The Cincinnati Bengals have one of the final picks in the first round of the draft, which makes it hard to know which way they will go with the selection.
Even though the public has a general idea of their most pressing needs, it’s unknown how the Bengals’ draft board is configured, and what will happen in the 27 spots preceding them.
Despite this, FanDuel has put out a wager that asks which position the Bengals will draft with their first pick.
Cincinnati certainly won’t be choosing a quarterback, and it has arguably the best wide receiver trio in the NFL, so those are probably off the board. After that, an argument can be made for a lot of different positions.
Here are the odds for the position the Bengals will draft first, per FanDuel on April 25:
- Tight end +170
- Cornerback +200
- Offensive lineman +350
- Defensive lineman +850
- Running back +1000
- Wide receiver +2000
- Linebacker +4000
- Safety +4000
- Quarterback +150000
Hayden Hurst departed for the Panthers in free agency, and while Irv Smith was signed, tight end should certainly be considered an area of need for Cincinnati. Michael Mayer and Dalton Kincaid are both commonly seen as first-round picks, while Darnell Washington is another name that has popped up in some mock drafts. If one of the top-three tight end prospects is on the board, the Bengals could make the move.
I like the Bengals’ cornerback situation better than the overall perception, but it’s a premium position that could be added to if the right player is on the board. This is seen as a strong cornerback draft, and if Cincinnati sees a prospect that it projects to be an above-average starter, it would be a strong selection at No. 28. Joey Porter, Jr., Kelee Ringo, Deonte Banks and Emmanuel Forbes are names that could potentially be available.
Offensive line is the other position which many expect the Bengals to look at closely. The group has been overhauled over the past two years but right tackle is in flux because of the injury to La’el Collins and uncertainty about the return of Jonah Williams. Cincinnati could look to draft a building block opposite Orlando Brown to keep Joe Burrow protected for years to come.
The Underdog Position I Like The Best
It would not be a surprise to see the Bengals go tight end, cornerback or offensive lineman in the first round. However, there is a 10-to-1 longshot pick that I like the best heading into the draft.
Those are the current odds for a running back to head to Cincinnati. Even though Joe Mixon is still on the roster, his status with the team seems shaky, and a rookie would be able to step right in and offer similar production at a much lower price.
Alabama dynamo Jahmyr Gibbs is expected to be the second running back off the board, and I think he would be a great fit in the already-explosive Bengals offense.
The position has been so devalued that few running backs will go in the top-10 anymore, but a late-first round pick is a much different scenario. If Cincinnati loves Gibbs, he could add another element to the offense and should be able to make an impact immediately while helping the salary cap situation down the road.
Running back isn’t the most likely choice according to FanDuel, but the odds are intriguing as we head into the draft.
Prediction: Bengals’ first position drafted is running back (+1000)
