Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Bengals Senior Bowl Standouts & Early NFL Draft Targets

Starting point is 00:00:00 The senior ball is in the books, and that means it's time for us to take our first look at the 2026 draft class for the Cincinnati Bengals. Let's get into it. You are locked on Bengals, your daily Cincinnati Bengals podcast. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. What up Bengals fans? And welcome to another episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day, the number one sports podcast network in the land. I'm Jake Liscoe, co-hosts of this show, James Rupin, with me today, along with Mike Venter,

Starting point is 00:00:40 the CBS Sports Lead Draft Analysts, who we've talked to over the years, has been a great resource for us to figure out what's going on in these NFL drafts, where he's watched about 200 times the amount of players that I have at this time of year, maybe 100 times. I've watched two players so far, Mike. You tell me how many times more players you've watched than me at this point. Regardless, he's got a big board over there with CBS Sports. and was helping with the Shrine Bowl this year. So we'll get a lot of great insight today from who helped themselves

Starting point is 00:01:11 and most of the Senior Bowl from Mike and a little bit of the general texture of this draft class, the depth, the strengths, the weaknesses will be some of the topics we're exploring today as we take our first look at the draft. Shout out to the everydayers. Welcome back on into another episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Appreciate those of you who make us part of your daily routine. And Mike, let's start with the Senior Bowl because that I think is the

Starting point is 00:01:35 most recent high-profile event. Now, we're into Super Bowl week at this point. The Senior Bowl, for some people, is ancient history. That was last week at this point. But a whole bunch of players seem to pop on to a lot of people's awareness for the first time, made themselves some money potentially immobile. So I have two questions for you. One, who are some of the examples at the top of your head that have helped themselves

Starting point is 00:02:00 in most of the Senior Bowl in the past? And, like, how much do you think they help themselves? So they go from like round three to round one kind of thing and two. Is there anybody that fits that category for you this year based on your read of how things went in Mobile? Gosh, put me on the spot there with the years past. I feel like every draft class just after it's done, I just like wiped it from my memory. So like right off top of my head, no one came to mind in terms of senior more rides. Actually one guy that I think really is the best sort of best case scenario or like he really rose up through.

Starting point is 00:02:33 senior bowl and then it translated to the NFL. I think Terry McLaurin was probably like one of the biggest guys in that regard just because he was kind of an afterthought at Ohio State goes to senior bowl, had an awesome weekend senior bowl, probably went from a day three pick to an early third rounder and then obviously you've seen his career in the NFL. So it to me matters more. There's like a few positions where it really does matter. O line D line, wide receiver cornerback.

Starting point is 00:02:56 Linebackers may be a little bit and tight ends also, but if you're a running back, if you're a safety, if you're even a quarterback's down there. I don't think it's super insightful. This year, though, right off top of my head, the guy who I thought probably had the best Senior Bowl was Malachi Fields from Notre Dame. I'm not being a homer because actually on tape at Notre Dame this year, I wasn't super high at them. I think some of that was the limited route tree he ran there, but at the Senior Bowl,

Starting point is 00:03:28 he was bar none the best wide receiver there. And now probably the top, I want to say like six on my board at least, were not at the senior bowl. So a lot of the top guys opted out this year. They were really not a lot of true first rounders who were down there. Agents have kind of ruined this whole process. That's stopped for another time, though. But Malachi feels like he was either whether it was his ball skills, whether his ability to get it open, his physicality, like he was awesome down there as we get senior ball. I think this could push him to a top 50 sort of draft pick with the week he had.

Starting point is 00:04:04 I love that you start with a wide receiver, especially because I know Bengals fans are really thinking about wide receiver this time of year. What do you dislike more of the Cincinnati snow or the agents? The agents. The snow, there's like still some positives, right? You can go sledding. Right now it's pretty brutal, though. My dog hates the snow. So he'd probably say the snow.

