Way-Too-Early 2023 NFL Mock Draft | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals offense gets a lot of credit for the franchise's turnaround in 2021. However, the front office has shown that it understands the value of building a strong defense as well.

If Burrow continues his ascent, the Bengals are going to be dangerous for the foreseeable future. How good the defense is will determine the team's ceiling as they try to navigate the postseason with several explosive offenses in the AFC.

Director of player personnel Duke Tobin showed he understands this by taking defensive backs (Daxton Hill and Cam Taylor-Britt) with the team's first two picks this year.

Here, they continue those efforts by taking the top linebacker in the draft. The Bengals were questioned for passing on Noah Sewell's older brother Penei when they took Ja'Marr Chase.

This time, the value of taking a Sewell would be too good to pass up. The Samoan was all over the field for the Ducks in 2021, racking up 114 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, five passes defended and an interception.