By now, Cincinnati Bengals fans know all the names suggested for the team in the 2023 NFL draft’s first round, if not names who have been actually linked to the team — such as running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
But one name yet to come up in a Round 1 capacity? Syracuse offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron.
This one comes from Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network:
Conventional wisdom says the Bengals will draft a tight end or cornerback. I have them selecting tight end Dalton Kincaid in my mock draft and Cincinnati is another team considering cornerback DJ Turner in the first round. The sleeper pick for Cincinnati is offensive tackle Matthew Bergeron of Syracuse…I’m told the Bengals feel the athletic Bergeron could play right tackle on Sunday and would be a better pass protector for Joe Burrow than Williams.
For the Bengals, Bergeron usually pops up in mocks in the second round. He’s scheme versatile, though opinions vary on where he will play on the line at the next level. He’s PFFs ninth offensive tackle.
Fans of the Bengals might have concerns with picking Bergeron in the first round on the chance it’s a Billy Price-styled reach that does more harm than good.
But what’s interesting to consider is that if the team doesn’t like the way the board falls Thursday night, they could be comfortable taking a rather sizeable trade down in the hopes of still getting Bergeron later.
