5 offensive line draft rumors that will impact the Bengals’ strategy

The NFL Draft is almost here, and with it will come a chance for the Bengals to upgrade their biggest weaknesses.

Many of the team’s biggest weaknesses are along the offensive line, as center, right guard and right tackle are major question marks heading into next season.

Thankfully, there are plenty of quality prospects in this draft who could help fix those issues. However, getting said linemen won’t be easy with a host of NFL teams picking ahead of the Bengals who badly need offensive line help, too.

Many teams picking before 21 could use another lineman, including the Lions, Cowboys, Seahawks, Chargers, Ravens, Cardinals, Packers and Bills. Any of them could easily end up drafting a lineman, so it won’t be a big surprise if the Bengals are on the clock at pick No. 21 and the team’s top three to five offensive line targets have already been drafted.

With that in mind, we’re taking a look at some of the latest rumors percolating around the league in regards to the top lineman in this year’s draft.

Frank Ragnow solidifying Round 1 status

Much of the pre-draft focus for Cincinnati adding a new center has been on Iowa’s James Daniels and Ohio State’s Billy Price. But Price is recovering from a significant pectoral injury, and sources have told Cincy Jungle that the Bengals aren’t as high on Daniels as they are on some of the other center prospects.

Adding to that, Arkansas’ Frank Ragnow has made a strong case to be the first center drafted this year, and if nothing else, he now appears likely to go in Round 1:

Between Ragnow, Price and Daniels, the Bengals should finally make the decision to spend a high pick on a center and fix that position for the foreseeable future.

Lineman frenzy late in Round 1

In the above video, NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero mentions that there could be an offensive lineman frenzy at the bottom of Round 1. That’s important for the Bengals in two ways:

1. It helps reinforce the belief that a lineman will be the pick at 21. Between Daniels, Ragnow, Price, Mike McGlinchey, Connor Williams, Isaiah Wynn, Kolton Miller and Will Hernandez, there’s too many good lineman who are going to be there for the Bengals to not take one of them.
2. It also means that most, if not all of those guys will be off the board by the time the Bengals go back on the clock at pick No. 46 in Round 2. If the Bengals want to assure themselves of landing an instant-impact lineman, they need to get one in the first round.

Right now, I believe the Bengals go center at 21, but don’t be surprised if it’s a guard or tackle either. I do think McGlinchey is off the board by then, but if by some chance he is not, pencil him in as the pick.

Billy Price’s health no longer a concern

Billy Price, who was once regarded as the top center in this draft, is still recovering from a partially torn pectoral muscle suffered at the combine. That is threatening to keep him from being the first center taken and may knock him into Round 2.

Prior to the draft, Price went to Indianapolis for medical rechecks on his injured pectoral. According to SB Nation’s Alexis Chassen, the recheck went very well.

Now, NFL Network is reporting that Price has a real shot at going in Round 1 and his health is no longer a concern:

The Bengals have been keeping tabs on Price, and they’ve already met with him ahead of the draft. He was being touted as the best center in this draft prior to his injury, so if teams think he’s going to be healthy, he may still be No. 1 on the Bengals’ big board.

I believe Price is one of the likeliest picks for the Bengals if he’s there in Round 1. They want a center early, and when healthy, Price has a good case for being the best one in this draft.

If I had to guess right now, I would say the Bengals have Price, Ragnow and Daniels ranked in that order in terms of centers who could be the pick at 21.

Kolton Miller the top tackle

Hey Bengals. Let’s not take another Cedric Ogbuehi-type lineman this year, ok?

Ogbuehi was drafted in Round 1 because of his talent, athleticism and potential to be developed into a quality left tackle. That said, he was nowhere close to reaching said potential when drafted, and he’s never come remotely close to it while in the NFL.

Kolton Miller is a similar prospect this year, in that he’s a talented, raw prospect who has the potential to be developed into a quality NFL tackle. That potential has him getting strong Round 1 interest heading into Thursday, so much that some teams reportedly have him ranked as the best tackle (gasp) in this draft, according to CBS Sports.

Resident NFL lineman guru Geoff Schwartz is not a fan (but who is?):

This would be a terrible pick for the Bengals, who need an instant-impact player in Round 1. They’ve missed on too many developmental prospects in Round 1 recently. They finally need to land a guy who makes an impact in Game 1. Miller simply isn’t that. Miller should not be in the Round 1 conversation for the Bengals.

James Daniels thinks the Bengals are drafting him

So, apparently James Daniels wants everyone to believe the Bengals are picking him at 21:

The Bengals have shown plenty of interest in Daniels, including a pre-draft visit. Still, I do not think this happens unless Price and Ragnow have already been drafted. There’s a chance that happens, but the good thing is Daniels is completely worthy of a first-round selection.

Admittedly, I was pretty high on Daniels being the No. 1 center early in the pre-draft process, but feel Ragnow and Price are higher on the Bengals’ board. So for now, I would not put much stock into what Daniels is telling people, but at the same time, he’d be a solid pick at 21 and a big upgrade at the Bengals’ biggest weakness.