2021 NFL Draft: Cincinnati Bengals 7-round mock
Scouting Report. Offensive tackle. player. 56. Pick Analysis. Cincinnati. James Hudson. 102
The Bengals don’t need to leave their own city to find solid value in Round 4. Hudson isn’t ready to help an NFL team right away, but landing him would give Cincinnati an intriguing prospect to add to their offensive line room for years to come.
Hudson lined up primarily as the Bearcats’ left tackle during 2020. He’s got every athletic attribute NFL coaches want to see from an offensive lineman. His size, mobility and strength are all well above-average.
The problem with Hudson is that his technique has a long way to go. He regularly gets caught off balance and doesn’t show much finesse when it comes to using leverage to manipulate blockers. It’s going to be ugly if he’s forced to play early.
The Bengals might be tempted to select a guard capable of playing right away at this spot, but gambling on Hudson’s long-term potential would be the superior value play. Any time a franchise has a legitimate opportunity to land a starting tackle in Round 4 it’s a selection worthy of consideration.