Hartman: Buckeyes’ Billy Price pick looks like a home run for Bengals

Billy Price brings pretty much everything the Cincinnati Bengals could want with their first pick in the NFL Draft.

Toughness.

Talent.

Pedigree.

Personality.

Leadership.

Accountability.

You name it, Price has it.

Marvin Lewis on Price: "You want to have 53 guys on your team like that."

Remember seeing the center pushed into Andy Dalton’s face or back into the path of a running play the last four years?

Those days are over.

Billy Price is not someone who goes backwards very often.

He is a brute (in the best sense) who can play center or guard with great power and leverage.

A good athlete who plays with great technique, Price is scheme diverse after working the zone running game and gap blocking at various times at Ohio State.

The only way this pick would be better is if he were not recovering from an injury, but that is not expected to be a concern by the time training camp starts.

On the bright side, the Bengals have some options on the roster inside just in case he isn’t quite ready, and he should be a quick study as far as learning the playbook.

At this point, the Bengals appear to have perfectly played things by acquiring tackle Cordy Glenn from the Bills while moving back in the draft.

They successfully shored up their two weakest spots from last season in one move and still have 10 more picks to use to strengthen the roster.

NFL.com's assessment of Price notes he is sometimes too aggressive.

That’s a “flaw” most offensive line coaches will take in a heartbeat.

Price is great with the media, too, and should bring a strong presence to the locker room.

There are no sure things in the NFL draft, but Billy Price is about as close as they come.

This pick looks like a home run for the Bengals on and off the field.

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