Starting point is 00:04:23 But for me, it's the agents. They've ruined this process. They ruin a lot of the processes. that they get their hands on. But that's, again, I could go on and on. That can be a full show. We could talk about my loathing for agents. Not Brad Spielberger, though.

Starting point is 00:04:37 I have to give shout to Brad. He's one of my former colleagues at PFF. He's a good one, but a lot of them, not so much. I love it. I love that. It's, you know how bad it is when you say agents when we're about to get more snow here in Cincinnati and Jake is enjoying the Canada sunshine.

Starting point is 00:04:54 As far as the trenches go and Lockdown Bengals listeners know how much I love the trenches. specifically on the defensive front. Who stood out, who made an impression, who should Bengals fans know that did something positive at the Senior Bowl? That could be on their radar going into the combat. So there was really one guy who I would call

Starting point is 00:05:14 a top probably 50 pick on the defensive, the defense tackle position. It's Caleb Banks from Florida. To me, he was kind of up and down. And that's kind of what his tape was at Florida, too. So I'm not sure he really helped himself. He helped himself in that he looked healthy. And that's probably the biggest thing with him.

Starting point is 00:05:34 He's played fewer than a thousand snaps over five years in his collegiate career, played under 100 snaps this past year after breaking his foot. So with him, health is a big issue. But he looked healthy. He has reps that are just like jaw-droppingly down. He's 6-6. He's 3.30. He's explosive. But 6-6 at D.T.

Starting point is 00:05:56 is sometimes a gift and a curse, right? It gives you that long lever arm on first contact, but then it also makes it hard for you to turn, hard to continually play with leverage. And I think you saw that on his tape down there. So he's going to be, I don't want to say a project, but he's kind of a boom or bust sort of DT prospect, which means for the Bengals at 10,

Starting point is 00:06:18 he's certainly in play. That's what they love. Oh, yeah. I was actually going to ask, I actually think they're in at 10. I don't think it's, crazy. I don't think it's crazy.

Starting point is 00:06:28 You're describing a player that they've drafted the last two years, like a thousand snaps, boomer bust, needs of development, raw tools, Caleb Banks. Do you buy, though, the chatter? Because there's been chatter since the senior ball. Caleb Banks could be the first offensive tackle drafted. I know you have Peter Woods with a higher evaluation, but then there are all the questions about Peter Woods productivity.

Starting point is 00:06:48 And again, harkening back to Shamar Stewart, that I think is scary for some Cincinnati fans. Talk about that comparison and chatter this week. they're completely different types of DTs. So I could see it just because, you know, if you want a penetrating nose tackle, you're not going to draft Peter Woods. It's not who he is. He's more of a three technique.

Starting point is 00:07:04 He's more guy that plays outside, just doesn't have near the frame, the largesse that a guy like Caleb Banks does. But to me, I have Woods a lot higher just because I value, especially in the trenches, guys who do it early on in their careers. I think that's a strong indicator of talent. And if you watch Clemson this, past year he was not the only one who was checked out for a large portion of the year and he was he was not you did not put up first round tape this past fall but his freshman year was first round tape

Starting point is 00:07:34 sophomore year was first round tape sophomore year was like top 10 tape he looked so good on that that all buy into um again early production early in the career especially at a position as physically demanding as defensive tackle because you know kale banks wasn't even playing when peter woods was putting up the sort of years he did, you know, top 10 sort of take. Caleb Banks wasn't even, you know, his freshman sophomore year wasn't even in a rotation. So I think that speaks to natural talent. And now you got to ask him why wasn't the junior, why didn't the progression continue over the course of his career? But I watch Peter Woods and I think that once he gets to the NFL, once he gets NFL coaching, once he gets more years in a weight room, that he could be special at the

Starting point is 00:08:20 NFL level, whereas I just don't see Caleb Banks, I'm not going to say, I don't think he's going to be special, but I don't think he's going to ever be consistent. I think consistency is difficult when you have his sort of physical tools. Would you consider him at 10? Is that too early? I know it's early in the process. Peter Woods, I would consider at 10. Caleb Banks, absolutely not. Caleb Banks, back end of the first round this year's class, I'd start to consider it. I bet he goes higher than that. that's just not my type of defensive tackle that I like. You know, a tall nose tackle. It's just hard for those guys to hold up to the rigors of double teams at the NFL level.

