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The Cincinnati Bengals may have had a roller-coaster season, so sickening fans may have actually thrown up due to its up-and-down stature. It started off poorly due to Joe Burrow's leg injury. Things then started going well, with a dominant win over the eventual NFC champion 49ers prompting a quick inspiration for the team to turn things around.

Then Burrow ended his season in Baltimore with a wild thumb injury, and the Bengals Super Bowl hopes followed suit. The Bengals are now in an odd spot. Burrow once said his championship window is open for his entire career. That statement may be true, but with Burrow and Ja'marr Chase's contracts now taking up a lot of cap space, there isn't much room for excitement like there was just a year ago.

Tee Higgins has demanded a trade, and keeping both him and Chase at the same time is just not an option. The team has had an underrated free agency period, signing Mike Gesicki, Geno Stone, and a handful of other under-the-radar steals.

Now is the time to prepare for the draft. The Bengals have many ways to play their cards, but they aren't going to sit and let the future play itself out. They want to win, and they want to win now. The Bengals just need to keep Higgins happy to play one final year. There are a couple of prospects who could help them complete their mission this year, making an immediate impact on a team still in its Super Bowl window. 

1. DL Jer'zhan Newton

While everyone knows the Bengals were in a bit of a defensive rebuild last year, the defensive line hasn't been bad on paper. Considering they've had Trey Hendrickson and a few other pieces, the secondary has taken a driver's seat this and last off-season. It wouldn't hurt to boost the defensive line, however, especially if they can get someone in the draft who fits their system while also being someone too dominant to pass on.

Enter Jer'zhan Newton (or Johnny because he goes by both as his first name). If you were to physically build the ideal interior defensive lineman, it would look like Newton. Newton's 6’ 2’’, 304 lbs, and extremely agile for someone that size. Newton's physicality lets him stuff the run like no other, and he has a tough bull rush, while his speed and quickness gift him a series of pass-rushing moves that guards and centers can't stop. Newton is a menace off the edge as well.

Newton and Hendrickson would make the ultimate defensive end duo, arguably the best in the entire league. Newton might not get many sacks because he struggles with pursuing QBs and wrapping up, but his ability to create pressure is insane. 

 2. WR Troy Franklin

If the Bengals move on from Tee Higgins, their window might be temporarily closed. That said, regardless of whether they move on from him, this wide receiver class is spectacular. The Bengals can add some depth to the room and groom someone for Higgin's inevitable departure, or rip the bandaid off now and find a replacement in the first or second round.

Oregon's Troy Franklin is the perfect target if they want to pounce on someone in the 2nd round. Franklin 6'3" and ran a 4.4 40 at the combine. Franklin can make any catch, and if he truly weighs 187 lbs (Franklin supposedly had the flu at the combine) he should have a solid NFL build.

Franklin's play style is reminiscent of Tee Higgins in how fast and tall he is, so his role would be obvious. Franklin would fit the offense like a glove, and while he may not fully replicate Higgin's impact on and off the stat sheet, the Bengals should take a chance on him.

3. TE Ja'Tavion Sanders

There are a lot of links for the Bengals to get Brock Bowers with the 18th pick in this year's draft, but with the team signing Mike Gesicki it might be slightly futile. Ja'Tavion Sanders from Texas will fall to the 2nd or maybe even the 3rd round, and you know what, he might just be better than Bowers.

It's a big might because Bowers is a beast himself. Bowers's ability to make contested catches is off the charts, and while Sanders can make any catch as well, he isn't on Bowers's extraordinary level. Sanders is however much faster and arguably a better route runner, and will be able to get more separation than Bowers. 

Both should do well at the pro level, but Sanders is the more complete package as far as receiving goes. Both can block, but in today's NFL, everyone's looking for the Travis Kelce's and Darren Wallers. Unfortunately run blocking just isn't important or wanted today, especially for Tight Ends. Overall, the Bengals may be better off getting a Tackle or defensive player in the 1st round and getting one of these three players in the 2nd round.