The Cincinnati Bengals held a top-10 pick in the NFL draft this year, but it was a sort of no-man’s land in terms of finding the proper balance between value and actual need.
Hence, the Bengals outright trading the pick away for Dexter Lawrence.
The Bengals would have loved to get a Caleb Downs or Sonny Styles, or perhaps even the top cornerback in the draft, if all else failed. But NFL rumors and sheer logic said those guys would all be gone by No. 10.
This major point isn’t exclusive to the Bengals. Other teams felt the same way. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated even grabbed a quote from a rival general manager applauding the move:
“The Bengals, as they discussed the deal, looked at what they’d get with the 10th pick, likely someone like Ohio State S Caleb Downs or LSU CB Mansoor Delane if they were fortunate enough to have one of those two fall to them. And they determined what the likelihood was they’d be picking someone that they had a mid-to-late first-round grade on at No. 10, based on the makeup of the draft class. It’s a sentiment I’ve heard from other teams, too, in the aftermath of the deal. “There’s nobody of his talent in this year’s draft,” said one rival GM. “I would take him over every defensive player in this draft.” Which, ultimately, explains why, by the end of that week, they’d wind up offering that pick clean to the Giants for Lawrence.”
It said much about Lawrence’s value when the Giants dragged their feet for a week or more with this trade offer on the table, despite picks not usually getting offered like this.
And it says much about the move by the Bengals that rival general managers can’t help but nod in approval, too.
Even if the Bengals had stood pat and lucked into someone like Downs, there was no guarantee the prospect drafted at No. 10 would contribute right away on a defense that needed immediate help. No guarantee they panned out long-term, either, based on the drafting and development in Cincinnati as of late.
Instead, the Bengals moved the pick and got a top nose tackle who should make everyone from Shemar Stewart on the edge to Demetrius Knight at linebacker and more better, immediately.
Hence, the praise from all corners that matter within the NFL.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals’ Dexter Lawrence trade even has rival GMs praising Cincy