Bengals’ draft work on CBs has experts narrowing down predictions

For a little while, the Cincinnati Bengals absolutely loved taking cornerbacks in the first round.

Since William Jackson in 2016 though, the Bengals have shied away from that reputation. Based on the team’s pre-draft work this year and how the draft board might fall, experts have continued to point out the team might go back in that direction.

Just look at a recent breakdown from Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer:

“What you need to know: The Bengals have done their homework on corners, and a number of the big-school types Cincinnati likes could be available in this range, with Gordon, Florida’s Kaiir Elam and Clemson’s Andrew Booth being potential options. But I wouldn’t rule out the team doubling down again on the offensive line, even after bringing in Alex Cappa and La’el Collins. Especially if someone like Iowa C Tyler Linderbaum is there.”

And indeed, our official list of visits and contact tracker has cornerbacks all over the place, including some of the guys Breer mentions.

That just might be how the board falls, too. The cornerback class is a deep one and teams attacking needs in other areas could push a solid boundary prospect to them. Given the need to develop a long-term prospect who can rotate in with Eli Apple right away, that scenario would produce a stellar marriage of need and value.

Granted, the best center in the class like Tyler Linderbaum falling down the board could throw a wrench in the plans. But so could a lot of things — like a team offering a can’t-miss deal to encourage the Bengals to leave the first round completely.

These sort of hard to mess up situations are why the Bengals are in such a good spot and so many great options for them exist when they get to the podium on Thursday night, presumably near midnight, Eastern time.