Starting point is 00:09:02 So, and especially given his injury history and, you know, how old he is. So, yeah, Peter Woods, 10's not too early for me. I still think, I still believe in the talent there. A couple of other positions down at the senior ball that I want to get to, including what looked to me like a really deep and talented edge group in Mobile. of all years of all the positions sorry that this is maybe the first year i want to talk about a linebacker or quote unquote linebacker and we'll see i want to get your take on kyle lewis here yes we'll talk about those couple of positions coming up next year on lockdown megal today's show

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Starting point is 00:11:22 NFL season is over. Last call for football on Fandall, an official sportsbook partner of Super Bowl 60. Visit fandle.com to get started. All right, Mike. Let's continue with something Jake mentioned, which is the edge, the defensive end room at the Senior Bowl. That's going to be something. It's just the never-ending conversation here in Cincinnati. It's past rush in general. Who stood out among the defensive ends in Mobile? I think T.J. Parker was probably the best one there. I think he was highest rated on my board going in.

Starting point is 00:11:53 And I thought he just had a very solid week. He plays with power. He's a long arm sort of bullrusher type of defensive end. And you saw that translate against good offensive tackles, right? That's always the kind of question you ask with guys who are that type of defense end. It's like, is he so powerful that it's going to work against grown men? And I think with Parker, you saw that.

Starting point is 00:12:17 So I think that was very encouraging for him. I think Zion Young from Missouri as well. Similar type, probably going to get drafted a couple rounds later. But you saw him physically manhandle guys at the point of attack as well. So to me, this wasn't a great. So after Parker from Clemson, I don't think there's another guy that maybe goes top 50 from this group. So a lot of the guys who were going to be talking about is like first round-ish defense events. They weren't down there in Mobile.

Starting point is 00:12:47 So there wasn't a lot, and there really wasn't anyone who was lower down my board who really was like, okay, that guy looked special down there. He got to go back and check the tape. So I think it was a week where offensive linemen kind of got the better of them. That's interesting. I thought that it was a really deep group. Like I said, more from Michigan, Accus from, I think Acis from Illinois. It looked like he had some pretty nice reps. I went back and watched a little bit of him.

Starting point is 00:13:17 after the Senior Bowl, those guys didn't stand out to you in any significant way, I take it? Well, I just think they're later down the board guys who I don't think played any higher than that all you say. Do you think, I'm just looking back at your previous rankings here, you have T.J. Parker, one slot ahead of David Bailey. Has that changed at all for you as a process has gone on? David Bailey getting a lot of top 10 hype. I am not there with David Bailey yet.

Starting point is 00:13:46 I haven't done final evils yet. We'll obviously see what they both test like at the combine. But Bailey, to me, I just worry that he's such a speed-based rusher and that when he went up against guys who could really match his speed, that I was going to say he disappeared, but he got nullified to a degree. And now speed at the NFL level is, I think, being deployed better than ever by defensive coordinators and that it can be a weapon all in his own just by, you know, stunt slants, just like, asking them to use and use that speed, not have to win one-on-one. And he'll be productive in a role like that. But as a every down defensive end, I worry about him in the running game. And again, like I said, I think he'll be a boom or bust sort of edge rusher at the next level,

Starting point is 00:14:32 whereas I think Parker just has potential to be more consistent three-down defensive end. As a general theme, do you think that that is kind of a cat, like, it seems like there's a lot of like designated pass rusher type of guys that end this year. more so than like Ruben Bain every down guy, T.J. Parker can be an every down guy. Is that throughout the class? Do you feel like that's like our Mason Thomas comes to mind, another example of one of these DPR kind of guys? Yeah, and I think it's because I think it's because like the trend that we're seeing in the NFL actually was starting in college a few years prior. So they've been selecting for that body type more and more across the landscape.

