Bengals go interesting route in expert’s first 2024 NFL mock draft

The Cincinnati Bengals attempt to fix the offensive line in front of Joe Burrow in the first mock draft of the year from a top expert.

Said expert is ESPN’s Field Yates, who has the Bengals going with Oregon offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga in an effort to fix the likely departure of Jonah Williams at right tackle:

Incumbent starter Jonah Williams will hit free agency in a month, and it’s no surprise the Bengals will continue to address the offensive line this offseason. If you want to get tougher and impose your will more in the run game — and I think the Bengals could use more explosive runs — Fuaga is the man for you. He’s a tone-setter with overwhelming strength at the point of attack and enough suddenness to react in the passing game as a strongside protector for Joe Burrow.

Williams’ trip to free agency is one of the more interesting storylines to watch around the team this offseason. Given his ability to play left or right tackle after his strong showing on the latter side this past season, teams might pay up big, beyond what the Bengals can afford.

But that would leave the Bengals starting a rookie on the right side with Burrow coming off another season-ending injury. Fuaga is an ideal prospect, but whether the Bengals want to plug in a rookie is hard to say, so perhaps in this scenario, they pay up for a stopgap veteran on the market, too.