2013 NFL Mock Draft: The Cincinnati Bengals Select…
By Jason Marcum
Apr 28, 2011; New York, NY, USA; Wide receiver A.J. Green (Georgia) is introduced as the number four overall pick to the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
The first FanSided 2013 NFL Mock Draft of the year has been released.
The folks over at FanSided.com will be releasing weekly mock drafts right up until the big day in April. While it may seem a little early for mocks, we thought it would be interesting for playoff contenders like the Bengals to look at some potential players who could be drafted next year.
The draft boards are sure to change a lot over the coming weeks so it will be fun to track all the players the Bengals take in these mocks.
Let’s get to it.
Note: This is a mock based on last week’s standing, where the Bengals would have drafted from the 18th spot.
With the 18th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select:
Nov 26, 2011; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive end Dion Jordan (96) against the Oregon State Beavers during the second half at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Z. Rider-USA TODAY Sports
Dion Jordan, Defensive End, Oregon
"Jordan is a player that could continue to rise up draft boards as the draft approaches and it would not be shocking to see him work his way into the top ten. Jordan is an incredible pass rusher with unmatched speed and athleticism — what else would you expect from an Oregon player?"
You wouldn’t think the Bengals need a defensive end right now, given the play of Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson, but with a premium on pass rushers in today’s pass-happy NFL, you need at least three good pass rushing ends, and right now the Bengals only have two, and Johnson is slated to be a free agent this offseason.
Jordan is a very intriguing prospect, as he made the switch from pure defensive end to pass rushing linebacker, and has thrived in that role. He’s listed at 6’7″, 240 pounds, so he’ll need to beef up if he wants to play defensive end full-time in the NFL. I don’t think Mike Zimmer would have any problems finding a suitable role for Jordan in Bengals stripes.
Jordan has already been selected First-Team All-Pac-12 for the 2012 college football season, and is one of five finalists for the Butkus Award, given to the top collegiate linebacker in the country. He has recorded 44 tackles this season, including 10.5 tackles for loss and five quarterback sacks.
As a reserve defensive end for the Ducks in 2010, Jordan registered 33 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
It was then in 2011 when the Oregon coaching staff created a hybrid role for Jordan, lining him up as a stand-up pass rusher and moving him around to find favorable matchups. and he rewarded their bold move by notching 13 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, each of which led the team. He finished 2011 earning First-Team All-Pac-12 honors.
So right now the pick is Jordan. What do you guys think?
Check out the full FanSided Mock Draft on FanSided.com!
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