back to the Super Bowl.

Bengals 2022 mock draft round 1

It is no secret that the Bengals are desperate for offensive line help. That was clearly apparent in the Super Bowl, as Joe Burrow was constantly harassed by the Rams defense. While good quarterbacks can overcome good defenses and pass rushes, Burrow had no shot. While a tackle is arguably the bigger of the two needs, at pick 31 in the first round the Bengals can’t get greedy and reach for a tackle.

Instead, they get a fringe first-round talent in Zion Johnson. The versatile Boston College guard can play anywhere along the interior of the line. He is a natural guard and was even seeing some work as a center at the Senior Bowl. He has a nasty mean streak that you crave in an interior guy. He would be an instant boost to this line from day one.

He isn’t a perfect prospect by any means. His biggest concern is size, as he isn’t that big for a guard and thus may struggle at the NFL level. That said, he is a great technician which in turn helps make up for the lack of size that he has. Johnson can be penciled in to start from day one and would be a huge boost for a line that did so bad in 2021.