The Cincinnati Bengals drafted six new players over the weekend. Starting with the No. 31 overall pick on Day 1, the Bengals targeted defense in this draft class. Five of their six picks are defensive players and that's a result of the moves the team made in free agency.
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For the most part, the draft grades by various publications are positive. Cincinnati went into draft weekend without many holes to fill on its roster. Bengals director of personnel Duke Tobin and his staff were able to target players knowing most won't have to come in and start right away. Outside of first-round pick, Dax Hill, most players in this draft class will play reserve roles to start their careers. Improving depth on the roster was one of the main goals for this franchise.
Who did the Cincinnati Bengals pick in the 2022 NFL Draft?
Here's a pick-by-pick breakdown of the six selections:
Round 1: Dax Hill, safety, Michigan (pick No. 31)
Round 2:Cam Taylor-Britt, cornerback, Nebraska (pick No. 63)
Round 3: Zach Carter, defensive tackle, Florida (pick No. 95)
Round 4: Cordell Volson, guard, North Dakota State (pick No. 136)
Round 5:Tycen Anderson, safety, Toledo (pick No. 166)
Round 7:Jeffrey Gunter, edge, Coastal Carolina (pick No. 252)
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Cincinnati Bengals 2022 draft grades roundup
For the most part, draft pundits gave the Bengals a positive grade. Below are draft grades from five different publications:
B
PFF
Grade: B +
B
: A-
Yahoo!Sports
Grade: B
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Bengals NFL draft grades analysis
Kelsey Conway's analysis: The Bengals' 2022 draft checked a lot of boxes and the focus on defense was needed.
Clearly the best pick of the weekend is Dax Hill and that's why the team why surprised he was still there when they made the pick as most mock drafts had Hill going in the early 20's. Hill will come in right away and be an impact player in defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo's scheme. Not only does he give Cincinnati depth at safety if this is the final season for both Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates, they'll use him right away so it's a win-win. With that being said, outside of Hill, I'm not sure I see another Day 1 starter from this group.
Typically, NFL teams want their first three draft picks to become starters. That's not to say Taylor-Britt and Carter won't become starters, I just don't see it happening in 2022. The Bengals do have the luxury of not necessarily needing starters at these positions, but you never know what can happen in a season. I would have liked to see the Bengals address the defensive tackle spot earlier.
If the Bengals didn't have any of the available defensive tackle prospects graded higher than Taylor-Britt, it makes sense. I wasn't predicting the team to draft many offensive linemen after free agency so to see them come away with one is about what I thought would happen.
Looking at the roster, I was surprised the team didn't draft a tight end. When I asked Zac Taylor about this position group following the draft, he said they are excited about newly signed Hayden Hurst and Drew Sample. I thought with Hurst being signed to just a one-year deal, they could draft his replacement and groom him this year. It appears the Bengals are high on Hurst and will worry about this position next year.
Overall, I like the Bengals attacking the draft with the thought of needing more depth in the secondary. When you look at their schedule next season, the Bengals' defense will be facing several strong passing attacks and will need all the help they can get. For that reason, I'll give Cincinnati a solid B for their picks this year.
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