The plan, on paper, looked sound.
Draft who you believe will be a franchise left tackle in the first round in 2015, but extend your All-Pro veteran left tackle into his 11th season through 2016 to allow a window of growth. Then, turn the position over to the first-round pick in 2017 and live happily ever after through the next decade.
Only Cedric Ogbuehi’s subpar seasons in each of the last two years have forced the Cincinnati Bengals to have to re-evaluate that plan on paper.
The team is unlikely to pick up Ogbuehi’s fifth-year option, making this his contract season.