Cincinnati Bengals

Quarterback Joe Burrow, who went No. 1 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft Thursday, is reportedly ahead of the game when it comes to preparation.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, a source said Burrow has been studying the Bengals offense "for weeks" and is "so far ahead" that he will have a good chance to vie for the starting quarterback job immediately.

The Bengals still have veteran and longtime starting quarterback Andy Dalton on the roster, but it is widely expected that Burrow will start right away regardless of whether the Bengals keep, trade or release Dalton.

Burrow is coming off arguably the greatest quarterback season in college football history, as he completed 76.3 percent of his passes for 5,671 yards, 60 touchdowns and six interceptions en route to winning the Heisman Trophy and a national championship.

He was considered a mid-to-late-round option entering the 2019 season, but after tearing up the competition and completing a perfect season, it became clear that Burrow was the top option for Cincinnati at No. 1 overall.

The Bengals are coming off a 2-14 season and haven't reached the playoffs since 2015, but they have a chance to get much better quickly if Burrow is as good as advertised.

Burrow will have a nice complement of weapons to throw to in wide receivers A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd and John Ross, as well as running back Joe Mixon. Cincy also selected Clemson wideout Tee Higgins with the first pick in the second round of the draft.

The one concern when it comes to Burrow and any rookie is the fact that offseason programs, training camp and the preseason could be impacted significantly by the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, it isn't yet certain that the 2020 regular season will start on time.

Assuming a season does occur, the fact that Burrow is already familiar with the Bengals offense and is preparing himself to be the starter bodes well for his chances of earning that position if and when the team convenes.

LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State

         

STRENGTHS

—Athletic, easy-moving linebacker who can excel outside the tackle box and in coverage.

—Blew up as a pass-rusher when asked to blitz more in 2019 and became a true triple threat.

—Aware and smart in coverage; fast enough to hang with smaller tight ends and slot receivers.

—Breaks on the ball with awesome closing speed; is able to make up serious ground when attacking the ball.

—Natural athlete who can click-and-close and make easy plays in space.

—Agility like a running back in space.

         

WEAKNESSES

—Smaller linebacker almost built like a safety at 6'1", 224 pounds.

—Size will be an issue when asked to take on blockers; could be limited early on to a nickel role.

—Should be viewed as an outside linebacker only; will not fit every team's thresholds for size at the position.

—Doesn't go through blockers or make plays in traffic; effective largely in space only.

—Missed tackles due to overpursuit; lack of play power is an issue.

      

OVERALL

Davis-Gaither is one of the most impressive athletes at linebacker in this year's class. He is a hybrid safety/linebacker based both on his usage at Appalachian State and his body type. Since he's a coverage linebacker who has shown excellent ability as a blitzer, he should flourish as a slot/big nickel linebacker.

       

GRADE: 67

PRO COMPARISON: Shaquem Griffin/Matt Milano

LB Logan Wilson, Wyoming

    

STRENGTHS

—Four-year starter who was highly productive in every phase of the game.

—Effective blitzer who has the power to steamroll running backs in pass protection.

—Tough run defender who easily stacks up blockers and has the power with a 241-pound frame to disengage from linemen.

—Runs powerful alleys and has a nose for the football; highly instinctive and smart at reading keys.

—Explosive out of his stance and gets to the ball in a hurry.

    

WEAKNESSES

—Lacks experience in coverage and is untested when asked to match up with tight ends in man situations.

—Didn't face many NFL-caliber players in college.

—Plays so aggressively that it affects his impact; must learn to throttle down and make better decisions and better tackles.

—Looks a little stiff when asked to flip his hips and run in space.

   

OVERALL

Wilson is a classic two-down linebacker prospect with the added juice to impact the game as a pass-rusher coming off the edge on third downs. He doesn't have ideal size for an edge-rusher (6'2", 241 lbs) and lacks the all-around athleticism that modern linebackers have, which puts him somewhere in the middle. He does still look like an NFL starter who will dominate against the run at a minimum.

   

GRADE: 81

PRO COMPARISON: Josey Jewell/Te'von Coney

Tee Higgins has officially made it to the NFL after the Cincinnati Bengals selected him with the first pick of the second round of the 2020 draft on Friday.  