Starting point is 00:15:11 And so I think, yeah, that's like a trend will continue to see. We're going to see a lot of these undersized sort of guys who came in, Romero High came in 234 at the Senior Bowl, who's, you know, a lot of people having the top 50. A lot of people have the top hundred guy. But like 234 is just, it's hard to survive at the NFL level. So, yes, it will be interesting to see, one, where these guys go, how the NFL covet them, and two, can they produce still at the NFL level at that size.

Starting point is 00:15:35 Jake mentioned Bain. And so I'm just going to go there, even though he wasn't at the Senior Bowl. Is he worth the 10th pick? And do you clearly have him? ahead of a lot of these other ends that could potentially be there. Yeah, I mean, I think he's so clearly the best defensive end in this class that, I mean, I take him number two overall. I think that's, I think he's that good.

Starting point is 00:15:56 I think it's, I've compared him to Aidan Hutchinson a little in that. Aiden Hutchinson got like picked apart because the body type was weird. He's not your traditional defensive end. But when you just watch his tape, you're just like, why is this guy so much better than everyone else? That's how I feel about, Aane. you know he's going to have shorter arms looks like a defensive tackle not your prototype you know not your will anderson where you're like yeah that guy you just can see it um but why is he so good why why is every game you play no one actually is able to block him consistently so that's how i feel

Starting point is 00:16:31 about bane i just think he is you're getting a very safe defensive end prospect in the NFL so in a class that doesn't have a lot of safe or a lot of top end talent he is my mom my top nine quarterback. I watched two players. I mentioned at the beginning, two and a half, maybe, maybe two and a half. David Bailey and Ruben Bain are the two. And I came over with the same takeaway. I had a mid-first takeaway on Bailey and I came away like clean top 10 any year Ruben Bain.

Starting point is 00:17:03 So in agreement with you there. Let's talk about Kyle Lewis, wrap up the Senior Bowl. Maybe we'll hit on some of the safeties around the Senior Bowl as well because I do, I am curious about your thoughts on the safety class. And I think you mocked Caleb Downs and your most recent mock to the Cincinnati Bengals. So we'll maybe hit on safeties a little bit too. But Caleb Downs, seen by many as a weak linebacker in the NFL,

Starting point is 00:17:27 weak side linebacker in the NFL because that's what he's listed. He's listed at linebacker. Did a lot of overhang stuff at Pitt and obviously has... What did I say? Caleb Downs. I just know the Ohio State fans would like, come at you, so I'm just letting you know. Too many names of my head all at once.

Starting point is 00:17:45 This happens every year, this time of year. James knows every day or no. Kyle Lewis, listed as a weak side linebacker by many who are evaluating him for the draft. Played a lot of overhang, though, at Pitt, and at the Senior Bowl showed that coverage ability. Do you think that he can be used more as that overhang slot defender in the NFL? That's my real question with Kyle Lewis.

Starting point is 00:18:09 He's listed at the same-ish dimension. as a Nickyman Worry, I don't think he's going to go test like Nickymean worry, but he moves pretty well. Can he be using that role with the NFL? I think he's a linebacker. I think he just goes and kicks inside, like your weak side linebacker in the NFL. To me, he reminds me of, you know, Jeremiah Wusukoroamoa, if you'll recall, coming out of Notre Dame, he played the exact same role.

