2019 NFL Mock Draft: Odell Beckham trade throws first round into chaos

Cincinnati’s biggest need is at linebacker, and with Devin White off the board they might reach a bit for Michigan’s Devin Bush. I’ve seen several people who have Bush ranked higher on their boards than White, and while I don’t agree with that assessment, I don’t think there’s a very big gap between the two players.

Bush and White are both remarkably similar linebackers. They’re both undersized, but they’re hyper-athletic with a ton of range. Bush can move sideline-to-sideline to make plays and hold up well dropping into coverage. He’s got the potential to be a real difference-maker as a pass rusher in certain situations as well.

He tested off the charts at the combine just like White did, with an almost fictional 4.4 40-yard-dash time. He’s slight in comparison to your traditional middle linebackers, but he represents the evolution of the position, evolving to combat the up-temp spread-offenses of the modern era of football.

If the Bengals feel like this is too high for Bush, don’t be surprised if they explore some trade-down options in order to obtain some more draft capital. If they stand pat, they might also consider Alabama offensive tackle Jonah Williams, who I still view as the draft’s top offensive lineman.

A tight end like Hockenson or Fant could make sense here, too, although the news of Cincinnati bringing back Tyler Eifert on a one-year deal might change that. They might also be suitors for Dwayne Haskins if he slides past the Giants at No. 6, if the team isn’t sold on Andy Dalton being the answer long term anymore.