2019 NFL Draft: 5 players Bengals could take in Round 1

The Bengals need to nail the 2019 NFL Draft to stay relevant in the AFC North. Here are five guys they could pick at No. 11.

As usual, the Bengals are the AFC North team receiving the least media attention this offseason. The Browns have energized fans by acquiring stars, the Steelers are full of drama and the Ravens are rebuilding with Lamar Jackson at the helm. No one seems to be taking about how Zac Taylor’s first year in charge of Cincinnati will go.

In fairness, the Bengals roster isn’t all that exciting. A.J. Green remains one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, but no one is completely sure Andy Dalton is still good enough to get him the ball in the right spots. The questions about this team’s defense might be even more troubling.

Add it all up and it’s clear that the Bengals could go quite a few directions with the No. 11 pick in this year’s draft. Here are five guys Cincinnati will strongly consider taking in the first round.

5. Drew Lock

It’s very unlikely that either Dwayne Haskins or Kyler Murray is going to drop this far in the draft. That means that if the Bengals do want to secure their quarterback of the future, they’ll need to shift their attention to Lock.

For the record, he would be a terrific consolation prize. He isn’t the most NFL ready signal caller in this year’s class, but he’s got big time arm talent. That, combined with above average mobility makes him a really interesting NFL prospect.

In the end, it’s likely that Cincinnati is going to give Dalton a legitimate season to show whether or not he’s still got the skills required to be their starter moving forward. The Bengals may draft a developmental quarterback this season, but it’s unlikely it will be with their first round pick.