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With a little less than two months away until the NFL draft, no one has a clue what Cincinnati will do in the first round. With needs on both sides of the trenches, as well as linebacker and wide receiver, there's a variety of players who've been mocked to Cincy at pick No. 21.
If the Bengals opt to upgrade their offensive line in the first round of the draft, Ereck Flowers will be a name to watch for. That's who NFL.com's Lance Zierlein has the Bengals taking in his latest mock draft:
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami. The Bengals took Flowers last week and they repeat this week. There is talk that Flowers will be gone by this spot.
Flowers was a part-time starter at right tackle as a true freshman in 2012 before moving to the left side in 2013 and becoming a full-time starter. Some analysts see him as a better fit on the right side, which is probably where he'd play in 2016 if Andre Smith leaves in free agency.
Until then, Cincinnati would probably move the 6-6, 329-pounder to guard if Clint Boling leaves in free agency. That would leave the Bengals without Boling and Mike Pollak, the only guards other than Kevin Zeitler to start last year.
Flowers' NFL.com draft profile has him being compared to 49ers stalwart tackle Anthony Davis:
STRENGTHS Big, athletic frame carrying more than 320 pounds with ease. Ascending mauler in the run game. Bender who is low man off snap and pops hips into block to leverage defender at the point. Combines hips, arm extension and upper-body power to consistently turn his man when base blocking.
WEAKNESSES Pass protection needs plenty of work. Footwork gets sloppy and undisciplined, causing base to narrow. Ducks head into contact and is a leaner in pass pro, creating balance problems. Rarely flat-footed upon initial hand contact. Throws hands rather than firing authoritative punch. Hands ride too high and too wide.
NFL COMPARISON Anthony Davis
BOTTOM LINE: Flowers has the size, feet and talent to be a very good left tackle but he will be a work in progress unless he can eliminate some of the balance issues that could plague him.