Higgins had a stellar career at Clemson. He was named first-team All-ACC in 2019 and was part of back-to-back trips to the national championship game, winning the title with the Tigers in 2018.

Along the way, the wideout recorded 2,448 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns in three years. That prompted him to forgo his senior year and head straight to the pros. 

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller named Higgins the 28th-best prospect in the 2020 class and the fifth-best wideout overall.

The 6'4", 216-pound Tennessee native was compared to A.J. Green by NFL analyst Lance Zierlein, who thinks he'll be a mainstay on offense soon enough: 

"Long, angular frame with cheat-code body control and ball skills when attacking downfield. Higgins is leggy getting off of the press, but those same leggy strides are weapons of separation that help create big plays. He's played all three receiver spots and can be moved around to match up against cornerbacks. His size and 'above the rim' talent make him a uniquely dangerous playmaker deep and in the red zone. The transition to NFL press corners will be an early challenge that could take some time to solve, but he's an instinctive ball-winner whose traits should win out and make him a very good NFL starter."

That bodes well for the Bengals as they look to add another crucial weapon. 

QB - Joe Burrow, Andy Dalton, Ryan Finley

RB - Joe Mixon, Giovani Bernard

WR 1 - A.J. Green

WR 2 - Tyler Boyd/Tee Higgins

WR 3 - John Ross III

TE - C.J. Uzomah, Drew Sample

LT - Jonah Williams, Fred Johnson

LG - Billy Price, Michael Jordan

C - Trey Hopkins, Billy Price

RG - Xavier Su'a Filo, O'Shea Dugas

RT - Bobby Hart, Isaiah Prince

           

New Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow—the No. 1 overall pick Thursday—got another weapon in Higgins, who will have the benefit of learning from established pass-catchers such as A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd.

Head coach Zac Taylor's offense should have an embarrassment of riches if everyone stays healthy. Higgins may not see a huge volume of targets right away, especially with Green and Boyd on the roster.

But he should see the field plenty.

Consider him as a late-round flier to round out your bench.

The Cincinnati Bengals added one of the best wide receivers available at the 2020 NFL draft on Friday.

Cincinnati selected Clemson's Tee Higgins with the No. 33 overall pick, giving it an offensive playmaker from one of college football's biggest powerhouses. Here's a look at the Bengals' depth chart after the pick:            

QB - Joe Burrow, Andy Dalton, Ryan Finley

RB - Joe Mixon, Giovani Bernard

WR 1 - A.J. Green

WR 2 - Tyler Boyd

WR 3 - Tee Higgins*, John Ross III, Auden Tate

TE - C.J. Uzomah, Drew Sample

LT - Jonah Williams, Fred Johnson

LG - Billy Price, Michael Jordan

C - Trey Hopkins, Billy Price

RG - Xavier Su'a Filo, O'Shea Dugas

RT - Bobby Hart, Isaiah Prince

Depth chart info provided by Ourlads and Over the Cap.

          

Higgins started his collegiate career as a highly regarded 5-star prospect and the No. 2 wide receiver in the class of 2017, per 247Sports' composite rankings, and became a go-to option as soon as his second season.

His first year in the program was the only one the Tigers didn't reach the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, and he helped lead them to the title as a sophomore with 59 catches for 936 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Clemson lost in the title game in his final collegiate season, but he impressed on an individual level with 59 catches for 1,167 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller projected Higgins as a first-round pick at No. 22 overall in his post-Super Bowl mock draft, suggesting the Clemson playmaker "is the best big-bodied receiver in the class—at 6'4", 215 pounds, he has the ability to win over the top and in the red zone."

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com suggested the Clemson product possesses "cheat-code body control and ball skills when attacking downfield."

Giving the quarterback an easily identifiable target in the red zone and the ability to come down with contested catches even as someone who can beat press coverage will help Higgins compete for immediate playing time on his new.

Wideout wasn't a pressing need for the Bengals, but few will question their strategy of surrounding Joe Burrow with as many dynamic pass-catchers as possible.

WR Tee Higgins, Clemson

    

STRENGTHS

—Vertical stretch wide receiver with big frame that makes him a powerhouse on 50-50 balls.

—Ball skills for days with excellent vision, body control and strong hands.