Starting point is 00:18:32 Like, he was the overhang in Notre Dame's scheme, and he comes in and he's like six foot, 220 something. It depends on being a day two guy and, you know, was very successful for the rounds before. I've seen neck injury, maybe he cost him his career. With Lewis, I think that's the path. I don't think he's a slot now, you know, if you want to match with three linebackers against stuff people are doing at the NFL level, you know, maybe like 11 personnel, if that's really something not a lot of teams do. That's not going to happen. But like if you, if you play a lot of three linebackers and he's your weak side linebacker, you'll feel fine him going out and guarding the

Starting point is 00:19:09 slot or having to be forced on a wide receiver. He's that. good and he had, you know, such a good week in coverage. And the one on one is awesome. And he looks like he could be a safety at the NFL level. But I just, I think he's a linebacker because he's, because that ability is so much more in demand at linebacker than it would be at safety. And a lot of the other stuff you ought to do deep as safety, just I wouldn't trust him at. So I think he's a linebacker, but man, he's so good in space that I would not put hit Bastum to be a slot at the NFL level if you really needed them to but like I said I think especially for the Bengals scheme he's like a better version of what Barrett Carter what you wanted him to be he's just

Starting point is 00:19:54 that like rangy cover guy and so I think for the Bengals he would be an inside guy better than Barrett impossible come on Mike you can't no all right let's get into Caleb downs and some of these safeties and we got to hit on wide receiver Jake I can't believe you didn't mention wide receiver of course trench fans We'll do that coming up next. This episode of Lockdown Bengals is sponsored by BetterHelp. February can be a lot, flowers, candies, stuffed animals, so much talk about relationships and that feeling that everyone has it together in their love life.

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Starting point is 00:22:15 Take taxes off your plate. Get back to your life. Visit turbotex.com slash local to book your appointment today. Like everybody wants Nick even worry on their team right now. He is the guy that we're talking about it for two straight segments here. This time we're actually going to talk about a guy that played safety in college and Caleb Downs and get a little bit of a feel for the rest of the class too. Where do you see, I mean, different body types, right?

Starting point is 00:22:40 But where do you see Caleb Downs at his best in the NFL? What is the best role for him at the next level? Yeah, I mean, I think he's versatile enough that it really, the role is that he can make up for whatever you need, right? I mean, you see some guys in the NFL doing Swiss Army knife type stuff, whether it's like Derwin James or Kyle Hamilton or going back to, like, when Tyron Matthew was first coming out. I think that's what's so special about him,

Starting point is 00:23:08 is that just he can wear a lot of hats. and fix a lot of ills wherever you need those ills to be fixed. But I do, I kind of am coming around to the value of slot corner as being even more important than safety. And is that how you're categorizing him in worry? You're saying slot corners is this, because he's playing in the box or over the slot. So it's essentially like he's got a safety tag on him,

Starting point is 00:23:32 but he's not really playing traditional safety. Yeah. I mean, it's what it's like the weak side linebacker has morphed into when people used to match everything with base. Base is now, you know, two linebackers and your slot corners, like, has to do a lot of of stuff that the weak side linebacker did, but also it's a very important coverage position, too, as we've seen. So I think getting those guys around the line of scrimmage to make more plays in the running

Starting point is 00:23:57 game that they're adept at you in Caleb Downs, obviously, is a good for you. Because safety is now, nowadays, most teams, they're kind of just their cleanup crew. You know, they are not actively involved in run defense. They are, if everything else goes wrong, they need to make a play. But the slot corner is actively involved, whether it's wide screens, whether it's wide runs. They are a guy that needs to be able to stick their nose in and play like a weak side linebacker used to. So with Caleb Down's ability and, you know, with Nickyman Worry's ability, it's very valuable when you have a guy that can do that at a high level. So that's how I feel about Downs is that I think that's, if I'm a DC and I see his tape and I have that need, that's where I'm plugging them.

Starting point is 00:24:46 Do you think this Bengals team knowing their defense and they need everything everywhere? I mean, we've spent time talking about all three levels of their defense. Even if they do and they better sign a free agent safety, whoever it is, Brian Cook or someone like that. You think Caleb Downs could come in and have a significant impact if they picked him 10th and also had a veteran safety? that they signed a month prior? I think so. And just because you need the floor to be raised in the secondary, right? It's not that there's not guys with talent,

Starting point is 00:25:17 but there's not anyone you're just like, we know for certain. I know DJ Turner in the scheme obviously, it's great. But like outside of him, it's just the up and downness of these guys, the inconsistency is so bad that some level of stability there would be awesome. And Dale Downs, one thing you know about him all the way back to his freshman year in Alabama. It's like the guy is consistent. So, yeah, I think it's still, I would still be willing to draft him at 10, even if they signed a safety.

