Let the NFL Draft Speculation begin.
It’s that great time of the year when all of the as fans and writers try to decide exactly who our favorite team will select. When looking at where the team has a glaring need, what pick they have in each round, and who could possibly be there when their selection comes up. The only problem with that when you are studying the Cincinnati Bengals is….. Do they even have a glaring need?
A team so deep that rookies rarely are impact players day one. Guys who continuously learn the NFL lifestyle their rookie year while sitting behind veterans and taking every chance they get to be on the field and make an impact. We have seen this become the Cincinnati Bengals way when it comes to draft picks not named Andy Dalton or A.J. Green.
With the 24th pick this year there will be many options for the Bengals. Should they go get a guy with questionable character like Ohio State’s Adolphus Washington to steady up their impressive defensive line? What about the potential of another outstanding corner like Clemson’s Mackensie Alexander?
Or simply put, why not solidify your group of Wide Receivers even more by getting a player who is well known for big time Touchdown grabs, putting a team on his back, and can take the top off of many defensive secondaries with his blistering speed? With that, there is Notre Dame Wideout Will Fuller, and when there is a Will, there is a way.
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Yes there are many strong players at this position going into this draft. Guys like Laquon Treadwell from Ole Miss and Michael Thomas from Ohio State, but a guy like Fuller is a great fit for a team already glowing with pass catching talent.
Fuller decided to forego his final year of eligibility at Notre Dame after a very impressive campaign his junior year where he helped the Irish to a 10-3 season and a New Years Six bowl against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Fuller’s junior year saw him rack up 1,258 yards and 14 touchdowns, including an unbelievable showing against OSU in the Fiesta Bowl loss.
Fuller also shows a great skill in tracking the ball in the air, often the guy trusted by Irish Quarterback DeShone Kizer to go and get the ball and help his team win the game.
Like every player, with Fuller’s strength does come a flaw… He has shown during his two full seasons of play at Notre Dame a tendency to drop passes, racking up to 20 drops over those two seasons. Another thing that may have some scouts worried is Fuller uses his body to catch a lot of passes. But this is a strong case of the Strengths overshadowing the weakness.
ESPN.com’s Mel Kiper Jr. Also had the Bengals selecting Will Fuller in the first round stating:
"A.J. Green is locked up for a while, but both Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones are free agents, so the Bengals could be looking to add another weapon in the passing game to go with Green and Tyler Eifert. Fuller is a dynamo on the deep ball and can make a cornerback look slow when the ball is in the air. He can be a weapon after the catch as well. The knock: He needs more consistency with his hands. But he can help this team."
With that strong possibility of Jones or Sanu joining Hue Jackson in Cleveland, Will Fuller could be a great fit for the Bengals. Even if the Bengals manage to bring both players back to Cincinnati for the 2016 season, another weapon certianly can’t hurt. Take a look at the Arizona Cardinals right now where Carson Palmer is lucky enough to throw to Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, John Brown, Jalen Brown, and a few more. The Bengals core can definitely rival the Cardinals group and adding a guy like Will Fuller may even put them over.