The Bengals' approach that explains their draft
I was not pleased with what the Bengals had done in the draft on Friday night. There wasn’t a single pick I was happy about at the time. For almost every pick I could name a guy at the same position that was still available that I thought was a better prospect (which will be my next article).
The Last Five Buckeyes To Be Drafted By The Cincinnati Bengals
Just like the Cleveland Browns, the Cincinnati Bengals used their first round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft to select a former Buckeye in Billy Price. The Bengals took it one step further in selecting Sam Hubbard with their third round pick. Also much like the Browns, the Bengals haven't drafted many former Buckeyes in recent history and when they have, the success rate hasn't been all that high.
Darius Phillips: The ballhawk the Bengals need
The Cincinnati Bengals added a tremendous amount of versatility with their fifth-round compensatory pick by selecting Western Michigan cornerback Darius Phillips. Having an opportunity to play for three Division 1 colleges coming out of high school, he settled with Western Michigan after Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone left to become head coach of the Buffalo Bills. Looking at all of the day three selections by the Bengals, Phillips was my favorite. Cincinnati has been looking to add ballhawks to their secondary, and that’s exactly what they got.
Bengals didn’t draft more offensive linemen due to trust in names already on the roster
The Cincinnati Bengals shocked observers by only using two of their 11 picks in the 2018 NFL draft on offensive linemen. One of those happened in the seventh round. Two reasons stick out. For one, Marvin Lewis and the Bengals didn’t want to go away from their board to simply fill a need, as he told the media after the draft
Cincinnati Bengals 2018 NFL Draft: Duke Tobin talks trades, picks
This past week, Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin took time to sit down for a live edition of the Bengals Beat Podcast at Fifty West Brewing Company. The hour-long conversation ran from the background of all 11 draft picks to where they found the biggest steal, plus questions about last year’s picks (yes, John Ross) and his best and worst selections of all time.
AFC North Bytes
Baker Mayfield hears Hue Jackson but 'I'm still going to try and win that job'
Try telling a two-time college walk-on who became the Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick that he's going to be the backup this year behind Tyrod Taylor. Then remind everyone that Taylor is definitely the starter and 'that's not going to change' like Jackson did on Friday after the first day of rookie minicamp.
John Harbaugh Praises Lamar Jackson's Accuracy at Ravens Rookie Minicamp
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh likes what he's seen from Lamar Jackson through two days at the team's rookie minicamp. Harbaugh specifically cited Jackson's accuracy as a big positive after seeing the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner throw.
Random Bytes
Matt Miller's Scouting Notebook: How the Draft Really Went Down & What It Means
You watched for three days as 256 players heard their names called and saw their hopes of playing in the NFL realized. You watched as Shaquem Griffin, Jordan Mailata and others became household names. You watched as quarterbacks flew off the board in Round 1 and then disappeared in Round 2.
New York Jets unsure if Teddy Bridgewater will be full participant at OTAs
Overshadowed by prized rookie Sam Darnold, fellow quarterback Teddy Bridgewater continues to work quietly on his NFL comeback. Nearly two years removed from a devastating knee injury, Bridgewater is participating in the New York Jets' offseason program, but his status for the start of OTA practices May 22 remains up in the air.
Herschel Walker Says He Understands Why NFL Teams Won't Sign Colin Kaepernick
Former Dallas Cowboys running back Herschel Walker told TMZ Sports he understands why teams won't hire free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick based on his choice to protest social injustice and racial inequality during the national anthem.