Starting point is 00:25:45 How do you see the rest of the safety class? If they can't pick Caleb Downs or don't pick Caleb Downs because they're one of these teams that looks at, like, the Caleb Downs contract is essentially what they would want to probably pay a veteran. And maybe they're looking for more savings that, you know, whatever the rationale would be. I know that you like Emmanuel McNeil Warren from Toledo. How do you see where he's going to be drafted? What the options might be on day two if the Bengals are looking outside of the 10th pick for a safety? I think safety is amongst the three to four best position groups in this draft class. In terms of depth, in terms of year-on-year quality, it's not a great draft class,

Starting point is 00:26:26 but I think on day two, you'll probably have like a half dozen options that are starter quality for you. So it's a good, that's a good draft class for safety because they don't go that highly, right? And then you got one guy who's probably going to go top 10 to 15 and Caleb Downs. So that makes it a good draft class of safeties. And after Downs, McNeil Warren to me is the clear cut number two safety in this draft class. He may even go first round, the Toledo safety. Awesome box safety. I think he even could be, he's more similar body type wise to Nick Mann-Worry in that he's big, long.

Starting point is 00:27:02 physical around the line of scrimmage. I think he would be maybe not necessarily for pure man cover teams or teams that do a lot of man match, but more zone heavy teams, he would be an awesome slot corner because he is so physical and it makes so many plays on the ball around the line of scrimmage. So I think he's a clear cut number two. After that, I think there's a handful of guys who are very intriguing in certain roles. I would call Dylan The Inamon from Oregon, one of those. Genesis Smith from Arizona, another one of those that,

Starting point is 00:27:32 there's just they're versatile all around coverage safeties they can do a lot of different stuff on the back end so it's it's a good safety class it's a good year to be in need of safety i think there's going to be someone near the second or third round that's a quality player there for you if that's your need what are those other positions you mentioned safety as a top three or four deepest what are the others uh the other ones are i'd say linebacker is the best position group in this draft class. To me is potentially the best linebacker draft class I've ever scouted. Started doing this 2015, like real. You mean the beggars shouldn't have drafted two linebackers? I'm so annoyed. I'm shaking my head,

Starting point is 00:28:13 not at you, Mike. The fact that they just drafted two linebackers in a crappy draft class, one that's Mike Renner's age. And now they stuff and eat at linebacker. And the linebacker class in a long time. The guy who will go, so to meet your site, did he go like 49 or 50? What was it? 49. 49. 49. The linebacker that will go at 49 this year. Compared to Demetrius Knight will probably be, I mean, the quality difference will be night and day.

Starting point is 00:28:38 Just because there's too many guys to all go first round, we might see like four or five go first round. It's a crazy good lineback class. So, yes, last year was not a crazy good lineback class. This year is a good year draft linebacker. And even for the Bengals, like, I might even still draft one just because that's for the knowledge. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:28:57 That's one. And then I do think interior offense, the line's probably the other. I think there is a lot of depth and especially depending on how you view some of these tackles. I think there's probably three first round tackles that I would play a guard at the next level. Francis Maui Noah from Miami, Spencer Fano from Utah, Caden Proctor from Alabama. I think those are NFL guards. So three potential first round guard, tackle the guard converts. One more first round guard in Bega Yawani from.

Starting point is 00:29:30 Penn State and a lot of talent on day, too. It's a good interior off the line class, a lot of centers as well. So those are the top three positions, my opinion, pretty clear cut. Trenchman, do you want to ask one question about wide receivers before we get out of here? Yeah. Where's my guy Cyrus Allen going to go? How impressive we see. I was not particularly impressed by his single.

