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

Bengals round 7

The Bengals have arguably the best trio of receivers in the NFL right now, but beyond them, there is little to be excited about. While adding a receiver isn’t a requirement, getting a smaller, shiftier option that can win horizontally and in the slot on gadget plays could help a dynamic offense be even better. Enter Stanley Berryhill out of Arizona State, as he is an undersized weapon in the passing game.

Berryhill enters the league as a very limited prospect. He was great in college due to his ability to win in space and with the ball in his hands, but he lacks finesse as a route runner overall. Early on he will be limited to deep routes and trick plays to get the ball in his hands, but if he can take a few steps forward with his routes, he can easily be a rotational X or slot receiver. While this isn’t a huge need, adding a capable reserve receiver makes sense for Cincinnati.

Rounding out the draft is an edge prospect that should fill in well as a reserve along the Bengals 4-3 front. Trajan Jeffcoat is a densely built pass rusher that can set the edge and use his power to make plays. He was a great run defender while at Missouri and while his pass rush is raw, he has all of the tools to develop into a capable reserve.

Jeffcoat does have some questions regarding his departure from the team in 2019. Those questions, along with just how raw his pass rush base skills are, will make him a late-round pick in this draft. That said, he can see work early as a situational run defender while his pass rush is worked on. He isn’t anything more than depth, but he fits with what the Bengals want out of their front.

The Bengals surprised almost everyone this past season, and now expectations will be sky-high for the team in 2022. That said, they have a lot of work that will need to be done if they want to remain competitive. A major part of that is nailing the upcoming draft, as there is a slew of needs that this team will have to fill.