While it makes plenty of sense for the Cincinnati Bengals to address defense with their first-round pick, upgrading the offensive line is still on the offseason checklist. One name that could be on the table for the Bengals at No. 17 is Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson. Let’s dive into the case.
Case for Jackson
Jackson would bring versatility up front, as he has experience playing both guard and tackle. Guard is where the Bengals really need help and that is more of a natural position for Jackson. He moved to left tackle last season after Josh Simmons suffered a knee injury in October. Jackson played very well at both positions, but particularly at guard. Jackson is a very smart player with good size and can play in a variety of schemes, thanks to his experience playing in Chip Kelly’s offense. His ability in pass protection should be very intriguing to the Bengals and their investment in the offense and quarterback Joe Burrow.
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Case against Jackson
Not too much to nitpick about Jackson’s game, though there are some that would like to see him improve his ability to recover. This is also a position where the Bengals may feel they can wait and land a player like Tate Ratledge of Georgia on Day 2.
The Verdict
Jackson would be an instant upgrade to the offensive line and can slide right in at left guard. The Bengals would likely be passing up some of the top edge-rushers in this class, but the Bengals have big money invested in their offense. Taking Jackson would be far from the worst idea in the world.
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