With their compensatory fifth round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals have selected Utah Utes offensive lineman J.J. Dielman.
Dielman has spent time at both center and tackle, so he has some ability to move around based on where the Bengals need him. Both of those positions are needs for the Bengals with center Russell Bodine entering the final year of his rookie deal and Jake Fisher and Cedric Ogbuehi needing to step up at tackle to solidify their starting roles.
In 2014 Dielman started all 13 games at right tackle and led Utah's offensive line in total plays (852) and cuts (31). In 2015, he was an All-Pac 12 second-team selection after starting all 13 games at right tackle. In 2016, he switched to center, where he started five games before suffering a season-ending injury against California.
The injury he suffered in 2016 was to his foot. It wouldn’t be hard for Dielman to be an upgrade over Bodine and he will likely fight for the starting center role in training camp.
Dielman was expected to be a fifth round pick, so it seems the Bengals got a great value here at the end of the fifth round.
#Bengals might have just found their future starting OC. Dielman is one of the more underrated prospects in this draft class.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) April 29, 2017
Poll
How do you grade the Bengals’ Round 5 pick of J.J. Dielman?
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26%
A
(384 votes) -
42%
B
(604 votes) -
24%
C
(346 votes) -
4%
D
(64 votes) -
2%
F
(32 votes)