NFL Draft analyst says Lamar Jackson fits with the Bengals in Round 2

When the 2018 NFL Draft kicks off, the Cincinnati Bengals are almost certainly not drafting a quarterback in Round 1.

What about Round 2?

Even that is probably too soon for Cincinnati to spend a pick on a quarterback, but you never know, especially if one of the top quarterback prospects falls into Round 2.

That’s a scenario NFL.com thinks is possible with Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson. They actually listed the Bengals as the best possible fit for Jackson.

BEST FIT: Cincinnati Bengals

I think Jackson will end up landing in the late first or early second round. I could see a team like the Bengals bringing him on board with an early second-round selection. He wouldn’t have to play right away behind Andy Dalton, but he could be used in packages as he develops. -- Daniel Jeremiah

Jackson burst onto the national college football scene in 2016, as he threw for 3,543 yards and 30 touchdowns while adding 1,571 yards on the ground and 21 scores. He won the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award and Associated Press Player of the Year during his record setting season.

As a junior in 2017, Jackson threw for 3,660 yards and 27 touchdowns with 1,601 yards rushing with 18 scores. He third in the Heisman voting and became the first player in college football history to throw for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in two straight seasons,

That led to Jackson forgoing his senior season and entering the 2018 NFL Draft, where he hopes to be a first-round selection. As electrifying of a player as Jackson is, he’s a major work in progress as a pocket passer, so much that there’s some doubt he’ll make it as an NFL quarterback.

Even so, Jackson is absolutely worth using a top-50 pick on, so if he’s on the board in Round 2 when the Bengals are on the clock, they should run to the podium for him.