Bengals Projected for Perfect First-Round Pick in Todd McShay's First 2022 NFL Mock Draft

The Cincinnati Bengals have the core pieces in place to compete for an AFC North title, but there are still some roster needs they should address this offseason. Todd McShay projects them to fix the offensive line issues by selecting Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum in his first 2022 NFL mock draft.

Bengals Mock Draft

This is exactly what Bengals fans should be hoping the team does on April 28. Cincinnati has featured one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL this season as quarterback Joe Burrow has been sacked a whopping 41 times. In fact, that is the highest mark for any starting quarterback this season.

Current starting center Trey Hopkins has been played wobbly at times this season and the team still doesn't have a reliable right guard. Drafting an offensive lineman with some versatility like Linderbaum would greatly benefit Cincinnati. He has the chops to slide right into a starting spot.

The 21-year-old is heralded for his ability to simply move defensive lineman around and also work into the second level. That would open up more space for Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon to work with. While may not be the sexiest pick, it is a necessary one if the Bengals want to improve on offense.

Simply put, the Bengals would be getting a steal if they're able to nab Linderbaum at No. 16 overall. For now, Burrow & company will keep fighting to stay alive in the NFL playoff race. Cincinnati currently has odds set at +156 to secure a postseason berth, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

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Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.