Even when it’s not football season, it’s football season.

The NFL draft was in full swing and it gave over 200 athletes a chance to live their dream of getting drafted by an NFL team.  For some people, it’s a quick night and for some it seems like eternity until they get drafted.

This year, the hometown Bengals looked to improve the many gaping holes in their team with what they hope will be future key pieces.

The Bengals finished last season with a disappointing 7-9 record, including losing all the prime time games where they were featured.  This performance and record had fans calling for the firing of head coach Marvin Lewis.

The front office listened to the fan-base and instead of firing him, gave him a contract extension.  So the Master of Mediocrity (Coach Lewis) and his crew took to the draft to bring hope back to the Nasty ‘Nati.

Round 1, Pick 21: Billy Price (C)

They hit it out of the park with their first round pick.  If you watched any games last year, you could easily tell that the Bengals o-line was atrocious.

At The Ohio State University, Price was a first-team all-american and earned the Rimington Trophy for being named the best center in college football.

Some injury concerns caused him to slip down in the draft, but that won’t hinder his ability to be a long term offensive linemen for the Bengals

Round 2, Pick 54: Jessie Bates III (S)

With this pick the Bengals looked to deepen their secondary with another safety.  With James Shaw becoming a free agent after the next season, they need some pick up with this Wake Forest standout.

This pick was alright, but I’m surprised that they didn’t use this pick on offense as they ranked last in total yards gained in all the NFL.

Round 3, Pick 77: Sam Hubbard (DE)

The hometown kid from The Ohio State University returned home to the very team he grew up cheering for.  Hubbard attended GCL rival Moeller High School.

He went into college listed as a safety and come out a dominating pass rusher for one of the top defensive lines in the country.  Hopefully he can represent the GCL well and take over a starting job.

Round 3, Pick 78: Malik Jefferson (OLB)

After this season, the Bengals could lose two of their linebackers to free agency, and with Vontaze Burfict getting

suspended every game, they looked to find their next great linebacker.

Malik had an impressive 110 tackles his junior year and decided to forgo his senior year for a chance of a lifetime.  His fast and physical play style should fit perfectly with the Bengals defense.

Bengals had less significant picks to finish off the draft.  Three of them were compensatory picks, meaning they just picked them due to a serious illness or injury to help fulfill a dream.

I think the Bengals made progress this draft. The biggest thing they needed was an o-line and they addressed it with their first round pick.  I would have liked  even more linemen, but one stud can help immensely.

The defensive picks were smart and it proves that they are thinking of the future, which will be a positive for the fans of the infamous Bengals.