Starting point is 00:29:54 I actually am more intrigued by Jeff Caldwell. Yeah. Just like an NFL prospect because freaky. athlete but he didn't look great at the shrine bowl either unfortunately his hands were very inconsistent but he's definitely he could still go top hundred i think he'll get drafted higher just based off of he'll blow up the combine he'll test off the charts so that'll help him five you know or six whatever and wingspan so yeah um that's he he has a chance to go high but alan i don't think so what where would you where's the sweet spot for the bengals if they're looking

Starting point is 00:30:30 for that wide receiver three type Andre Yosevash replacement maybe Andre Yosevach replacement this year where do you think they would target a receiver or a good time would be in this draft as of now of course. I think you can get one of the third. I think there's a lot of slot types

Starting point is 00:30:47 in this class which is I'm guessing where they would want to target. So I think the third round you'll be able to find a guy in that sort of mold maybe you know 510, 511 sort of separator type. I think there's a good number of them in this draft class and they'll be around somewhere

Starting point is 00:31:06 in the third round. The short-shifty king for Joe Burrow. Is there, is there a tank Dell in this class? I mean, not necessarily going to have that kind of success in the NFL, but. Gosh, he was like really small. Okay. We don't need to go there. Zechreira branch is interesting. I think he, some Georgia. Yeah. He is just, he is small. Now, Tank Dell, one of the interesting things about him was he was short, but had really long arms for his frame. And so that match. That match. matters more to me as an evaluator is your wingspan, how far you can actually make plays outside of, you know, the center of your body. But Zach Rybranch, I don't think has that long

Starting point is 00:31:43 of a wingspan for being like 5'9. They need like Khalil Shakir. Like that's, that's what the Bengals could. There's Antonio Williams from Clemson, I think will be there around that sort of, I think that's a guy who I would feel really good about if you can get in the third round. Last one for me, Mike kind of maybe Bavid fire a little bit here. Sunny Stiles is obviously the best lineback in the class, one of the cleaner linebacker prospects we've seen in a while, but the Bengals have also been sold to vision. Bengals fans have been sold the vision of a clean linebacker prospect, and it's going back like 15 years now here.

Starting point is 00:32:12 But Sunny Stiles at 10, if that's the best option, how comfortable are you? How much of a difference maker can he be in the NFL? I think it can be very good. I just balk at drafting linebackers in the top 10 for a few reasons. ones they're paid like half as much as wide receivers or pass rushers. You're working with the same money as everyone else. Two, it's a position that we've seen have the longest sort of learning curve at the NFL level. Their learning curve is a lot closer to quarterbacks learning curves than it is, you know,

Starting point is 00:32:48 wide receivers, pass rushers. Those guys can hit the ground running. Whereas linebacker, you just, you need to see a lot of football before you start playing fast enough. as Bengals fans unfortunately know from this past year. But it's he is a great cover linebacker. He's a great tackler. I don't think he's a great blitzer. And I think if I'm drafting a lineback for top 10,

Starting point is 00:33:11 I want in this NFL, in the way teams are playing defense nowadays, I want a guy who's going to rush the passer at a really high level. Because that's where you really separate yourself. That's where, you know, if I have a linebacker who I can put on the line of scrimmage and trust that he'll win like, an edge rusher, that is, that creates a lot more problems for offenses than a guy who you just

Starting point is 00:33:33 know was going to have to drop in coverage and it'll be great in coverage, but like, that you know that's what he has to do. That's why I think Arval Reese goes higher than him is because of that ability, even if Sonny Stiles was probably the more impactful player for Ohio State last year and the better off ball lineback. Looking for that unicorn. You can find Mike's work over at CBS Sports. He's been doing draft analysis for a long time.

Starting point is 00:33:55 always enjoy having you with us, Mike, and find them on Twitter at Mike Render underscore for some occasional draft insights as well. And that's going to do it for this episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Until next time, thanks for listening. Ho-Dai. Have a good one.

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