Too Early 2023 5-Round Mock

[*ochocincos*]

(08-12-2022, 10:49 AM)Bengalfan11164 Wrote: 1st round WR have always started their 1st year in Bengals. And Bengals have allowed no overlap; Green replaced Chad, and Chase replaced Green.

If Higgins isn’t retained after 2023 season, then Bengals may draft an early round WR in ‘24 draft.

With Burrow & Chase getting big $$, I would assume that Bengals would groom/draft young expensive defensive positions to eventually supplant expensive defensive starters I.e. CB (Awuzie), DE (Hendrickson), etc with overlap season a la Dax Hill drafted with Bates on FT.

This allows the transition from an expensive defense (current) to an expensive offense (following Burrow & Chase extensions).

While true, there's a caveat with Green and Chase - they were both Top 5 picks.
I'm expecting the Bengals to be picking in the mid-20's, if not later.
And the Bengals have shown they don't force late-1st rounders into starting roles.
I think specifically of Tyler Eifert, who technically started 15 games his rookie year but really played behind Gresham until he took over at the full-fledged TE1 in 2015.

I also thought about going a DE in Rd 1, but I'm hoping Ossai comes along this year and can be that eventual Hendrickson replacement if needed.
CB would also make sense, but I think they'd favor WR over CB just because WR costs are skyrocketing in FA.

I also think WR can make sense because as you said paying big $$ to Burrow and Chase, but also to (hopefully) Jonah Williams.
They won't be able to have a lot of expensive offensive veterans after this year or next.