Yes, it’s finally that time. The final mock selected by me (our annual AI mock will follow!) and this one is a gem, so much so (barring one late pick change) it was graded A+ by Bengals Draft icon Joe Goodberry, no less. So let’s get to it!
Words: Andrew Dockerill
Round 1, Pick 28
Darnell Wright, OT; Tennessee
A name we’ve mentioned before in our Senior Bowl mock, but honestly, just the absolute dream scenario for the Bengals at 28. Wright eradicates the Right Tackle question immediately as a plug-and-play starter, allowing them to shop Jonah as he desires and strike off around five million in cap space by moving on from La’el Collins (or allowing him to sit as the swing tackle). Wright carries 330lb well and at 6’5″, with an 82-inch wingspan, and ticks the size thresholds for an NFL tackle. He entered college as a five-star recruit and number two-ranked OT (behind Evan Neal) and it’s fair to say he had his struggles early in his collegiate career but everything clicked into gear in 2022 when he didn’t allow a sack and only eight pressures all season (including just one versus top draft pick Will Anderson). Wright simply overpowered SEC EDGE rushers in the run game and controlled them in protection but the concern will be if he can tidy up his balance and technique to elevate to the top tier of the NFL level. He certainly checks all the boxes to be able to ascend to that.
Round 2, Pick 29
Sam LaPorta, TE; Iowa
Another repeat pick here, this time from our Combine mock. A team captain and a superb athlete (a 4.59 40, 10’03 broad, 6.91 3 cone) on one of the worst college football offenses in history means the evaluation of the latest TE off the Hawkeyes production line is a tricky one. LaPorta led the team in receiving three straight years (despite never breaking 700 yards/season) and finished his career as Iowa’s all-time leader in receptions for the TE position (153). LaPorta can use that sub 4.6 speed to destroy teams up the seam but also as a serious YAC weapon (he broke 20 tackles on 58 catches last year, second in FBS).
There are some drop issues (11 in two years) and contested catch (18 of 44 in career) concerns, but I’m willing to put that down to some erratic QB play. Just get the ball in LaPorta’s hands. I’d be very excited to see LaPorta in a functioning offense, let alone an offense like the Bengals can offer.
Round 3, Pick 29
Jack Campbell, LB; Iowa
A new name here, but the same school, and honestly a position that hasn’t been mentioned enough since the re-signing of Pratt. Logan Wilson is entering a contract year and it’s not a 100% lock that he returns with all the other contracts yet to be signed (even though the Bengals clearly love his ability to lead the defense). I’d expect Campbell to land closer to round one than this pick so if he’s here, it’s a jackpot in value.
A multi-year captain, a multi-year All-American, Campbell is an athletic (sixth-best LB RAS of all time) and productive linebacker. Here are some stats:
- 271 tackles in the last two years
- Academic Heisman winner, first in school history
- Butkus award winner (nation’s top LB)
- Led Draft eligible LBs in PFF coverage grade
I’d love to see him work downhill better – ie. fly through gaps and hit the RB in the backfield – and he’s more of a guy who’ll wait for the RB to come to him, but truly, that’s one of the few flaws I have on this guy. I’d also love to see him contribute more to the pass rush and get his hands on the ball more but he’s a high-floor guy. Campbell looks like the classic ‘smarts and tackling’ type but has the athleticism that many with those smarts don’t. If he’s here it’s an absolute steal.
Round 4, Pick 29
Roschon Johnson, RB; Texas
The only reason Johnson is so far down boards is how he slipped under the radar behind his college teammate and RB star of the draft, Bijan Robinson. Johnson was a dual-threat QB in HS (totalling 12,610 combined yards and 85 TDs responsible for) who moved to RB a week before his freshman season, a year in which he’d rush for 649 yards at 5.3 YPC. That selflessness is evident in his play and is raved about inside the Texas program according to scouts. Johnson had only one fumble in his college career and led the nation in highest broken tackle rate in the past two seasons (85 broken tackles on 189 rush attempts).
The issue with Johnson? He runs a little upright as a taller back and simply, we’ve just never seen him take the workload – he averaged under 10 touches a game in his college career, but I’m confident he would’ve been a bell cow RB in nearly any other program in football. He has the size and mentality for the NFL game and I’d argue, as a floor, you’re getting a strong RB2 and special teamer.
Round 5, Pick 28
Ricky Stromberg, C; Arkansas
Originally this pick was going to be Jose Ramirez but seeing as we’d already covered him, I’ll give a shout-out to Arkansas’ Ricky Stromberg. Stromberg has had a relatively quiet pre-draft but after his top ranking Combine for the position, his buzz has quickly grown. Stromberg was voted as the top SEC offensive lineman (2022 Jacobs Blocking Trophy) and it’s his athleticism that impresses as he frequently wins blocks at the second and third levels. Stromberg has three years of experience at Center and it shows, he’s a confident communicator of protections and adjusts his steps based on defensive alignment. Drafting Stromberg as a needed Center back-up to learn behind Karras and improve his body control/reduce his waist bending snaps (to explain this jargon, think physics: if you bend at the waist rather than your knees, your centre of mass is more backwards-making it hard to go forwards).
Round 6, Pick 29
Mekhi Blackmon, CB; USC
Drafting CB here a little later than I’d expect the Bengals to go (first round is definitely a shot) and we go with a no-star HS recruit who benefitted from the COVID year, entering the draft as a ‘super senior’. Blackmon started his college career at a JUCO, before transferring to Colorado where he spent four years, never starting more than eight games. It was his transfer to USC and his final collegiate year that he propelled into draft contention where he started all 14 games and led the PAC-12 conference in passes defensed, leading to him making First Team All-PAC-12 and PFF even has Blackmon graded as the secondbest draft eligible CB in coverage (91.1).
The issues with Blackmon are his age (he’ll be 24.5 come the season) and weight (sub-180lbs at 5’11″). Technique-wise, he’s a little early to flip his hips, and he gives up a lot of slants and quick inside routes because of this. He also can get grabby at the catch point when not trusting his technique (five PI penalties in 2022). Blackmon feels a bit of a boom or bust type but at the end of the sixth round, we’ll take a shot at getting a physical and competitive boundary corner.
Round 7, Pick 29
Matt Landers, WR; Arkansas
Another Razorback here in the final round. A 6’4″ wide receiver who runs a 4.37 40 with a near 11ft broad jump… so why’s he here in the seventh round? Well, a couple of reasons – firstly, age: Landers turns 24 before week one; and production- until this last year at Arkansas, Landers only had 32 receptions in 4 years of football (at Georgia and Toledo). There are rumours of immaturity and competitive drive that scouts mention too with Landers in his well-travelled background (he played at three high schools, and three colleges) and that is apparent on tape in plays where he’s asked to block and his limited history in special teams scenarios. Again, a player who the Covid year eligibility has really helped him become NFL Draft relevant and he certainly has the size, speed and radius to be a threat at the NFL level so why not roll the dice late here?
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