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AFC North NFL Draft Preview: Ravens pick after division foes

By Chris Schisler

CINCINNATI, OH - FEBRUARY 05: Zac Taylor speaks to the media after being introduced as the new head coach for the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on February 5, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - FEBRUARY 05: Zac Taylor speaks to the media after being introduced as the new head coach for the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on February 5, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – FEBRUARY 05: Zac Taylor speaks to the media after being introduced as the new head coach for the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on February 5, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – FEBRUARY 05: Zac Taylor speaks to the media after being introduced as the new head coach for the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on February 5, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

AFC North NFL Draft Preview Time:

Cincinnati Bengals draft preview:

The NFL Draft is closing in and the Cincinnati Bengals are entering a new era. After 15 years of Marvin Lewis, a coach who got a frustrating number of wins against Baltimore, the Bengals have hired Zac Taylor as their head coach. Taylor is just 35 years old and was the Los Angeles Rams quarterback coach last season. The Bengals finished 2018 with a 6-10 mark, with just about everything looking down. Cincinnati enters the NFL Draft as a severe underdog in the division.

Draft position: 11th overall pick 

Bengals Draft Needs: 

  • Offensive line
  • Linebacker
  • Defensive Line
  • Pass Rusher
  • Quarterback

The Bengals offensive line is their biggest problem. The Bengals would have a hard time passing up a star offensive tackle. Jonah Williams and Jawaan Taylor could be there with the 11th pick. This could be plan A for the Bengals. If Devin Bush or Devin White falls to the 11th pick, something that seems unlikely at this point, adding a linebacker seems like the obvious call. Remember the Bengals must replace Vontaze Burfict.

The Bengals need help all over the defense. They are coming off a year in which they had the worst defense in the NFL. They were last against the pass and they were 29th against the run in 2018. Geno Atkins is 31 and coming off a 10 sack season as a defensive tackle. Carlos Dunlap could certainly use some help getting pressure off the edge.

The position that can’t be ruled out is quarterback. Andy Dalton has had the job since 2012 and the Bengals haven’t won a playoff game in that span. If the New York Giants pass up on Dwayne Haskins, their could be a new big bodied quarterback in the AFC North,.

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