Odds of draft CB Benjamin Morrison increasing?

[BoomerFan]

The reasoning being, we just hired Al Golden and Ben Morrison played for him at Notre Dame. Of course we have needs elsewhere (Dline, OGuard, WR) and you could argue we don't need another CB, especially if we bring back Mike Hilton and Dax Hill stays at his current position. Then you have CTB or DJ Turner opposite him, with Josh Newton and DJ Ivey as backups. That's six and you could always bring back Jalen Davis if need be. That said, Benjamin Morrison could be better than all of those guys. He can play both slot and outside and is strong in run support (will likely get even stronger as he adds muscle in the NFL). And fixing our secondary is a big need. I'm not against carrying 7 at CB (and 26 on defense total) if it means we have some depth their as well.

His 2024 season was cut short due to a hip injury that required surgery but still projects as mid to late first round, basically near where we pick.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10135862-benjamin-morrison-nfl-draft-2025-scouting-report-for-notre-dame-cb

Quote:HEIGHT: 6'

WEIGHT: 190

POSITIVES

— Smooth athlete with good short-area quickness and lateral movement. He plays with a fluid backpedal and controlled balance.

— In coverage, he keeps very good leverage and positioning on receivers. As he works downfield he squeezes off their lane and looks to attack the ball.

— Has shown flexibility in playing both outside and slot cornerback positions.

— Shows the necessary timing and ball skills to decipher what is needed at the high point when playing the ball.

— Shows good physicality and willingness to set the edge and get involved in the run game.

NEGATIVES

— Morrison can be inconsistent with his transitions, giving up separation. He can also be bumped off the top of routes at times.

— Lacks ideal closing speed when giving a step or two.

— Morrison can get antsy in zone coverage. He looks for big plays and can lose threats in his zone.

2024 STATISTICS

— 6 Games, 20 Tackles, 4 PBU

NOTES

— Born Mar. 11, 2004

— Games Started: 26

— 4-Star recruit in the 2019 class, per 247 Sports

— 2024 Injured his hip in week 7 against Stanford. Required hip surgery that kept him out the remainder of the season.

— 2023 First-Team All-Independent; Independent Cornerback of the Year

— 2022 First-Team All-Independent; Freshman All-American; Independent Cornerback of the Year

[*Synric*]

Combine medicals are going to be important as it was a significant hip injury. Also CBs that don't test tend to fall because it's the stopwatch position.... but there's alot of Xavien Howard in Benjamin Morrison.

[*ochocincos*]

I could see Morrison, Watts, and/or Riley Mills with a high likelihood to be drafted to the Bengals now.
I had mocked Watts and Mills to Bengals before, but not Morrison because I felt DL, OL, and pass catcher were more important, but Bengals might try to pursue those spots in FA to then bring in another young CB.

It's crazy to think about, but CTB and Hill are actually entering their final year under contract and may not want to keep either or both of them if they don't seem to fit his scheme.
If he runs what I thought he ran at ND, be ready for much more press man coverage.

[Whatever]

(01-24-2025, 11:25 AM)ochocincos Wrote: I could see Morrison, Watts, and/or Riley Mills with a high likelihood to be drafted to the Bengals now.
I had mocked Watts and Mills to Bengals before, but not Morrison because I felt DL, OL, and pass catcher were more important, but Bengals might try to pursue those spots in FA to then bring in another young CB.

It's crazy to think about, but CTB and Hill are actually entering his final year under contract and may not want to keep either or both of them if they don't seem to fit his scheme.
If he runs what I thought he ran at ND, be ready for much more press man coverage.

I think Kiser is the most likely to be a Bengal, honestly.

It's just hard to see the club investing even more draft capital into DB's when the pass rush is what it is.

[SunsetBengal]

(01-24-2025, 12:06 PM)Whatever Wrote: I think Kiser is the most likely to be a Bengal, honestly.

It's just hard to see the club investing even more draft capital into DB's when the pass rush is what it is.

