While that is undoubtedly a broad generalisation, we have all heard plenty of jokes about the orange-and-black stripes on the jerseys being there for a reason other than what they are. The Cincinnati Bengals have an unfortunate reputation over the years for bringing in players with legal issues, and even after a long and sometimes painful history of doing so, Cincinnati may not have an option but to do so again in 2024.
Although the 6’4′′, 362-pound prospect from Texas has been widely discussed—and properly so—as a significant red flag for a draft pick this season, he might be in luck. An OWI would often result in a player being benched for one or two rounds, as clubs question whether a player can bounce back from a significant criminal conduct at such a formative time in their lives. However, in terms of interior defensive lineman, this season is unlike any other.
A red flag such as this would push Sweat’s name to the bottom of the list of the five to ten available nose tackles in an average season. The odd thing is that, with every other tackle in this draft weighing in at less than 315 pounds, Sweat is the only real nose tackle. This implies that a team may still decide to make a move in the second round in order to ensure that they add the goliath to their squad, even if they are eager to find a one-technique to fill up the middle.
For Cincinnati to have any chance defensively next season, they’ll have to take the gamble on Sweat and hope that he doesn’t make any additional legal blunders down the road.
