NEWS FLASH: Cincinnati Bengals Sever Ties With Epic 2021 Draft Bust
The Cincinnati Bengals have a long history of infamous draft blunders, with notable misses like quarterback Akili Smith in 1999 and offensive tackle Cedric Ogbuehi in 2015. For years, the organization struggled to identify and develop collegiate prospects. However, since Zac Taylor took over as head coach in 2019, the Bengals have become more adept at scouting young talent. Despite this improvement, their draft record is still not without its flaws.
Cincinnati Bengals Cut Former Clemson Tiger
After a disappointing preseason, Duke Tobin and the Bengals front office have officially cut ties with 2021 second-round pick Jackson Carman. Drafted 46th overall, Carman saw significant playing time during his rookie season, but his role diminished drastically afterward, with only sixteen offensive snaps over the past two seasons. For a second-round pick, this level of contribution is undeniably a major letdown.
Amongst the Worst Training Camps in Recent History
Even if he didn’t help himself, Carman wasn’t handed a particularly easy hand when the team signed starter tackle Trent Brown and then draughted Amarius Mims with the 18th overall pick this offseason. That meant that in order to be considered valued, he had to perform at least as well as a first-round pick.
Fast forward to training camp: Carman has had one of the worst training camps imaginable after immediately falling to the bottom of the depth chart. Carman drew four penalties in 64 offensive snaps this preseason, earning a subpar Pro Football Focus overall score of 55.4 while playing with the third string and facing low-level competition. Even with the terrible camp, Carman’s penalties were a major issue, as he was quickly removed from each preseason game due to embarrassing false start penalties.
Even though Carman appears to have battled with his work ethic during his brief NFL career, the arrival of two starting quality tackles this offseason may have dealt a crushing blow to his prospects of playing. After all, his chances of getting a starting job this season, let alone a second-string role, were slim. Carman will most certainly have the opportunity to sign with another team as a backup, and the Clemson product may be able to jumpstart what might still be a great career.