Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The 2015 NFL Draft is swiftly approaching and the Cincinnati Bengals could go in several different directions with the 21st pick. Many believe they will trade their first-round pick to receive more picks in later rounds. I, however, believe that drafting offensive tackle Andrus Peat would be the smartest move if he’s still on the board.
Prior to free agency, I would have definitely chosen a defensive lineman for the Bengals’ first pick, but the return of Michael Johnson and Pat Simms slightly lessens Cincinnati’s need for a pass rusher. That’s not to say that they wouldn’t benefit from drafting one; I just feel that value-wise, they will be better off doing that in the later rounds.
Peat would be a great pick for the Bengals, especially with their starting left tackle, Andrew Whitworth, becoming a free agent in 2016. This would not only ensure depth at the position, but would allow for Peat to learn a lot from a solid offensive lineman corps in his first year, preparing him to possibly become the starting left guard in 2016.
Peat has proven to be a durable and reliable offensive tackle, having started his last 27 straight games with the Stanford Cardinals. He is tall with a great frame, and has impressive instincts and power. He has the potential to be a stellar run blocker with efficient pass protection ability at the NFL level. In my opinion, he is one of the most NFL-ready offensive linemen in this year’s draft. The Bengals would be lucky to nab him with the 21st pick.
