Pre Combine PFF Simulator w/53 man roster

[OSUfan]

Re-Sign

1) Vonn Bell
2) Hayden Hurst
3) Cal Adomitis
4) Mitchell Wilcox
5) Samaje Perine
6) Trent Taylor

Extensions

1) Joe Burrow
2) Tee Higgins
*Unfortunately, to make cap space for signings and extensions Joe Mixon would end up being cut as a cap casualty*

Round 1 - 28th Overall



Anton Harrison - OT - Oklahoma - 6'5" 315

In my opinion this is the best case scenario for the Bengals at 28 but who knows between now and the draft he could rapidly move up the boards. I prefer Harrison over both Skoronski and Jones because of his pass blocking. The Bengals are a passing offense and keeping Burrow clean is of upmost importance. The Harrison selection shows a commitment to this endeavor. Harrison possesses very good feet with elite pass blocking skills. Harrison keeps the QB clean and that is the bottom line. While being an elite pass protector he does have room for improvement in the running game and while he is not a road grader he is effective in run blocking. This selection would allow Jonah to compete at RT or inside at OG or to be the first man off the bench.

Round 2 - 60th Overall



Eli Ricks - CB - Bama - 6'2" 190

I have to fight to not think of Dre Kirkpatrick when relating to Eli Ricks. Ricks was originally at LSU and that school knows CBs. Ricks brings everything to the table that you are looking for in an NFL CB. Outstanding size and length and has been referred to as having a high football IQ. A former 5 star recruit and one must keep in mind that Ricks is a true Junior. The upside of Ricks is off the charts. Ricks should be a really nice addition to the DB room.

Round 3 - 92nd Overall



Jaylon Jones - CB - Texas A&M - 6'2" 205

It was not my intention to take back to back corners but the value of Jaylon Jones sitting there was too high to pass on. The NFL is a passing league and I believe at times the Bengals were undermanned at the CB position throughout the season. Jones brings size, speed, and physicality to the position and is very strong in zone coverage. Jones and Ricks should provide instant upgrade over players such as Apple and George. I see Jones as a guy that could as well fill the Flowers role of negating athletic TEs.

Round 4 - 131st Overall



Andrew Vorhees - OG - USC - 6'6" 320

The Bengals found themselves in O line trouble at the end of '22 so adding solid depth to the line is wise. Vorhees is a very experienced lineman who is an outstanding run blocker. While he has areas that he can improve on in the passing game his ability to anchor at the line is a good reason to believe that these are issues that can be coached through. Vorhees gives the Bengals a high quality backup on the interior of the O line who could end up as a high quality starter.

Round 5 - 165th Overall



Josh Whyle - TE - UC - 6'6" 250

Whyle is a serious receiving threat that can exploit the seams of a defense. He has outstanding hands and has shown the ability to make tough catches and to use his size to his advantage. Where Whyle is very underrated is in his ability as an inline blocker. While he has much room to grow in this area he is a willing student that has shown marked improvement since arriving at UC and has worked hard to improve as a blocker and has added bulk to help him in this aspect of the game. Working with a true pro like Hurst will only help Whyle as well. Being a local product is bonus to the situation.

Round 6 - 206th Overall



Habakkuk Baldonado - DE - Pitt - 6'5" 260

Baldonado is from Rome and only played a single season of American football after moving to the states. What he lacks in experience he makes up for in raw talent. He has already shown that he can set the edge in the run game and while he does not have an elite first step he has shown a good mix of raw power and speed. Baldonado will need to develop his arsenal of pass rushing skills but he could not be in a much better room to learn than to be with  Hendrickson, Hubbard, and Ossai. Baldonado has a really high ceiling.

Round 7 - 248th Overall



Hunter Luepke - FB/RB - N. Dakota St. - 6'1" 236

When watching film on Luepke what immediately sticks out is effort and IQ. The kid is a heady football player who brings a multifaceted skillset to the RB room. The Bison offense used him in multiple ways as a lead runner, lead blocker, and accomplished receiver. Hunter also is strong in the pass game when it comes to picking up the blitz. A very tough runner that would be huge in short yardage and while he is a tough runner he has very good speed for his size and when he gets to the open field, and has shown the ability to do so, he is an extremely tough tackle. With his skills Luepke could probably line up at TE in an emergency.

What the 53 Man Roster would look like:

QB
Joe Burrow, Jake Browning

RB
Samaje Perine, Chris Evans, Hunter Luepke

TE
Hayden Hurst, Josh Whyle, Mitchell Wilcox, Devin Asiasi

OT
Anton Harrison, La'el Collins, Jackson Carman, D'ante Smith, Jonah Williams

OG
Cordell Volson, Alex Cappa, Andrew Vorhees

C
Ted Karras, Ben Brown

DE
Trey Hendrickson, Sam Hubbard, Joseph Ossai, Jeff Gunter, Habakkuk Baldonado

DT
DJ Reader, BJ Hill, Zach Carter, Josh Tupou, Cam Sample

LB
Logan Wilson, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Markus Bailey, Joe Bachie

CB
Chidobe Awuzie, Cam Britt-Taylor, Mike Hilton, Eli Ricks, Jaylon Jones

S
Vonn Bell, Dax Hill, Tycen Andersen, Brandon Wilson

Specialists
Evan McPherson, Dru Chrisman, Cal Adomitis

This is 52 on the roster leaving a spot for the highest value at either LB, S, or corner.