The Cincinnati Bengals have ample room on their roster to accommodate their 10 draft picks, but it’s unlikely that all 10 rookies will be able to make the 53-man roster for Week 1. With only a handful of starting jobs open and most of the depth already accounted for, the Bengals may consider trading up in the draft to acquire players with starting potential.
Trading up in the top 100 picks is a reasonable solution for the Bengals, as higher picks have a greater chance of resulting in a starter down the road. The Bengals have four picks in the first 100 this week, and an extra pick at the end of the third round could help materialize a crafty trade.
The Bengals’ director of college scouting, Mike Potts, emphasized the importance of acquiring starting caliber players in the top three rounds. He believes that the extra third-round pick can be used as ammo to potentially trade up or trade back, providing the Bengals with greater flexibility.
The nature of the NFL Draft favors more swings, as the chances of a prospect failing to reach their potential are far greater than succeeding. The more attempts a team takes in a given year, the better odds they have of finding success stories.
Cincinnati wants more early swings as opposed to later, especially at a time when the roster is close to championship-caliber. Trading up in the top-100 range makes more sense than down.
Potts acknowledged that there is a sense of urgency within the team, as they believe they have a good roster but need to fill some holes. He said that the Bengals would be foolish not to go after a certain player if they believe he can make a significant impact.
While the Bengals have historically been reluctant to reduce their number of draft picks, trading up outside the first round has become more common during Zac Taylor’s tenure as head coach. The Bengals have made several trades up in recent years, including moves in the fourth and fifth rounds in 2019 and a second-round trade in 2022.
Potts and the Bengals look to be open towards making a trade up happen if the right deal can be made for the right player.
