Draft of Price about protecting Dalton

CINCINNATI — Billy Price grew up in eastern Ohio, and his stepfather was from Pittsburgh, so he says he “unfortunately” grew up as a Steelers fan.

The Cincinnati Bengals took the Ohio State center with the 21st overall pick Thursday, another addition to address their biggest problem area. After watching four quarterbacks go higher in the round, they got someone to protect their own. And as it turned out, he comes from right up the road.

Cincinnati’s offense finished last in the league in yards in 2017 — it had never done so poorly — and the running game was among the worst in club history.

The main problem was a line that couldn’t protect quarterback Andy Dalton or open holes for the running game. The team knew what had to change.

The Bengals’ draft maneuvering started a month ago when they traded the No. 12 overall pick to Buffalo for the 21st pick and left tackle Cordy Glenn, a significant upgrade. They lost center Russell Bodine in the offseason — he signed a two-year deal with Buffalo — and Round 1: 21. C Billy Price, Ohio State Round 2: 54. S Jessie Bates III, Wake Forest Round 3: 77. DE Sam Hubbard, Ohio State; 78. LB Malik Jefferson, Texas Round 4: 112 Round 5: 151, 158, 170 Round 7: 249, 252, 253

needed someone to anchor the middle of the line.

In their minds, Price was a first-round pick even though he’s recovering from a chest injury (he’s expected to be ready for training camp.) A meeting at the NFL combine left that much of an impression.

“He walks out of that room and everyone was, ‘Wow, this is the guy you want to have on your team,’” offensive coordinator Bill Lazor said.

The Bengals hadn’t taken a center with their first overall pick since 1983, when they got Dave Rimington. The only other time they took a center with their first pick was the 1968 expansion draft, when they got Bob Johnson.

On Friday, the Bengals tried to help a defense that slipped last season, taking safety Jessie Bates III from Wake Forest in the second round.