Wide receiver Tee Higgins is a top priority for the Cincinnati Bengals entering the offseason. Perhaps Priority No. 1. Fixing the defense is 1B. That’s the task facing Duke Tobin and new defensive coordinator Al Golden.
The draft could be a great opportunity for the Bengals to get their defense back and track and, in turn, get their championship hopes back on track. The first (sort of) mock draft from Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic aims to do just that — he considered this his Mock Draft 0.5, rather than 1.0.
The highlight of the mock draft is Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon in the first round at No. 17. The Bengals need help all across the defensive line and Harmon would be an excellent piece for the interior. Harmon had 27 tackles and five sacks for the Big Ten champions last season and is considered one of, if not the most disruptive defensive tackles in this class.
“As (The Athletic draft analyst Dane) Brugler says, ‘there wasn’t a more disruptive defensive tackle in college football this year,’ wrote Dehner. “That sentence should sound like the chorus of angels in the Cincinnati Bengals’ draft room. They desperately need a disruptive interior defender like they need air. Perhaps they take an aggressive approach in free agency, but either way, they’ll be dependent on a premium pick making a difference with last year’s second-rounder Kris Jenkins and third-rounder McKinnley Jackson taking a Year 2 leap.
Harmon plays like an AFC North defensive tackle. He’s not the most physically dominant player on the interior, but he skillfully finds ways to muck up every snap. Immediately plug Harmon into a three-technique rotation with Jenkins and hope he grows into — and beyond — the next BJ Hill.”
Dehner is then able to turn around and take the stud safety out of Notre Dame, Xavier Watts. Safety is also a huge need for the Bengals after miscalculating on Jessie Bates. Watts would be a strong get for a couple of reasons. No. 1, he’s already one of the best safeties in what is a strong class at the position. No. 2, Watts would be reunited with Golden, who was his defensive coordinator at Notre Dame and helped lead the team to a spot in the National Championship.
“Make this 108th out of 2,922 mock drafts that connect Watts to the Bengals. Cincinnati has been trying to solve its safety problem since the moment Jessie Bates walked out the door to Atlanta. Now, Watts’ defensive coordinator in South Bend, Al Golden, is directing the Bengals’ defense. It’s almost too easy.
“Watts is a two-time All-American and one of the most decorated defenders in Notre Dame history. He picked off 13 passes and didn’t allow a touchdown reception over the last two seasons. He’s not going to leave jaws dropped at the combine as an average athlete for the position in the NFL, but his knack for finding the ball, taking the right angles and being in the right place at the right time leap off the film.
The rest of the picks were as follows:
No. 80 – Princely Umanmielen, Edge, Ole Miss
No. 118 – Luke Kandra, OG, Cincinnati
No. 154 – Damien Martinez, RB, Miami
No. 195 – Cody Simon, LB, Ohio State
