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In case you forgot, the Cincinnati Bengals are interested in more players than just Joe Burrow at this year’s scouting combine. As it happens, they appear to be interested in one of Burrow’s former teammates.
The Bengals have met with top linebacker prospects Patrick Queen and Troy Dye, per The Draft Network’s Jordan Reid and Malik Wright of The Wrightway Sports Network.
He’s already had formal meetings with the #Bengals and #Chiefs
— Jordan Reid (@JReidNFL) February 27, 2020
Bengals have met with Oregon LB Troy Dye pic.twitter.com/UhoNMZ2Kj2
— Malik Wright (@Wrightreportt) February 27, 2020
Queen is regarded as one of the consensus top-three linebackers in this draft class along with Isaiah Simmons and Kenneth Murray. The Bengals will not have a shot to draft Simmons, who is destined to go somewhere early in the first round, so Queen has become a more realistic option for their second-round pick. With a great combine performance, even Queen may not fall to the Bengals’ 33rd overall pick.
Dye is not likely to crack the top 32 picks but is a solid player in his own right. Both players are assets in coverage and are fluid movers in space. The fact that the Bengals are interested in both bodes well for how they want to build the position group moving forward.
Both Queen and Dye are expected to fully participate in on-field workouts this Saturday, and both should leave Indianapolis happy with the numbers they put up. They’re the kind of linebackers the Bengals desperately need more of.