This week, the Bengals got a lengthy look at two top offensive line prospects. According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, the Bengals welcomed Washington offensive tackle Troy Fautanu on a top-30 visit on Tuesday. According to Ryan Fowler of Bleacher Report, the Bengals will also pay a top-three visit to Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga.
After redshirting as a freshman and playing sporadically in 2020 and 2021, Fautanu became a full-time starter for Washington in 2022 and 2023. This culminated in a 2023 season that won him first-team All-Pac-12 recognition. That performance also moved him up the draft boards, and Fautanu is likely to hear his name called somewhere during the first round.
Fuaga is one of the offensive tackles competing with Fautanu to be selected in the first round. The Oregon State product was also a first-team All-Pac-12 honoree this past season. Scouts have lauded the prospect’s offensive line IQ, and there’s some belief he could play both tackle and guard in the NFL.
The Bengals signed Trent Brown to play opposite Orlando Brown Jr., so the team does not require an OT. However, as Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic pointed out yesterday, the Bengals still need a swing tackle, and they’d love for a youngster to give Brown some competition at right tackle.
If the Bengals do decide to draft a first-round offensive tackle, Dehner does not see the coaching staff experimenting with the rookie’s position. Alex Cappa is firmly set at one guard position, while the Bengals “really like the progress” of Cordell Volson, according to Dehner.