Zac Taylor was a guest on the Bengals Beat Podcast earlier this offseason and he openly acknowledged that the team had to improve up front on both sides of the ball following a four-win season.
During the 2021 NFL Draft, Taylor and the Bengals made it abundantly clear what their focus was.
The Bengals’ 10-member 2021 draft class is comprised of four defensive linemen (DE Joseph Ossai, DE Cam Sample, DT Tyler Shelvin and DE Wyatt Hubert) and three offensive linemen (G Jackson Carman, OT D'Ante Smith and C Trey Hill).
More:Analysis: What Jackson Carman brings to the Bengals offensive line
The seven total offensive and defensive linemen are the most ever selected by the Bengals since the NFL draft became a seven round format in 1994.
Cincinnati made a concerted effort to beef things up in the trenches.
“There just kept being value there that we liked, and we just kept adding competition. Our depth took a hit last year. You go into training camp feeling great about everything, and then your depth just takes a hit. That’s just the nature of an NFL season with 17 games in a physical division. We don’t want to go down that road again,” Taylor said.
“I don’t want to be in Week 12, Week 13 and you’re signing guys to walk in off the street and play. We’re going to go get depth, and get the guys that we like. We really feel good about how we came out of this weekend on both sides of the ball there.”
The Bengals offensive and defensive lines were decimated by injuries last season, but both units were also subpar. Cincinnati finished at the bottom of the AFC North in both sacks allowed (48) and pressures given up (191).
On the defensive side, the Bengals’ 17 total sacks ranked dead last in the NFL.
More:Analysis: What edge rusher Joseph Ossai brings to the Cincinnati Bengals defense
The reinforcements the Bengals drafted on the O-line have a combined 83 total college starts. All three were all-conference performers. The newcomers on the d-line had a total of 43.5 sacks and 88 tackles for loss in college.
They all produced at the collegiate level. The rebuilding Bengals desperately need more production up front if they hope to get out of the division basement.
While the offensive and defensive fronts were the main focus in the 2021 draft, the Bengals used their most prized pick on 2019 Fred Biletnikoff Award winner Ja’Marr Chase.
Chase and Bengals quarterback were electric together during LSU’s 2019 national title run. The play-making wide receiver has an established connection with Burrow. They were one of the most explosive quarterback-receiver tandems in college football history. Chase will immediately be inserted as the team’s X-receiver.
“We’re fired up to have Ja’Marr Chase. The things that he’s done, he’s one of the best receivers I’ve evaluated in the draft,” Taylor said. “You can see the chemistry that he and Joe (Burrow) had together in that 2019 season.
"He comes in and makes a difference. He adds to a great receiver room that we already have and gives us one more great play-maker to have. We’re really fired up how (the pick) shook out.”
More:Cincinnati Bengals take Michigan running back Chris Evans in the sixth round
In the backfield, the Bengals added Michigan running back Chris Evans. Evans fought through some adversity in college which limited his overall production. However, he was one of four Senior Bowl participants drafted by the Bengals.
It was in Mobile where Evans caught the eyes of members of the Bengals coaching staff. Bengals coaches made note that Evans frequently won one-on-one matchups.
“I’m really excited about Chris. He did an incredible job down at the Senior Bowl,” Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan said. “He kept beating people one on one in the Senior Bowl. That was a determining factor for him. He’s extremely intelligent so he’s one of those guys that can excel at picking up pass protection schemes. I’m really excited about him.”
On special teams, the Bengals spent a fifth-round pick on kicker Evan McPherson. McPherson was the only kicker that was drafted this year. He connected on 51 of 60 field goals and was 149-for-150 on PATs while at Florida. The Florida product is expected to come in and takeover Cincinnati’s kicking duties.
“I think that’s why you put draft picks on these guys like this. You expect them to come in and play for you right away,” Bengals special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons said. “That’s what I fully expect with him.”
In totality, the Bengals prioritized their fronts on both sides of the football and simultaneously identified specific areas of need.
Entering the draft, the Bengals’ biggest positions of need were guard, tackle, defensive end, defensive tackle and wide receiver. They addressed those positions, plus some.
“We’re adding guys that have talent. We want guys that have talent and can come in here and play in the NFL because, ultimately, that is extremely important in this league,” Taylor said. “You have to have guys that are good at their jobs. But then when you’ve got the intangibles to mix in with that as well, that’s a positive. Again, we’re happy with the guys we added.”
Overall draft grade: B
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