Adding to the pass rush and improving the run defense might actually give our existing DBs a chance to look good.

[Luvnit2]

I hope they do not spend a 1st round pick on a player coming off a major injury. I am a ND fan and saw him beat deep. If he has issues with recovery speed in college, he did when healthy, it will be exposed more in the NFL.

I think we should draft DT, DE or safety in round 1 if we are going defense.

[Luvnit2]

(01-24-2025, 12:12 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Adding to the pass rush and improving the run defense might actually give our existing DBs a chance to look good.

I agree 100%. We need to upgrade the trenches in FA and then the draft.

[SunsetBengal]

(01-24-2025, 12:34 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: I hope they do not spend a 1st round pick on a player coming off a major injury. I am a ND fan and saw him beat deep. If he has issues with recovery speed in college, he did when healthy, it will be exposed more in the NFL.

I think we should draft DT, DE and safety in round 1 if we are going defense.

If this team ends up with 3 1st round picks, I'm betting that one of them will be a WR.

[*ochocincos*]

(01-24-2025, 12:06 PM)Whatever Wrote: I think Kiser is the most likely to be a Bengal, honestly.

It's just hard to see the club investing even more draft capital into DB's when the pass rush is what it is.

Yea I get that.

Unfortunate reality is Bengals have A LOT of starters entering final year under contract or hitting FA this coming Spring, so CB may still happen even if we think it should be DL.

Hitting FA now:
BJ Hill
Mike Hilton
Vonn Bell (Will Golden want Battle to replace him?)

Entering final year on contract:
Geno Stone
CTB
Dax Hill
Sheldon Rankins
Germaine Pratt
Trey Hendrickson
Sam Hubbard

That's basically every starter except for Logan Wilson.

Golden, Zac, and Tobin have a lot to plan for extending or replacing all these guys.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(01-24-2025, 12:12 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Adding to the pass rush and improving the run defense might actually give our existing DBs a chance to look good.

This is what I am thinking. A good pass rush is a DB's best friend. Get an End in FA, bring back BJ, give Trey his extension and that 
is a good start to helping out the Secondary. Besides, Morrison could fall with the hip injury anyways.

[Whatever]

(01-24-2025, 03:13 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Yea I get that.

Unfortunate reality is Bengals have A LOT of starters entering final year under contract or hitting FA this coming Spring, so CB may still happen even if we think it should be DL.

Hitting FA now:
BJ Hill
Mike Hilton
Vonn Bell (Will Golden want Battle to replace him?)

Entering final year on contract:
Geno Stone
CTB
Dax Hill
Sheldon Rankins
Germaine Pratt
Trey Hendrickson
Sam Hubbard

That's basically every starter except for Logan Wilson.

Golden, Zac, and Tobin have a lot to plan for extending or replacing all these guys.

Thing is, they can pick up the 5th year option on Dax and have Turner to replace CTB.  Newton was thought of to be Hilton's replacement.  And that's if they don't extend anybody. 

S would seem more likely, depending on how Golden sees Battle.  It's also a good FA S crop, so that can be addressed there.  

[pulses]

(01-24-2025, 12:12 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Adding to the pass rush and improving the run defense might actually give our existing DBs a chance to look good.

Pass Rusher and DT in the first 2 rounds then grab a Guard

[*ochocincos*]

(01-24-2025, 04:59 PM)Whatever Wrote: Thing is, they can pick up the 5th year option on Dax and have Turner to replace CTB.  Newton was thought of to be Hilton's replacement.  And that's if they don't extend anybody. 

S would seem more likely, depending on how Golden sees Battle.  It's also a good FA S crop, so that can be addressed there.  

They could but they have to make the decision this offseason whether to pick it up or not.

[sandwedge]

(01-24-2025, 05:21 PM)pulses Wrote: Pass Rusher and DT in the first 2 rounds then grab a Guard

I was thinking the same thing, except I would like to get the best guard on the board in Rd2. We can still get a very good DT in Rd3. JMO