The 2019 NFL Draft is underway in Nashville, and FTW’s lead NFL writer Steven Ruiz is grading picks and offering analysis on how each player will fit with his new team. No. 11: Jonah Williams, OT Alabama Analysis: The only knock against Jonah Williams is that his arm are a little short. Who cares? It was never a problem on the field. Williams was the best all-around tackle in the draft, and the Bengals got him outside of the top-10. That’s rare. This was a no-brainer for Cincinnati, especially with Andy Dalton still producing with a modest cap number. The Bengals can wait until next year to find his successor. GRADE: A No. 52: Drew Sample, TE Washington Analysis: New Bengals coach Zac Taylor, one of the million Sean McVay disciples out there now, needs a good blocking tight end to run his scheme at a high level. Drew Sample will give him that, but are we really using second-round picks on blocking tight ends? Maybe Sample will prove me wrong and develop into an impact pass-catcher, which he’ll have to do for this pick to make sense, but it’s a longshot. GRADE: C- 72. Bengals: Germaine Pratt, LB N.C. State Analysis: The Bengals have needed an injection of speed to the second level of their defense for a while now, and Pratt will provide that. He came to Raleigh as a safety, and it shows on film. GRADE: A-<doc-sep>The Cincinnati Bengals used the first draft of the Zac Taylor era to make some splashes and head-scratchers at the same time. Jonah Williams in the first round was a splash. So was trading up for quarterback Ryan Finley at the start of Day 3. Grabbing Drew Sample in the second round, not so much. Either way, the Bengals stuck to their board and the impact on the roster is beginning to take shape — which leads to winners and losers. Winner: John Ross Ross just keeps winning. He’s gone from silly trade rumors to thinking perhaps the Bengals draft a wideout. They didn’t. The Bengals did get an undrafted steal with Stanley Morgan. But overall, the Bengals didn’t do much to threaten Ross’ position on the depth chart, which aligns with what they have been saying all along.<doc-sep>Breaking down the Cincinnati Bengals' 2019 draft class: Round 1, No. 11 overall: Jonah Williams, OL, Alabama My take: It's no surprise the Bengals didn't take all of their allotted time with their pick of offensive linemen available. They got their guy. Selecting Williams gives the Bengals flexibility to craft their offensive line to their liking, and that's key after several years of struggling to fix the unit. Williams played tackle at Alabama and it's possible he could transition to tackle in the NFL, but he could slide over to guard as well if the Bengals need him to play there right away. 2019 NFL DRAFT COVERAGE What you need to know from Rounds 1-7: • Pick-by-pick analysis » • Kiper's grades » | McShay's best picks » • Team-by-team analysis » | Takeaways » • Best undrafted » | Fantasy reax » • More NFL draft coverage » "He's played three years in the best conference in all of football (SEC), did a great job at left tackle for them, certainly can play guard -- he's got great flexibility. He enables us to get our five best linemen on the field," Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. A future left tackle? It might not happen right away, but the Bengals might be eyeing Williams as their left tackle of the future. Taylor said they already have a plan in place for him. Right now, that just means to get him in the building and find him a spot, but the future could be even brighter. Right now Cordy Glenn is the starting left tackle and newly re-signed Bobby Hart could start at right tackle, but that might not always be the case. "He's got three years of tape to prove that he can compete against the best, and [left tackle is] his most natural position. He's done a great job there, but he gives us a lot of flexibility," Taylor said. Jonah Williams doesn't have ideal tackle size, but he was excellent at LT at Alabama. Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire A driven mindset: The Bengals loved Williams' character and said he's an A-plus addition to the locker room, so there's no doubt they loved a story from his childhood. Williams walked 15 minutes to school in seventh grade and said he would wait outside the door of the weight room until they let him in. He said he always has been driven to be better than anyone else. Later, he built a weight room in the basement of the house he grew up in so he could work out anytime. "I was walking to my middle school weight room at 5 in the morning trying to get workouts in, in seventh grade. That's just kind of who I am -- I'm just driven to do that," he said. Drew Sample is regarded as a good blocker but his pass-catching ability is a question. Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire Round 2, No. 52 overall: Drew Sample, TE, Washington My take: The Bengals didn't exactly address their needs in the second round when they took tight end Drew Sample instead of targeting a linebacker. Sample is an in-line tight end who's a good blocker but it's questionable whether he's going to contribute as a pass-catcher. It leaves the question as to whether the Bengals made the best choice considering they have a few adequate tight ends on the roster behind Tyler Eifert and C.J. Uzomah. However, Sample did come on as a pass-catcher in his final season at Washington, catching 25 passes for 252 yards and three touchdowns, so the potential is there. play 1:09 NFL draft profile: Drew Sample Washington tight end Drew Sample is a reliable receiver with outstanding ball skills. play 0:49 NFL draft profile: Germaine Pratt Germaine Pratt is a rangy run defender out of NC State who closes well, takes sound pursuit angles and chases with good effort. Round 3, No. 72 overall: Germaine Pratt, OLB, NC State My take: The Bengals finally addressed one of their most pressing needs by taking Pratt. The Bengals failed miserably at linebacker last season, partly because Preston Brown, Nick Vigil and Vontaze Burfict were all hurt for various portions of 2018. Burfict was released earlier this spring, so someone will have to step into his spot. Pratt is a former safety who transitioned to linebacker and says his versatility is one of his strengths. The Bengals say they don't have a set position for him yet, but considering the struggles of the backup linebackers last season, he has a shot to get playing time right away. play 0:54 NFL draft profile: Ryan Finley Ryan Finley is a tall and lean quarterback from NC State who has fast eyes and gets through his progressions quickly. Round 4, No. 104 overall: Ryan Finley, QB, North Carolina State My take: Backup quarterback Jeff Driskel's position certainly wasn't secure after the Bengals brought in a new coaching staff, and his position is even more shaky after the Bengals traded up six spots in the fourth round to get North Carolina State quarterback Ryan Finley. This likely doesn't mean anything for Andy Dalton at the moment, as he still has two years remaining on his deal. The Bengals have been adamant that Dalton is their guy for now, but he needs to have a solid year to keep that status. For now, Finley can learn behind Dalton and give them options next year. Round 4, No. 125 overall: Renell Wren, DT, Arizona State My take: The Bengals' defensive line is in the process of evolving, which is why the Bengals considered looking at the position as early as the first round. Wren is a big nose tackle who the Bengals have already nicknamed "Mt. Wren." He could slide into the interior rotation with players like Ryan Glasgow, Christian Ringo and Andrew Billings, along with their best interior rusher, Geno Atkins. play 0:48 NFL draft profile: Michael Jordan Michael Jordan is an offensive lineman from Ohio State, who was named second-team all-Big Ten in 2018. Round 4, No. 136 overall: Michael Jordan, C-G, Ohio State<doc-sep>How will the Bengals use their picks in the 2019 NFL draft? We’re breaking down every selection. After a 4–1 start, the Bengals finished the 2018 season at 6–10 in their final year under head coach Marvin Lewis, who was fired by Cincinnati in December. Lewis Lewis led the Bengals to a 131–122–3 record during his 16 season tenure, including three straight losing seasons without a playoff appearance. The Bengals selected Ohio State center Billy Price out of the Big Ten with their first pick in last year's draft. With the 11th pick this year, Cincinnati will again be able to take a relatively early first-round pick in 2019. (Check out draft needs for all 32 teams.) We're breaking down each of the Bengals' selections in this year's NFL draft with grades from The MMQB's Andy Benoit, as well as providing a full list of Cincinnati's picks, which will be updated as the draft continues. Bengals picks: Round 1, Pick 11 (No. 11 overall): Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama Andy Benoit's grade: B+ Many think that Williams can play guard or tackle in the NFL, which is good because the Bengals need help at both spots. Williams predominantly played left tackle at Alabama, but with Cordy Glenn that is one of just two stable positions along Cincy’s front five (the other is center, which is occupied by last year’s first-rounder Billy Price). So expect Williams to first get a crack at guard. Incumbent left guard Clint Boling and right guard John Miller are both fringe starters, if not merely quality backups. Which means its entirely possible Williams could play right tackle, which is currently manned by Bobby Hart, who is susceptible to the bull rush. Wherever Williams plays, this pick asserts the Bengals remain committed to Andy Dalton. Not only did they leave Dwayne Haskins on the board, but they took a blocker, which Dalton, who is inconsistent in messy pockets, relies on more than most QBs. Round 2, Pick 20 (No. 52 overall): Drew Sample, TE, Washington Andy Benoit's grade: B- This pick addresses a position of need for the Bengals, since Tyler Kroft is now a Bill, injury-prone Tyler Eifert is on a one-year contract and C.J. Uzomah is a backup. Sample is perceived as more of a blocker than a receiver, though a team doesn’t take a tight end in Round 2 if it's not confident that he can do both. In new head coach Zac Taylor’s scheme, Sample’s on-the-move blocking prowess will be key. Round 3, Pick 8 (No. 72 overall): Germaine Pratt, LB, NC State Andy Benoit's grade: A- Cincy’s linebacking corps is grossly lacking. Though weighing 240, not 250-plus, Pratt has the inside thumping style of play that the team sacrificed in dumping Vontaze Burfict. Don’t be surprised if the rookie plays a big role