With college teams holding their pro days in full force, the Cincinnati Bengals are reported to be interested in another defensive tackle, according to Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.
They were present at Florida Atlantic’s pro day where defensive tackle Evan Anderson worked out for scouts and coaches, and the Bengals met with Anderson afterward.
Anderson is one of many defensive tackles the Bengals have had their eyes on as the draft approaches, and it remains a position of need for the team since D.J. Reader left in free agency, signing a two-year deal with the Detroit Lions.
Through four seasons with Florida Atlantic, Anderson had seven sacks, 20 tackles for a loss and 145 total tackles. And 3.5 of those sacks and 5.5 of the tackles for a loss came in his final season in school.
The Cincinnati Bengals have been in the headlines throughout the entire offseason due to the less than stellar state of contract negotiations with elite wide receiver Tee Higgins. With the inevitable departure of talented slot receiver Tyler Boyd during the free agency window, the discussion with Higgins has reached peak importance to Cincinnati after his absence would leave the Cincinnati receiving corps fairly thin. Given the ridiculous state of the wide receiver market that has seen receivers like Calvin Ridley and Mike Evans get monster contracts, the odds certainly aren’t looking good.
If the worst were to happen with Higgins leaving the team this offseason on (hopefully) a sizeable trade package, Cincinnati would be left with All-Pro wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and a few day three draft picks from last year’s draft class. That certainly doesn’t bode well for superstar quarterback Joe Burrow with a surge of inexperienced wide receivers coming into the starting lineup. I’m as big of a believer of young players Andrei Iosivas and Charlie Jones as anyone but the team may be looking to hedge their bets coming off such a turbulent offseason.
With so much at risk on the backs of a couple of young receivers, Cincinnati may elect to pick a player in the draft or use the draft collateral received from Higgins’ trade (a presumed second-round pick) to replenish the pool of pass catchers on the team. Considering that both Chase and Burrow went to LSU and established one of the greatest offenses in college football history, that might be exactly where the team looks to fill the spot.
After losing Higgins this offseason, the team may look to recruit another wide-framed wide receiver who can go up and attack the ball at the point of attack. Considering that Cincinnati holds the 18th overall pick in the upcoming draft, the number one option for Cincinnati should be LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. The 6’3″ wide receiver managed to pull in seventeen touchdowns last season as he was able to maximize on his big frame for his team. That sort of target man philosophy is exactly what Cincinnati is looking for to fill in for Higgins.
