Cincinnati Bengals Draft Profile: Devin White

As the NFL Draft looms ever closer, the Bengals must start preparing and identifying potential prospects as soon as possible.

As Cincinnati continues to prepare for the upcoming offseason, the team must start considering potential picks when they are on the clock in April. Zac Taylor is the head coach in waiting, but don’t let him being an offensive coach fool you. Cincinnati is in desperate need of linebacker help, and Devin White is far and away the best middle linebacker in this class. With that being said, let us take a look at what White would bring to this Bengals team.

The Good

White has the athleticism to dominate on all levels of the football field. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

White possesses the talent to play all three downs in the NFL. White has a great nose for the ball and is a fantastic tackler. White delivers huge blows to runners who make the mistake of running upright against him. As good as Devin was in the run game, he is just as good in the passing game. He possesses the athleticism and speed to play in any NFL passing defense, which is great for keeping him on the field on third down. White is also blazing fast, running an unofficial 4.49 in high school, which gives him the potential to play special teams as well.

The Bad

White’s flaws appear to be fixable at the next level with good coaching. He could use some work recognizing the play, and covering the correct passing pattern. White transitioned to linebacker after coming into LSU to play running back, so he is still raw at some of the very technical tricks of the trade. Almost all of the downsides to White are things that will be rectified if he continues to get good coaching and reps.

Final Verdict

Devin White would give Cincinnati a much-needed boost at the linebacker position. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

White is the best linebacker in this class, and one of the best that we have seen in recent drafts. With the Bengals injury and production woes at the middle linebacker position, White is someone who should be near if not at the top of their board. Devin White has all the physical tools to be a three-down starter on day one in the NFL, and with coaching and development, he should be set to be a longterm solution for the Bengals at middle linebacker.

Want to read more about the Bengals draft-plans? Check out Stripe Hype’s three-round mock draft below!

"Cincinnati Bengals Three Round Mock Draft"