Bengals selected North Dakota State OT Cordell Volson with the No. 136 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Volson (6'6"/315) was a three-year starter for the Bison, mostly at right tackle. He was an FCS first-team All-American in 2021 and posted fantastic PFF grades the past three years. He’s a powerful run blocker with a mean streak, a prime example of a mauler. He excels the most when he can fire forward and just start moving people aside in a power run game before bursting upfield and hitting the second level. Volson shows good straight-line explosion to do those things but is very limited laterally, and both his agility drills ranked below the 20th percentile. His thick build and strength allow him to jolt defenders when he gets his hands in the right place, and he’s definitely not easy to move in pass protection. Unfortunately, his lack of fast feet means skilled and speedy rushers will cause him fits, which is why many project a move inside, where his power and finishing in the run game will be better utilized.