Bengals robbed by Rams of fan favorite in new mock draft
It isn’t hard to figure out one of the most popular NFL mock draft picks for the Cincinnati Bengals in the local area this time of year.
Given the location and the shocking need, it’s all about Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
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The Bengals might just have a shot at Downs, too, unless they start ripping off wins.
One problem? Teams like the Los Angeles Rams are going to have an interest, too. That’s what unfolds in the new mock draft from ESPN’s Field Yates, where Downs goes to the Rams one pick in front of the Bengals.
The Bengals, then, settle for Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr.:
“The Bengals are allowing 6.3 yards per play, worst in the NFL. While some scouts think Bain’s lack of length could make him a late first-round pick, all of them agree he’s one of the best prospects at his position. I like him in Cincinnati. His relentless, powerful and explosive traits helped him to ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors this season. Expect much more debate around Bain and his ceiling in the coming months, but no offense had a real answer for him at the collegiate level.”
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Make no mistake, Bain is an exciting prospect. Both Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai are on the way to free agency. Myles Murphy has shown a few flashes, but the team has gotten nothing from last year’s first-rounder, Shemar Stewart. Bain makes sense.
But given the disaster that has been the safety room in Cincinnati since foolishly letting Jessie Bates slip away, the Bengals would be crushed to have such a terrible season, then fall one pick shy of an elite prospect like Downs.
Thematically, though, it might mesh with how the last year or so of Bengals football has gone.
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This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals robbed by Rams of fan favorite in new mock draft