It's hard to follow up the season the Cincinnati Bengals just had. The Bengals followed up a 4-11-1 record with a Super Bowl appearance in one of the best Cinderella stories the NFL has ever seen. Cincinnati followed that success up with a great offseason. General manager Mike Brown made some big free agent additions, and his work in the draft was rock-solid. There are plenty of Cincinnati rookies that could make an instant impact, but one is far more likely than the others. Former University of Nebraska cornerback Cameron Taylor-Britt should make his presence felt as a rookie despite being drafted late in the second round.
Bengals Rookie Sleeper for 2022 NFL Season
Taylor-Britt has tons of NFL-caliber traits as a rookie. He has top-end athleticism, as shown by his 4.38 40-yard dash. His ball skills are also fantastic. He had more than four pass breakups in every single season in college to go along with several interceptions. As a senior, Taylor-Britt racked up 11 pass breakups, a sack, and an interception. He clearly has a nose for the ball, and that should help him make a big impact early in his career.
Taylor-Britt should make an impact for a multitude of reasons, including his versatility. During his time as a Cornhusker, he spent significant time at slot cornerback, outside corner, and safety. While the Bengals will likely try him out at one of the cornerback positions, Taylor-Britt's ability to play safety essentially guarantees that he'll see the field in some capacity.
He also brings a ton of value on special teams, a role he filled throughout his career with the Cornhuskers. Taylor-Britt was outstanding in that capacity, as he was a consistent tackler who also managed to block a kick as a senior. It's a long season, and injuries will take their toll on Cincinnati's secondary. Taylor-Britt will be able to fill in at almost every single position on the back end, a huge plus for a rookie second-round selection.
At first glance, the Bengals look like they're set at cornerback. Chidobe Awuzie is coming off of one of his best seasons as a pro, and Eli Apple is an established starter despite the endless internet hatred he received after the Super Bowl. Mike Hilton is also pretty good slot corner.
However, after those three guys, there's a concerning lack of depth. Taylor-Britt is really the only legitimate backup the Bengals have. Tre Flowers and Jalen Davis are the next guys behind Taylor-Britt, and Cincinnati will be in serious trouble if those guys have to play serious snaps.
The Nebraska product is essentially the only good backup at cornerback, meaning that he is almost guaranteed to play big snaps at one of the most important positions on the field. That alone is a ton of value out of a second-round pick.
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