2020 NFL Draft: 5 players Bengals could take in Round 1

4. Isaiah Simmons

Taking Simmons with the first-overall pick would make zero sense for the Bengals. However, the idea of trading down a few spots and still coming away with a potential game-changing linebacker should hold some appeal to the decision-makers in Cincinnati.

Admittedly, it would take a massive amount of nerve for the Bengals to make this sort of move. Simmons would need to blossom into one of the best linebackers in NFL history to make him worth passing up a quarterback like Burrow.

Simmons does have that kind of potential if everything goes right for him at the next level. He’s the rare linebacker who’s already shown an ability to rush the passer and cover skill players down the field. Players who possess both qualities are exceedingly rare in today’s NFL.

The only way this move would make sense for the Bengals would be to trade the No. 1 overall pick for an absolute king’s ransom. Then Cincinnati could grab Simmons and circle back around to grab a quarterback with another first round pick they would theoretically acquire. The former Clemson star is going to make a great selection for someone in Round 1, but it will take a lot of movement for that team to be Cincinnati.