right away. Round 4, Pick 2 (No. 104 overall): Ryan Finley, QB, NC State Round 4, Pick 23 (No. 125 overall): Renell Wren, DT, Arizona State Round 4, Pick 34 (No. 136 overall): Michael Jordan, OG, Ohio State Round 6, Pick 9 (No. 182 overall): Trayveon Williams, RB, Texas A&M Round 6, Pick 37 (No. 210 overall): Deshaun Davis, LB, Auburn Round 6, Pick 38 (No. 211 overall): Rodney Anderson, RB, Oklahoma Round 7, Pick 9 (No. 223 overall): Jordan Brown, CB, South Dakota State See every NFL team's 2019 picks by clicking the links below. Arizona Cardinals | Atlanta Falcons | Baltimore Ravens | Buffalo Bills | Carolina Panthers | Chicago Bears | Cincinnati Bengals | Cleveland Browns | Dallas Cowboys | Denver Broncos | Detroit Lions | Green Bay Packers | Houston Texans | Indianapolis Colts | Jacksonville Jaguars | Kansas City Chiefs | Los Angeles Chargers | Los Angeles Rams | Miami Dolphins | Minnesota Vikings | New England Patriots | New Orleans Saints | New York Giants | New York Jets | Oakland Raiders | Philadelphia Eagles | Pittsburgh Steelers | San Francisco 49ers | Seattle Seahawks | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Tennessee Titans | Washington Redskins<doc-sep>
The Cincinnati Bengals put a bow on the first draft of the Zac Taylor era and emerged from the chaos emphatic the roster was improved for it. If anything, hindsight will agree the Bengals let Taylor go get the guys he wanted to fit his system and wants. Let’s break down how that unfolded. The class: Round 1, No. 11: Alabama OL Jonah Williams Round 2, No. 52: Washington TE Drew Sample Round 3, No. 72: NC State LB Germaine Pratt Round 4, No. 104: NC State QB Ryan Finley Round 4, No. 125: Arizona State DL Renell Wren Round 4, No. 136: Ohio State OL Michael Jordan Round 6, No. 182: Texas A&M RB Trayveon Williams Round 6, No. 210: Auburn LB Deshaun Davis Round 6, No. 211: Oklahoma RB Rodney Anderson Round 7, No. 223: South Dakota St. DB Jordan Brown FIRST UP: Jonah Williams Hard to complain about this, right? The Bengals got the first tackle off the board and the Alabama product can play almost anywhere on the line. Hindsight will suggest the Pittsburgh Steelers leaping in front of them to No. 10 and taking Devin Bush is important, but it doesn’t seem like it really was. The Bengals were looking to trade back up and get another tackle near the top of the second round too, which shows how serious they were about a line revamp. BEST PICK: Germaine Pratt This isn’t like last year in the third round when Malik Jefferson was named our worst pick. Jefferson was raw and didn’t play with a ton of instincts and went on to fail to impress in practices and in games. Pratt is the opposite — he’s a converted safety with great cover abilities and put on a skillful show in limited time as a starting linebacker. Odds are he takes a three-down role right away. WORST PICK: Drew Sample Well, Taylor and crew didn’t give anyone wiggle room with this one. Sample was a bad value in the second round. And maybe he really wasn’t because one or two other teams actually wanted him soon after. But a blocking tight end in the second round? It’s a bad look, especially with good offensive line talent left on the board and the need at linebacker, not to mention weapons such as Parris Campbell or Josh Oliver. DON’T SLEEP ON: Rodney Anderson Anderson would have been off the board in the first two rounds if he had stayed healthy last season. He ran for 1,161 yards and 13 touchdowns on a 6.2 per-carry average in 2017 and caught 17 passes with five more scores as a receiver. He’s Mark Walton except…better…and a much better value. DON’T SLEEP ON, PT II: Michael Jordan How could a guy with this name fail? Jordan looked better in college as a guard. He’s going to end up stealing one of the two starting gigs on the inside next to former teammate Billy Price. BIGGEST WINNER: Joe Mixon This was the Mixon draft. He got two new starting linemen, a blocking-minded tight end and plenty of spells who can come on the field and keep him fresh. Oh, and the entire strategy clearly aimed at making the offense revolve around him while he reaches for superstar status. BIGGEST LOSER(S): Linebackers Hardy Nickerson, Jordan Evans, Malik Jefferson, Brandon Bell, Chris Worley: good luck. The Marvin Lewis leftovers will be fighting for scraps. Germaine Pratt is a starter and sixth-round pick Deshaun Davis is already giving off scrappy Vincent Rey vibes. They traditionally keep six. There’s four already if the rookie picks make it. LESSON LEARNED: Taylor gets what he wants The Bengals traded up not once…but twice — and were rumored to be looking at a third move up. That’s unprecedented in Bengals history. Really, so too was Taylor hand-picking his staff at whatever pace he wants. Unchartered waters, folks. RISKY STRATEGY: No edge rusher After all the sniffing around pressure creators the Bengals did during the leadup to the draft…they didn’t take one. The Bengals are fine here as is if Carl Lawson is back fully healthy, but still — in today’s NFL, ignoring edge rusher is a bold move. STEELERS DRAMA: The Steelers jumped in front of the Bengals to get Bush. And maybe it pans out for them. But it feels like the Steelers are reaching while trying to dissect what the Bengals want to do. They got burnt with William Jackson a few years ago.