Despite boasting one of the most explosive offenses in the league, the Cincinnati Bengals missed the playoffs again—largely due to deficiencies on defense. While edge rusher Trey Hendrickson ranked second in the NFL with 83 total pressures, the Bengals ranked just 23rd overall in that category. Their struggles extended to coverage and run defense, as they ranked 27th in passing touchdown percentage allowed and 28th in rushing first downs allowed. Offensive line play remains a concern, too. Not a single Bengals starter ranked in the top 30 at their positions in run blocking, and the unit as a whole finished 27th in pass-blocking efficiency. Here’s a look at how Cincinnati could use the draft to address some of its most pressing weaknesses on both sides of the ball.
Mississippi
Iowa
LSU
Michigan
Jacksonville State