Cincinnati Bengals’ 7-Round Mock Draft: 3 ways Duke Tobin can brace for Joe Burrow’s return with draft prospects 

Despite a difficult season for the Cincinnati Bengals and Joe Burrow, they managed to finish with a winning record. This contributed to the overall success of the entire AFC North, with all teams finishing above 0.500.

Despite being the only team in their division to not make it to the postseason, this was a significant disappointment for them. After two consecutive seasons of remarkable achievements, reaching both the Super Bowl and the AFC Championship Game, their failure to make it to the playoffs was a major letdown.

Despite the Cincinnati Bengals rallying, they ultimately fell short of making the playoffs due to injuries faced by Joe Burrow during the season. Burrow started with a calf strain that hindered his performance, and in a divisional game against the Baltimore Ravens, he sustained a wrist injury that kept him out for the remainder of the season.

In order for the Bengals to regain their competitiveness this season, it is crucial that they have a strong draft. The responsibility of reviving the team will be on General Manager Duke Tobin, especially with the dominant Kansas City Chiefs also in the AFC Conference.

Cincinnati Bengals 2021 Mock Draft

Tobin’s initial approach should center around pragmatism. It is probable that he will consider utilizing the resources at his disposal and anticipate the most unfavorable outcome. Rather than focusing on making trades, he could focus on his available draft picks and use them as a foundation.

In this scenario, the Bengals prioritize protecting Joe Burrow, who is returning from injury, by selecting offensive tackle Amarius Mims in the first round. They also choose to add a wide receiver in the second round to complement Ja’Marr Chase before selecting a linebacker in the following round.

Next, their focus remains on retooling the offense as they first add a tight end, followed by addressing depth in the offensive line and wide receiver positions.

Cincinnati Bengals Mock Draft 3.0

The Bengals may also opt to make a trade during this year’s draft in order to acquire additional picks.

In this current round, they have the option to trade their first-round pick, taking into consideration the abundance of talented wide receivers in this draft class. If they choose to do so, they could use their second-round pick to select a player like Jalen McMillan. Additionally, they could use their multiple picks from previous trades to also acquire a pass rusher and a tight end in the same round.

The Bengals have the opportunity to improve their offensive line and secondary depth by using their next few picks to target cornerbacks. With multiple picks at their disposal, they can continue to strengthen their team by selecting offensive linemen and bolstering other positions as well.

Cincinnati Bengals 2021 Mock Draft

Duke Tobin may also choose to be highly assertive in making trades, striving to both strengthen the team for the current season and acquire additional picks for next year’s draft from teams in need who are open to trading with them.

In a similar situation, the team receives a fourth-round pick from the Denver Broncos and manages to draft an impressive total of 19 players in the 2024 NFL draft. In this particular instance, they choose Ladd McConkey as their first pick to fulfill their wide receiver requirements, after trading back while still in the first round.

Their next moves could involve choosing an offensive tackle, followed by a running back and an offensive guard, as part of their efforts to reconstruct their offense.

With a significant number of draft picks at their disposal, the Bengals have a plethora of opportunities to strengthen every position throughout the entire draft. This potential outcome would be highly beneficial for the team if they are able to secure suitable trade deals.