The Cincinnati Bengals dipped into the secondary again in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft, selecting Nebraska cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt.
That undersells it a little bit, of course — the team traded up a handful of spots, sacrificing No. 63 and No. 209 in the process to go and get their guy.
But hey, the aggressiveness from the front office can be a good thing, and in this case, it appears it was. There was a big run on the cornerback position in the second round, so the Bengals went and got a guy they really liked after he visited.
Not only that, he’s got Bengals pick written all over him. He was a captain. He can play multiple spots. His production is great. His athleticism, including a 4.38 40-yard dash, screams pro upside.
Interestingly, Bleacher Report‘s scouting report called Taylor-Britt a “weapon” in the best way:
“As an aggressive run defender, Taylor-Britt constantly has his eyes in the backfield. This leads to him being open to play action, as well as getting burned looking for the big play. Ultimately, Taylor-Britt is a unique player who can find a role as a weapon for a defensive coordinator in the NFL. If he can play more consistently in the pass game while continuing to be disruptive in the run, he might be a steal in this draft.”
His production profile is also outstanding:
The Cincinnati Bengals pick Nebraska CB Cam Taylor-Britt at No. 60 overall.
EIGHTEEN interceptions + forced incompletions since 2020 (1st among Big Ten CBs) 🔒 pic.twitter.com/Ts1A5fU6Qp
— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) April 30, 2022
One could argue there might have been better value on the board at another position of need. But it’s hard to blame the Bengals for going after elite athletes and proven leaders while they try to combat an AFC with Patrick Mahomes and others.
Taylor-Britt offers immediate production as a rotational player and with so many contracts coming due soon, plenty of upside as an every-down starter. All it cost was an extra late pick to move up, too.
