2023 Mock Drafts

[texbengal]

Regarding his mock, if Mayer's not there at 28, I don't want a first round TE. There will be a guy there at 60 worth taking.

Then I'd also go OL over RB in Round 2, basically flip rounds 2 and 5.

I like the Reed and Brooks picks.

Right. I think Reed could be really good. I haven't seen Brooks other than the SB but he looked really good there. Musgrave - kind of a projection pick, and like you if Mayer isn't there, I'd go elsewhere/later at TE. Charbonnet - he was at Michigan before transferring. He's a good runner but not sure I'd go round 2 for a RB.

The non-Brooks day 3 guys I'm not really familiar with.

I know from his pod that Dehner was going off of the Dane Brugler rankings, and he seems to really know his isht, so that's something. Still think they need to bolster up front - both lines. You look at the two Super Bowl teams and that's where they made the most hay during the year.

[Bengals1181]

Cincinnati Bengals 2023 Mock Draft

I used the mock draft simulator over at NFL Mock Draft Database to simulate the results with me only picking for the Bengals.
1-28: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

As mentioned earlier, the Bengals have a La’el Collins problem. At best, they will have Collins back after six weeks of the season. You can’t trot out Hakeem Adeniji at right tackle on opening day. Enter Tennessee’s, Darnell Wright. Wright is a fundamentally sound blocker with a nasty streak. He was one of the best offensive tackles at the Senior Bowl. He should be able to immediately step in on the right side and may even make Collins a cap casualty.



I considered corner, edge, defensive line, and tight end here as well. The first three spots were picked clean by the time I came on the clock. I felt that taking
Darnell Washington (TE/Georgia) or Dalton Kincaid (TE/Utah) over Wright wasn’t the right move. The availability of Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer at this spot makes
this decision much different.

2-60: Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State

Since I passed on a tight end in round one I decided to fall back here with a pretty good option. Kraft dealt with injuries this year but has been a stud for one of
the best teams in FCS. Kraft is a quality blocker with soft hands. His athleticism pops on the tape.


Don’t be surprised if any spot on defense that isn’t linebacker is not in play at this spot as well.

3-92: Darius Rush, CB, South Carolina

Rush was one of the standouts at the Senior Bowl with his length and ball skills. His skills shined brightest in the one-on-one drills against the WRs. My gut tells
me Eli Apple will not be back. Rush can fill the 3rd outside corner role initially with Chido Auwuzie and Cam Taylor-Britt on the outside ahead of him. However,
Awuzie is coming off a major injury and is also entering the final year of his deal. Getting another corner in the rotation is key early in this draft.

4-131: Michael Wilson, WR, Stanford

Another standout in Mobile was Michael Wilson. The Cardinal receiver has seen his collegiate production limited by injuries and poor QB play. However, during
Senior Bowl practices, Wilson was able to run by DBs deep and create his own separation. He also showed off a nice vertical on 50/50 balls and a great catch
radius.


The Cincinnati Bengals need a #4 WR immediately with an eye on moving on from Tyler Boyd after the 2023 season.

5-145: Israel Abanikanda, RB, Pittsburgh

Abanikanda was one of the most productive backs in college football this season. He is a low-mileage back with the ability to hit the home run. The Bengals may
be moving on from Joe Mixon and/or Samaje Perine soon. They obviously don’t trust Chris Evans based on his 2022 usage and Trayveon Williams isn’t anything
more than a special teams player. Abanikanda, at worst, can be RB2 next year.

6-206: Brayden Willis, TE, Oklahoma

The Bengals do not have any notable tight ends on the roster entering the offseason. So, I think they need to double up (and add another as a UDFA). Willis is
undersized for a traditional tight end role. However, I expect him to test well athletically and he can add another chess piece for Burrow to move around. Willis

can disguise in-line, play the H-back role, or even line up at fullback if the Bengals want to play around with the I-formation.

7-248: Jason Taylor II, S, Oklahoma State

Taylor was a high-volume tackler for Okie State. After a great week at the NFLPA game, Taylor was called up to the Senior Bowl where he had a solid couple of

days. The Bengals’ depth at safety will take a hit. Especially if they don’t re-sign Vonn Bell (which I expect they will). With a starting duo of Bell and Hill, they
need a 4th safety to go with last year’s 5th-rounder Tycen Anderson.


I wanted to add some depth along the defensive line but unfortunately, the board didn’t fall my way. The Cincinnati Bengals will have to try to get some bargains
in free agency to fill those spots. Or hope they can get some continued growth from Cam Sample, Joseph Ossai, and others. This also applies to offensive line
depth. I also expect them to bring in competition for punter Drue Chrisman and long snapper Cal Adomitis.



https://www.draftcountdown.com/2023-...23-mock-draft/

[gatorclaws]

Regarding his mock, if Mayer's not there at 28, I don't want a first round TE. There will be a guy there at 60 worth taking.

Then I'd also go OL over RB in Round 2, basically flip rounds 2 and 5.

I like the Reed and Brooks picks.

I'm with you, Mayer seems worth a 1st but I'm not feeling the other TE as 1st round talent. Intrigued by Darnell Washington as a blocker but probably more of a trade down selection.

[Bengals1181]

I'm with you, Mayer seems worth a 1st but I'm not feeling the other TE as 1st round talent. Intrigued by Darnell Washington as a blocker but probably more of a trade down selection.

I'm just not convinced how much Washington gives you as a receiver. He's very raw, not overly fast, and I believe dropped 10% of his targets in college.

[gatorclaws]

I'm just not convinced how much Washington gives you as a receiver. He's very raw, not overly fast, and I believe dropped 10% of his targets in college.

No doubt, I just kind of love the idea of a sort of 6th lineman on the field that can also serve as a checkdown. Interested to see his combine scores.

[membengal]

Gross, Paul.

[Bengals1181]

Gross, Paul.

yea, this Tucker Kraft looks more like a 4th or 5th round TE than a 2nd.

[Bengals1181]

29. Cincinnati Bengals

Jahmyr Gibbs RB, Alabama

It’s safe to say that the Bengals have a team that will be AFC contenders for the next decade. But there is clearly another level that they have to reach to consistently knock off the Chiefs. I believe the Bengals make the decision to add more offensive firepower and draft Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs. Drafting Gibbs does not mean moving on from Joe Mixon because Gibbs has such a versatile skill set that he can play on the field with Mixon and be used as a receiver out of the backfield.



61. Cincinnati Bengals

Jordan Battle SAF, Alabama

The Bengals appear to be losing a couple pieces for the secondary, so drafting young talent is a must. Jordan Battle is a versatile back-end defender that can come in and help immediately.

https://thedraftnetwork.com/2023-nfl...per-bowl-path/

[texbengal]

29. Cincinnati Bengals

Jahmyr Gibbs RB, Alabama

It’s safe to say that the Bengals have a team that will be AFC contenders for the next decade. But there is clearly another level that they have to reach to consistently knock off the Chiefs. I believe the Bengals make the decision to add more offensive firepower and draft Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs. Drafting Gibbs does not mean moving on from Joe Mixon because Gibbs has such a versatile skill set that he can play on the field with Mixon and be used as a receiver out of the backfield.



61. Cincinnati Bengals

Jordan Battle SAF, Alabama

The Bengals appear to be losing a couple pieces for the secondary, so drafting young talent is a must. Jordan Battle is a versatile back-end defender that can come in and help immediately.

https://thedraftnetwork.com/2023-nfl...per-bowl-path/

Big fan of Gibbs. Home run hitter.

[Jason_NC]

Maybe if they can’t re-sign Bell, but I think they do.