The Bengals from Syracuse selected Dave Lapham in the third round (48th overall), recognizing his versatility and strength as an offensive lineman. During his decade-long career in Queen City, Lapham established himself as a key player in the trenches and later became the iconic media voice of the franchise for fans across generations.

Standing tall at 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 260 pounds, Lapham brought impressive footwork, a sharp football IQ, and an adaptable approach to Paul Brown’s offense. After serving as a key interior backup during his rookie year in 1974, he proudly earned the starting right guard spot in 1975. Lapham held onto this position for five exciting seasons (1975–1979), providing solid protection for quarterbacks Ken Anderson and Virgil Carter, while also creating openings for Pete Johnson. His outstanding performances in the late 1970s led to consecutive seasons with double-digit Approximate Value, according to pro football historians.

After returning to a reserve utility role in 1980, Lapham regained the starting right guard position in 1981 under head coach Forrest Gregg. He was a key member of the "Freezer Bowl" offensive line, contributing to Cincinnati’s first AFC Championship and their appearance in Super Bowl XVI. He stayed a regular starter on the interior line until the 1983 season, after which he left the Bengals to play two final seasons with the USFL's New Jersey Generals.

Following his retirement from the field, Lapham seamlessly stepped into the broadcast booth, becoming the color analyst for the Bengals Radio Network in 1986—a post he held for decades as the soundtrack of Cincinnati football. Over his career, Lapham played in 140 regular-season games (105 starts) and four playoff contests, lining up at guard, tackle, and center whenever duty called.