Offensive tackles the Bengals could target in Round 1

The signing of Trent Brown was huge for the Cincinnati Bengals (pun absolutely intended), but it doesn’t move them off of drafting an offensive tackle in April.

Brown has a concerning injury history and only signed a one-year deal. Also, this year’s draft class is stacked with talent on the offensive line. There are six high-quality offensive tackle options that would provide great value with the 18th pick.

Notre Dame’s Joe Alt will certainly not slip to 18.

Despite his oddly small hands, Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu, with his smooth and easy pass protection, is unlikely to fall as well.

Taliese Fuaga may be a glass-eater, but he is killing the pre-draft process, so the Oregon right tackle is likely off the board as well.

At only 6’4”, I think the Bengals and many other teams will see Washington’s Troy Fautanu as a guard, so I am going to scratch him off the board as well.

That leaves two likely projects for the Bengals with the 18th overall pick. Both are massive human beings who played right tackle in the SEC.

Amarius Mims – Georgia – 6’8” 340

At 6’8” 340, Mims will fit in perfectly with the 6’8” 345 Orlando Brown Jr. and the 6’8” 355 Trent Brown.

Amarius Mims has amazing feet, and not just for a man of his size. He is excellent in pass protection, using his long arms to keep the pass rusher at a distance and showing the savvy to pick up defensive line stunts. As a run blocker, he gets some serious movement but also shows an incredible ability to climb to the second level and block linebackers.

Mims is a little raw in his technique and has limited experience. After starting in the playoffs and National Championship a year ago, this was supposed to be Mims’s breakout year, but an ankle injury limited him to only six starts for the season. Still, PFF has him with 364 pass-blocking snaps over the last two seasons giving up zero sacks and zero QB hits.

Projection: Mims would not have been at the top of my list a week ago, but the Trent Brown acquisition made it easier to take a riskier pick. In Year 1, Mims will be the backup right tackle, with Trent Brown having the ability to switch to the left side if Orlando Brown Jr. should be injured at any point during the season.