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As the NFL Draft nears closer and closer, we'll begin to hear "reports" of teams targeting specific players with their first-round pick.
When the 2013 college football season ended, Alabama tackle Cyrus Kouandjio was projected as a top-15 pick. But after it was discovered at the scouting combine he'd had a previous knee issue resulting from a failed surgery, he fell completely out of the first round.
Now that his knee has reportedly checked out with NFL teams, he's being projected to go in the first round again, including the Bengals in this mock from the National Football Post.
The Bengals aren't the only team in need of depth along the offensive line, and the Miami Dolphins could also be looking at Kouandjio in the first round, according to Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post:
Although Notre Dame offensive tackle/guard Zack Martin is a popular choice for the Dolphins among those projecting the NFL draft, a source with knowledge of the situation tells the Palm Beach Post that Miami GM Dennis Hickey prefers Alabama offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio.
Hickey sees Martin as a guard and the Dolphins want to use the 19th overall pick for a right tackle, the source said.
The Dolphins also would consider Michigan tackle Taylor Lewan. But he is likely to be off the board when the Dolphins pick, and they prefer Kouandjio to Virginia tackle Morgan Moses.
Miami might take Kouandjio even if Lewan were available.
"Dennis has got a love for Kouandjio and he should be sitting there for them," the source said.
If Abramson's report is true, that means the Bengals could be on the clock at pick no. 24 with neither Kouandjio or Lewan on the board still.
Assuming that Notre Dame's Zack Martin has also been drafted already, that means there aren't going to be any o-lineman worth spending the 24th pick on.
Virginia's Morgan Moses is a nice tackle prospect, but he's not worth the 24 pick either. It's looking less likely the Bengals will draft an offensive lineman with their first pick.