Ryan Finley drafted by Cincinnati Bengals with 2nd pick in the 4th round of 2019 NFL Draft

Germaine Pratt will have a familiar face heading with him to Cincinnati for the 2019 season, as Ryan Finley was selected by the Bengals with the 2nd pick of the 4th round (104th overall) in the 2019 NFL Draft.

The Bengals traded up to get Finley, sending their 110th, 183rd, and 198th overall picks in this year’s draft to the San Francisco 49ers to move up six spots and grab the former Wolfpack signal-caller.

Similar to Pratt’s situation, this is a good landing spot for Finley. Cincy starting QB Andy Dalton will turn 32 during the season, and while Finley is highly unlikely to supplant Dalton under center this year, the backup situation for the Bengals is there for Finley to take.

The only two other QBs currently on the Bengals roster are Jeff Driskel and former Miami Hurricanes QB Brad Kaaya. Driskel was just 1-4 in his five starts subbing in for an injured Dalton last year (yeah, I know, starting QB records aren’t completely fair), but he was acquired in 2016 off waivers from the 49ers. Kaaya has yet to take an NFL regular season snap, but has been traded once and signed off waivers four times. Needless to say, the Bengals weren’t confident in their backup options behind Dalton.

Finley was a three-year starter for NC State after transferring from Boise State, throwing for 10,501 yards and 60 TDs with the Wolfpack. He is the third NC State player selected in this year’s NFL Draft, joining Pratt and Garrett Bradbury. Finley is the 16th NC State player selected over the last four drafts.