—Adjusts his body well to make acrobatic plays on the ball.

—Red-zone magnet who scored 25 touchdowns over the last two seasons.

—Ate up press coverage with his size and length at the line of scrimmage.

—Has good buildup speed and a long stride that allows him to get some push down the field.

—Gigantic catch radius.

—Sure-handed; gained the trust of his quarterback as a safety valve.

WEAKNESSES

—Doesn't appear to have the speed to run away from defenders.

—Lacks juice to separate on vertical routes and often has to win with contested catches.

—Would like to see him play more physically on breaking routes.

—Doesn't have burst and quick movements working out of breaks.

   

OVERALL

Tee Higgins was seen as a potential WR1 when he exploded onto the scene as a freshman, and he probably would be in most drafts. But a lack of elite speed and a talented cast of wideouts in this year's draft class has him ranked as WR5 instead. Higgins would be ideal for an offense that favors the deep ball. He's almost unstoppable working down the field with his speed, elite hands and an unbelievable catch radius. Higgins is NFL-ready and should make an immediate impact.

    

GRADE: 89

PRO COMPARISON: Allen Robinson/Josh Doctson

The Cincinnati Bengals are willing to trade the No. 33 overall pick in the second round on Friday night, according to multiple reports:

Per sources, the Bengals are actively exploring trading down from the 33rd overall pick, even with a couple guys there (Ross Blacklock, Josh Jones, etc.) they like. Indy looking to go down from the 34th spot, too.

Lots of depth in the second round = movement on trades.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 24, 2020

The #Bengals are now listening to offers for the No. 33 pick, per sources. So the top two spots in Round 2 up for grabs, if someone is willing to pay the price to go all the way to the top. https://t.co/gHWc12eX9l

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 24, 2020

The Bengals have six picks remaining (one in each round), so stockpiling selections in a deep draft—and an especially deep second round—would make sense as the team looks to build a contender around rookie quarterback and top overall pick Joe Burrow. 

Another logical reason to move down, however, is that there is plenty of talent available in the second round. 

One personnel director calls this “the deepest second round in the last 25 years.” He believes there are 20 players available tonight that could have been first-round picks; there usually are 7-10. “There will be as many starters in this round that there are in the first round.”

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 24, 2020

That could mean teams may be hesitant to give up assets to get to No. 33, however, barring a team falling in love with a particular player. One thing to monitor is a team moving up to get ahead of the Indianapolis Colts at No. 34 or the New England Patriots at No. 37 to select Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts. 

Or perhaps the Patriots might consider packaging No. 37 and another pick—they have four picks in the third round alone—to get ahead of the Colts. 

As for who the Bengals might consider if they stay put, it's possible the team could focus on the offensive side of the ball and get Burrow more help:

Belief is CIN and IND will start the second round with offense. Ross Blacklock could be the first defender to go tonight. Expect lots of trades.

— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) April 24, 2020

Some buzz on Round 2:
— Among the players the #Bengals like at No. 33 are Ross Blocklock & Denzel Mims.
— #Colts (34) & #Dolphins (39) open to moving out.
— #Saints (CB? LB?), #Jets (CB?), #Jaguars (OT?), #Falcons among the teams who have made calls to move up.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 24, 2020

The Bengals are in the ideal position on Friday night. Either they stay put and select the top player on their board, or they move back and pick up additional assets in a deep draft. In the latter scenario, they may still even land a player with a first-round grade. 

The 2019 season was a rough one in Cincinnati, but the team has a real chance to build a strong foundation for the future in this year's draft. 

TCU defensive tackle Ross Blacklock and Baylor wide receiver Denzel Mims are reportedly among the players under consideration for the Cincinnati Bengals with the first pick in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft Friday night.

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported the Bengals' potential targets at No. 33 one day after they selected LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with the No. 1 overall selection.

Blacklock, 21, enjoyed a strong bounce-back season in 2019 after missing his entire sophomore campaign because of an Achilles injury. He recorded 40 total tackles, including nine for a loss, and 3.5 sacks across 12 appearances in his final collegiate season.

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller ranked him as the No. 39 overall prospect and the fifth-best interior defensive lineman in the 2020 class.

