Top prospects left on Day 3 of the NFL Draft

The first 3 Rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft are in the books, but there is still a lot of talent available.

On Day 2 of the draft, the Bengals addressed their biggest need: The offensive line and defensive line. Don’t be surprised if the go back to these positions on Day 3.

One offensive lineman to watch out for is Alabama Crimson Tide guard Deonte Brown. Bama has produced some great offensive linemen, like our own Jonah Williams, in the past and had an excellent offensive line in 2020. His teammates Landon Dickerson and Alex Leatherwood were both seen as potential Round 2 targets for the Bengals, but neither lasted long enough.

Brown, of course, is most famous for being a massive human being, pushing the scales to 350. More importantly, however, he hasn't given up a sack in three years as a regular starter for the Crimson Tide.

On the defensive side of the ball, there are many options up front.

Pittsburgh’s Rashad Weaver ranked 1st in the nation in QB pressures last season. He also has the strength to project as an excellent 5-technique in the Bengals’ 3-4 packages. This is great for a Bengals’ defense that values versatility.

Oregon’s Hamilcar Rashed and Penn State’s Shaka Toney are also skilled pass-rushers who could contribute as rotational pieces of the Bengals’ defensive front.

Without Geno Atkins, the Bengals will need to find a way to generate an interior pass rush in 2021. There are some very intriguing options who will likely come off the board in Round 4 of the draft.

Florida State’s Marvin Wilson plays with incredible leverage for a 6-5 defensive tackle. He was great in 2019, demolishing would-be blockers, but for whatever reason, he took a huge step back in 2020. Wilson has shown the potential to be a top-50 pick, and if he can get back to that, he would obviously be a great value pick. He was also a team captain and showed a knack for blocking field goals.

Jaylen Twyman is another talented defensive tackle from Pittsburgh. He has excellent speed off the ball and great hands. He shows pass-rushing skills using both speed and power moves to get into the backfield.

Speaking of speed, Texas A&M’s Bobby Brown ran a 1.68 10-yard split, showing an incredible burst at 321 pounds. He could be an interesting addition as well.

On Day 3 of the draft, teams can find franchise-defining steals, but it’s also important that they build their team’s depth. That’s why the Bengals traded back in Round 2 and picked up additional picks in Round 4. They need to build depth.

The Bengals could look to add another wide receiver, as that position is talented but thin after Auden Tate as the No. 4 receiver, depending on how confident you are in Mike Thomas. USC’s Amon-Ra St. Brown and Oklahoma State’s Tylan Wallace were seen by some as Round 2 prospects and could bring excellent value now.

The guy who really excites me is Ihmir Smith-Marsette. Not only is he a skilled receiver who could replace Alex Erickson as the backup slot, the Iowa product is also an extraordinary kick and punt returner who could provide a major upgrade to Erickson at those positions.

The Bengals’ lack of depth in the defensive backfield was evident and costly in 2020. Ohio State’s Shaun Wade or LSU’s Kary Vincent Jr. could provide them with a talented and versatile defensive back to build their depth at that position. Both come from programs with storied histories of producing NFL DBs.

Hamsah Nasirildeen is a safety/linebacker in the mold of Vonn Bell who could also be a great addition for the Bengals. He had an excellent career at Florida State and would be a perfect fit for Lou Anarumo’s defense.

I also wouldn’t be shocked to see the Bengals draft a kicker. Miami’s Jose Borregales, Florida’s Evan McPherson, and Memphis’ Riley Patterson all have potential to get drafted.

The draft is far from over, and there are still many intriguing options left on the board. Who do you want to see the Bengals land today? Let us know in the comments section!

And more importantly, enjoy today!