Bengals’ blockbuster-happy ways should continue with Round 2 trade up

The Cincinnati Bengals were more than happy to hold a welcome-to-Cincinnati event for new defensive centerpiece Dexter Lawrence in place of a draft party on Thursday night during Round 1.

Makes sense, but now it’s time to get back to being all-in around Joe Burrow.

Those Bengals hold the No. 41 pick overall in Round 2, the ninth pick on Friday night. And they’ve got hours to chat with the teams at the top of the order about a trade up.

The best draft prospects left on the board for the Bengals right now sure make it feel like a trade up could be worth it.

Should the Bengals trade up in Round 2?

The prospects on the board make this question a resounding yes.

Look at some of the names left:

• Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
• Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
• T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson
• D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
• Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

McDonald is a first-round prospect on most boards who would only help continue to rebuild the front seven.

McNeil-Warren is a guy who probably would have been a first-rounder if the NFL valued the position more.

Both Ponds and Rodriguez would fill more immediate needs. At corner, they have yet to find a true starter in the nickel and need more boundary depth. And linebacker hardly needs explained at this point.

The cost of moving up makes this a no. It usually costs a late second-rounder or some combination of picks in this year and beyond.

Bengals trade up in Round 2 verdict

Not happening.

The Bengals still have seven picks in this draft and could move future picks to move around if they really have a can’t-miss grade on one of these guys. But they had roughly seven blue-chip grades on prospects at No. 10 and traded that pick away.