Blacklock explained to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle what people should expect from him:

"Teams and fans are going to get a leader. I'm a natural-born leader as a player, a guy that's going to be accountable at all times. I want people to hold me to a high standard just like I will hold them to a higher standard.

"I see people in the NFL, some of the greatest athletes in the world—I don't do it for money. Of course, you get paid a lot of money, but I just do it for the passion of football. I would say pick me because I'm a leader and I love the game."

Mims is coming off three straight productive years with the Bears. He tallied 182 receptions for 2,901 yards and 28 touchdowns in 37 games since 2017.

The 22-year-old Texas native told Pro Football Focus (h/t 247Sports' Nick Kosko) his ability to line up anywhere in the formation is a key asset teams have identified.

"I'm a team player, I really know every position on the field," Mims said in March. "I know what to expect, I know what I want to do and I have a game plan of each route. They just love that about me and I pretty much interview well and I know my game, I know my stuff."

The Bengals already have a true No. 1 receiver in A.J. Green. Adding Mims to a depth group with Tyler Boyd, Auden Tate and John Ross III would give Burrow all the weapons he could ask for as a rookie.

Cincinnati Bengals fans aren't the only ones excited for Joe Burrow to get to town. 

The 2020 No. 1 overall draft pick's newest rivals are just as eager. 

In a tweet posted moments after the Bengals made Burrow the newest member of the NFL Thursday, Baltimore Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell sent a personal message to the quarterback:

Hey, @Joe_Burrow10, congrats on being the number 1 overall pick! Can’t wait for us to be properly acquainted

— Calais Campbell (@CalaisCampbell) April 24, 2020

As much as this note was directed at Burrow, it's hard to imagine Ravens fans weren't on his mind. Campbell was traded to Baltimore on March 19 and has yet to endear himself to the team's faithful. This should help change that quickly.

Campbell has recorded 31.5 sacks over the last three seasons. It won't be long until he's chasing Burrow on the field in the AFC North.

To nobody's surprise, the Cincinnati Bengals selected LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft on Thursday.

But Burrow's ascent over the past year was unexpected. He even admitted as much. 

"I would've told you you were crazy," Burrow said when ESPN's Suzy Kolber asked him what he would have said a year ago had someone told him he was going to be the No. 1 pick.

But once he officially became a Bengal, Burrow quickly transitioned to business mode:

Enough talk. Time to get to work. https://t.co/EAK97ZePE8

— Joey Burrow (@JoeyB) April 24, 2020

Burrow shot up draft boards after having one of the greatest seasons in college football history, throwing for 5,671 yards, 60 touchdowns and just six interceptions while completing an absurd 76.3 percent of his passes. 

He won virtually every award in the book, including the Heisman Trophy, and led LSU to a national championship. In the process, he went from being a middle-round prospect to the obvious selection at No. 1 overall. 

“Outside of just pure top-shelf arm strength, I love everything about Joe Burrow.” 💪@MoveTheSticks on the @Bengals #1 overall pick. 👇

📺: 2020 #NFLDraft | Live on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/QLOAsm981f

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) April 24, 2020

#Bengals head coach Zac Taylor says we weren't the only ones he refused to confirm to that the no. 1 pick was going to be QB Joe Burrow: "We never outright told him that." Then acknowledges: "He probably had some pretty strong indications."

— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) April 24, 2020

"I wasn't very good my junior year," he said on the ESPN broadcast regarding his climb up draft boards. "It's pretty simple. I worked really, really hard to get better. And so did my team. We worked really, really hard. I just wasn't as good as I was my senior year."

For the Bengals, the selection was a no-brainer:

#Bengals coach Zac Taylor makes it clear that it wouldn't have mattered if a team offered its whole draft for the no. 1 pick. Says of choosing QB Joe Burrow, "There was nothing that could happen that could make us change our minds." #NFLDraft

— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) April 24, 2020

Burrow won't be without weapons in his rookie season, either, as he'll be joined by running back Joe Mixon and wideouts A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd. That trio should help simplify Burrow's transition to the NFL.

The young quarterback has gone from being buried on the Ohio State depth chart to a little-regarded transfer at LSU to a solid junior to the best player in college football and the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft. It's been a wild ride, but the real journey is just beginning.