The Bengals may not be coaching the Senior Bowl this year, but that does not mean they will not consider playing players in it. Especially considering their great need for OL and the extremely strong OL class at the Senior Bowl.
Overall, it is an excellent Senior Bowl class and with the more limited draft season, it is one of the few opportunities and the Bengals have to take advantage of it.
With that said, let’s look at five players the Bengals can draft from the Senior Bowl.
Dillon Radunz OT, North Dakota
A nasty blocker with enough athleticism and size to keep the outside in the NFL. He played on the left side of the university, but there is no reason to believe that he could not play the right suit if needed. Coming from a smaller school and having some space to grow in his frame could be what pushes him to a place where the Bengals can take him on Day 2 if they take a different path in Round 1 follow.
Quinn Meinerz iOL, Wisconsin Whitewater
Speaking of small schools, this is probably the best OL player of the week from the DIII power station Wisconsin Whitewater. A very big player with decent athletics and a difficult attitude in his game, he can bring exactly what the Bengals need to their domestic offense. He has experience in playing various offensive positions, so he offers the versatility that the Bengals love and need. Again, coming from a small school, he could be the perfect option for the Bengals to tackle Day 2.
Kadarius Toney WR, Florida
Although I could easily fill the list with five OLs that performed very well in Mobile, variety is the best of life, so let’s look at someone who can fire the Bengals offense. In 2021, the Bengals need a WR that can open quickly and also threaten in the field. Toney offers it and also fantastic ability to catch. If the Bengals do not go WR in the first round and Toney catches them in the second round, it is a perfect complement to the weapons they now have.
Hamilcar Rashed Jr. EDGE, Oregon State
If Rashed had turned up at his university weight in Mobile, I probably would not have included him in this. However, he was able to pack 20 pounds and invest in 6’4 ”250. He could still sum up a bit, but the fact that he came in so much heavier and still looked bending and explosive is very interesting. He may not be an early player early on, but he can pass a speed element to the Bengals with the potential to become a good player. For a player available after a rough 2020 season on day 3, the potential is through the roof.
James Hudson OT, Cincinnati
With only one year of OT experience, Hudson is a gamble that the Bengals can honestly afford to pick with a top fifty this year. Sometimes, though, you have to shoot to the moon, and that’s what the Bengals could do with Hudson. A player with a good foundation of qualities and above-average athletics, is the perfect test for Frank Pollack to form a player in the starting lineup. If the Bengal OT wants to go into the second round, there will be few players with a potential as high as Hudson available.