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With the 21st pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals have selected Ohio State Buckeyes center Billy Price.
There was no question center was the team’s biggest need coming into the draft, so it’s no surprise Cincinnati took who they viewed as the best available center with their first selection.
Right before the Bengals took Price, the Detroit Lions took Arkansas’ Frank Ragnow. That was also the first time in NFL history that centers have gone back to back in Round 1 of an NFL Draft.
Price, who was once regarded as the top center in this draft, suffered a partially torn pectoral muscle at the combine, which hurt his stock leading up to the draft.
But prior to the draft, Price went to Indianapolis for medical rechecks on his injured pectoral. The recheck went very well, and now, Price’s doctors are saying he will be cleared for NFL training camps in July.
Coming out of high school, Price was actually the Associated Press Division 1 Co-Defensive Player of the Year in Ohio, but he moved to the offensive line during his redshirt freshman season. He began his career at guard, where he started all 15 games (three at left guard, 12 at right) on the national championship-winning Buckeyes team in 2014.
Price earned third-team All-Big Ten honors as a full-time starter at left guard the following year, then earned first-team honors as a right guard as a junior.
Price didn’t move to center until his senior year, and he was a unanimous All-American, won the Rimington Trophy and was named the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2017. His versatility among interior offensive line positions makes him among the most attractive offensive linemen in this class.
Poll
How do you grade the Bengals’ Round 1 draft selection?
This poll is closed
-
51%
A
(3303 votes) -
35%
B
(2276 votes) -
8%
C
(544 votes) -
2%
D
(151 votes) -
1%
F
(116 votes)
The Bengals’ remaining top draft needs are:
S, LB, DT, OT, OG, CB
Here’s a rundown of every pick the Bengals hold in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Bengals 2018 draft picks
| Round | Pick Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Round | Pick Number | Notes |
| 1 | 21 | From Bills |
| 2 | 54 | From Chiefs |
| 3 | 77 | |
| 3 | 78 | From Chiefs |
| 4 | 112 | |
| 5 | 151 | |
| 5 | 158 | From Bills |
| 5 | 170 | Compensatory |
| 7 | 249 | From Patriots |
| 7 | 252 | Compensatory |
| 7 | 253 | Compensatory |
NFL Draft schedule:
Round 1: 8 p.m. ET, Thursday, April 26: (10 minutes per pick)
Rounds 2-3: 7 p.m. ET, Friday, April 27: (Round 2 - 7 minutes per pick, Round 3 – 5 minutes per pick)
Rounds 4-7: 12 p.m. ET, Saturday, April 28: (Rounds 4-6 – 5 minutes per pick, Round 7 - 4 minutes per pick)
Here’s a link to the full seven-round NFL Draft order and live draft tracker!
What do you think of the Cincinnati Bengals’ Round 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft?