5 bold predictions for Cincinnati Bengals in 2020

The Bengals are poised to make Joe Burrow the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Will he be enough to push Cincinnati into the playoffs?

Give the Bengals credit for keeping the top of the draft drama free. Barring a surprise of epic proportions, they’ll take quarterback Joe Burrow with the No. 1 pick. What the selection lacks in suspense it should make up for in quality.

Burrow will supplant Andy Dalton as the team’s starter when Week 1 arrives. He’ll have some bumps in the road early in his NFL career, but he’s going to be very good by the time he gets four or five games under his belt.

The big question the Bengals have to answer is whether or not their defense has the quality required to get this team back into the playoff hunt. Better play in the secondary would be a great place to start.

5. Jessie Bates will make the Pro Bowl

To put it mildly, the Bengals’ options at cornerback are suspect. That means they’ll need great play from the safety position. Bates is a guy who can really help solidify things in Cincinnati’s final third.

The former Wake Forest star has already cemented himself as a solid starter and he’ll just be 22 years old next season. His best football is still in front of him. Projecting him to take a big step forward in 2020 isn’t all that bold.

Having him making the Pro Bowl will require him to cover up his teammates’ weaknesses on a regular basis though. Bates will need to create turnovers to garner national attention. Fortunately for the Bengals, the combination of his athleticism and ability to read the game gives him plenty of chances to steal the ball from the opposition.

Look for him to do enough to make his way into the Pro Bowl.