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

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 30: A.J. Green #18 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates the game winning touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 30, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

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ANN ARBOR, MI., SEPTEMBER 22: Michigan’s Devin Bush in action during the Wolverines’ 56-10 win over Nebraska in a college football game on September 22, 2018, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, MI. . (Photo by Lon Horwedel/ICON Sportswire) /

2. Devin Bush

The Bengals wisely made the decision to part ways with Vontaze Burfict this offseason but that does leave them with a hole at linebacker. Bush might not represent great value at No. 11, but he’s certainly a player who should project as an immediate starter for the Bengals.

Bush really helped his stock at the Combine by running a 4.43 40-yard dash. He isn’t the biggest or strongest linebacker in this class, but there’s little doubt he can make a lot of plays using his speed. Perhaps more importantly, his tape at Michigan shows the same speed on the field that he flashed on the track in Indianapolis.

In particular, Bush is a guy who projects to be an above average starter on the weak side. Adding him to free agent acquisition Preston Smith would give Cincinnati a really talented linebacking corps.

Again, the only question about Bush is whether or not he’s that much better than the linebackers who might be available to Cincinnati later in the draft. He’s absolutely a first round talent, but he might slip a little on draft day due to the value teams place on linebackers at the moment.

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