According to the most recent mock draft by ESPN’s Mel Kiper, the Cincinnati Bengals failed to address much-needed positions outside of first round.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper continues his three-round mock drafts and his most recent mock has the Cincinnati Bengals failing to address their biggest needs. Kiper has the Bengals drafting Notre Dame tackle Mike McGlinchey in the first round which would help that right side of the offensive line that needs a great deal of work. This makes a lot of sense with the number of visits the Bengals have spent with the tackle. Unfortunately, that’s the only offensive line help the team would be taking with their first four picks.
In the second round, Kiper has the Bengals taking defensive tackle B.J. Hill out of North Carolina State. Kiper describes Hill as one of the best true nose tackles in this draft class and his game is all about power. The 6’4″, 315-pound lineman was an honorable mention All-ACC after his 2017 campaign for the Wolf Pack. He hauled in 57 tackles (5.5 for a loss), 3 sacks, and broke up 3 passes in his 13 starts last year.
The next two picks that Kiper predicts don’t make a lot of sense for Cincinnati and according to NFL.com are reaches for where he has them selecting them. The first pick in the first round is Penn State wide receiver, DaeSean Hamilton. As we have discussed, the Bengals do not need to be drafting wide receivers high in this draft class. They have spent too much high draft capital recently on the position without giving them a true chance to prove themselves on the field.
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Hamilton hauled in 53 catches for 857 yards and 9 touchdowns last season for Penn State. With the team spending the ninth overall pick last season on Washington product John Ross, there is no reason to spend their first third-round pick on yet another pass catcher. There’s also Tyler Boyd who was a second-round pick the year before and has yet to receive much playing time. Hamilton has been graded around the 3-4 round pick and even by some scouts an undrafted prospect. With the number of needs by the Bengals, especially on the offensive line, it makes zero sense to draft yet another wide receiver.
The last pick that Kiper has the Bengals taking with the last pick in the third round is inside linebacker Genard Avery out of Memphis. While linebacker is a need for Cincinnati, Avery is a downhill thumper that they have continually bring in including Preston Brown. The Bengals need a linebacker more versatile and that could drop into coverage when needed and not another thumper prospect.
Considering the Bengals just lost their starting center Russell Bodine to the Buffalo Bills during free agency, it is alarming that Kiper has the team only drafting one offensive lineman. If Cincinnati wants any chance of getting this offense up and running in 2018, they will have to address the line more than just in the first round. They also can’t afford to be reaching for players a round early at positions they don’t need immediate impacts.
After McGlinchey in round one, all three of the other prospects are considered a reach for the Bengals. While Hill could be a solid defensive tackle possibly next to Geno Atkins, there’s no reason they couldn’t snatch him in the third round after grabbing another offensive lineman in the second. Wide receiver is not a glaring hole that must be added to this year, and linebacker is not an immediate upgrade as they have already upgraded that spot. Not to mention the fact that he is not a coverage linebacker either.
Next: Could Bengals still sign Reid post draft
Let us know what you think of this mock draft and what you think the Bengals will do with their picks in the first three rounds. Either in the comment section below or on our social media accounts!