NFL Draft kicks off tonight; Bengals, Browns hope to add players

LAS VEGAS — The NFL Draft kicks off Thursday night. The three day event takes place in Las Vegas this year. The Bengals and Browns are hoping to add players to put them over the top to win a championship.

The Bengals hold the 31st overall pick this year. Unlike the past two seasons the list of potential players to draft is exceptionally long. In 2020 the Bengals had the #1 pick and took Joe Burrow. In 2021 the Bengals picked 5th and could have either gone with an offensive lineman or pass catcher, eventually they opted for Ja’Marr Chase.

Picking 31st is similar to 2020 when the Bengals drafted Tee Higgins at the top of the 2nd round.

“33 you’re playing the same game we’re playing now at 31 of trying to predict and do our own exercises for who could be there at 33,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said.

The Bengals might not even draft in the first round. The team could decide to trade down to acquire more picks. What they do depends on the players available an other team may be willing to give up to get the 31st overall pick.

“I think that’s where the experience of upstairs comes in to play of the number of drafts Mike Brown, Duke Tobin, everyone’s been involved,” Taylor said. “The experience they have of trading, when, for what value, why, way more so than I bring to the table. I think that’s a fun process to be involved in for me to watch them work.”

Bengals Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin says he doesn’t believe the Bengals have “immediate starter needs” that need to be addressed in the 2022 NFL Draft.

The coaches seem confident in Jackson Carman taking a step in year two to be the starting left guard. However it would not be a shock if the team decided to draft either a guard or center that would bump Carman out of the starting lineup.

The Bengals will also be looking to add a cornerback or two to either compete for a starting job or add depth. Adding along the defensive line will also be something the team will try to do in the seven round draft.

Vonn Bell is back on a one year contract and Jessie Bates III is under contract via the franchise tag. While the need for a safety in 2022 may not exist the team may also be looking to the future if the right safety is available.

Taylor said it’s “been a recipe for success” for the team drafting players that were team captains.

It helped lay the foundation and they may also look for players who played on top teams and have playoff experience. He said it’s not as pressing now that they have players that have been to the Super Bowl but added, “It helps, it does not hurt because there’s been a standard there, they’ve played in big games, been a part of big moments.”

The Browns however don’t have a pick until the 2nd round, so pending a trade fans will have to wait until Friday to see the team make a selection.

The Bengals have eight picks in the draft, each one of their original selections in all seven rounds plus the fifth pick in the seventh round.

The Browns have seven picks, three in the top 100. Cleveland has two picks in the 3rd and 7th rounds but no selection in 1st or 5th this year.

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