Bengals 2019 Mock Draft 3.0: A look at QBs who could be in play on first two days
NOTE: With the Bengals having completed a third straight losing season it's time to look at potential help for the 2019 season via the NFL Draft in late April through various mock drafts. These early looks at mock drafts will eventually lead to doing full seven-round mock drafts for the team prior to the NFL Scouting Combine, after the Combine and then just prior to the Draft itself.
CINCINNATI (WKRC) - While the Bengals still have Andy Dalton under contract for the next two seasons it may be time for them to start looking for his replacement in the draft, especially with a new head coach taking over in 2019.
The Bengals could actually cut Dalton in 2019 and not owe him anything due to the way his contract was structured. But he is still an effective enough quarterback that it probably isn't time to turn things over to a rookie.
The team could, however, opt to make an early round pick on a quarterback if the organization thinks he can be a successful starter in the future with Dalton serving as a bridge for a season or two.
This is not a great draft for quarterbacks, however.
Here is a look at seven quarterbacks who are projected by most analysts at this point to be taken in the first three rounds of the draft and the round they are projected right now:
1. Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
Projected Round: 1st
Noteworthy: Good size at 6-3, 220 pounds with a strong, accurate arm. ... Passed for 4,831 yards, 50 touchdowns and only eight interceptions in 533 attempts. ... Has a lot of things that need to be corrected and refined, but has tremendous upside. ... He likely won't be on the board when the Bengals select No. 11 overall in the first round.
2. Drew Lock, Missouri
Projected Round: 1st
Noteworthy: He is 6-3, 226 pounds and his arm strength is not in question, but his leadership skills due to his quiet nature and consistency are. ... Completed 61 percent of his passes for 3,498 yards, 28 touchdowns and only eight interceptions in 437 attempts in 2018 after completing 57.8 percent of his passes for 3,964 yards, 44 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 419 attempts in 2017. ... He may also be gone when the Bengals pick in the first round.
3. Daniel Jones, Duke
Projected Round: 1st-2nd
Noteworthy: He is 6-5, 220 pounds and played for David Cutcliffe, who tutored both Peyton Manning and Eli Manning in college. ... He completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,674 yards, 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 392 attempts. ... Three-year starter who was pretty steady all three seasons. ... His stock could rise to the point where he may not be available when the Bengals pick in the first round.
4. Will Grier, West Virginia
Projected Round: 2nd-3rd
Noteworthy: The 6-foot-2, 223-pounder was extremely effective in West Virginia's wide open offense, passing for 7,354 yards, 71 touchdowns and only 20 interceptions in 785 attempts in his two seasons with the Mountaineers after transferring from Florida. ... The big question is his arm strength, which is why he likely won't be a first round pick and could go as late as the third round.
5. Ryan Finley, North Carolina State
Projected Round: 2nd-3rd
Noteworthy: The 6-3, 208-pounder was a three-year starter and completed 64.5 percent of his passes for 10,501 yards, 60 touchdowns and 25 interceptions in 1,364 attempts. ... Doesn't have a great arm and has been labeled as more of a game manager, but is very accurate.
6. Clayton Thorson, Northwestern
Projected Round: 2nd-4th
Noteworthy: The 6-foot-4, 227-pounder started 53 straight games, which is the most in Big Ten Conference history, but his statistics were fairly benign. For his career he completed only 58.4 percent of his passes for 10,731 yards, 61 touchdowns and 45 interceptions in 1,697 attempts. ... He had considered entering the draft last year, but returned when he didn't receive a first-round grade.
7. Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
Projected Round: 3rd-4th
Noteworthy: The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder started the last two seasons at Auburn after transferring from Baylor and wasn't overly dynamic, but did take care of the ball. ... He passed for 5,952 yards, 36 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions in 739 attempts in his two seasons with Auburn. ... He was plagued by inconsistency in 2018 and was probably better in 2017 than 2018.
EARLIER 2019 MOCK DRAFT STORIES
Here is a link to the previous Bengals 2019 Mock Draft stories from Local12.com:
- Mock Draft 1.0: Three rounds worth of plugging holes
- Mock Draft 2.0: Consensus of five sites points to LB for first-round pick
