The Bengals literally finished off their massive fourth round with the selection of East Carolina left tackle D'Ante Smith, a 6-foot-5, 294 pounder with 35-inch arms who may be able to play guard.
Smith, a three-year starter, suffered a season-ending injury in last season's opener, halting a skein of 26 straight starts.
Smith, taken with the Bengals' third pick in the fourth at No. 139, is known for his movement and was the third linemen they took in the round after taking Tulsa pass rusher Cam Sample and LSU defensive tackle Tyler Shelvin. He's another guy that impressed the Bengals at the Senior Bowl practices after they picked Sample, an MVP in Mobile. Smith missed the game with a thumb injury.
Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan said Smith has the nimble feet of a tackle but showed during Senior Bowl week he's got muscle to play guard.
"You're looking for traits and he's got them," said Callahan, who, yes, noticed the arm length. "When you see guys with 35-inch, 36-inch arms , you do see how they recover and how they can get separation for the quarterback. It's a factor."
Presented by Tide, the Bengals select D'Ante Smith with the 139th pick in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Check out the top pictures of the Bengals selection from East Carolina.
East Carolina offensive tackle D'Ante Smith in his stance.
East Carolina offensive lineman D'Ante Smith (67) lifts running back Darius Pinnix Jr. (7) following Pinnix's touchdown against Central Florida during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Greenville, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
American Team offensive lineman D'Ante Smith of East Carolina (67) walks on the field during the NCAA Senior Bowl college football game in Mobile, Ala., Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
East Carolina running back Darius Pinnix (7) is congratulated by teammate D'Ante Smith (67) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against the North Carolina in Greenville, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018. ECU won 41-19. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
American Team offensive lineman D'Ante Smith of East Carolina (67) walks the sidelines during the NCAA Senior Bowl college football game in Mobile, Ala., Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
East Carolina tackle D'Ante Smith jumps out in pass protection in a game against UConn.
North Carolina State's Deonte Holden (55) and Isaiah Stallings (22) battle East Carolina's D'Ante Smith (67) and Garrett McGhin (55) for a fumble during the second half of NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018. N.C. State recovered the ball. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
