Cincinnati Bengals Post Combine 7 Round Mock Draft

Duke Tobin double dips at the linebacker position here, selecting a lesser-known prospect in Fresno State’s Mykal Walker.

Perhaps Walker’s best trait is his versatility. While in college, he was asked to play both along the line of scrimmage and also off-ball in a more traditional sense. His 6’3″, 230-pound frame gives him the ability to do both. In that regard, it allows the Bengals to address two problems at once. They get to continue infusing new blood in the linebacker room while also finding a guy who can come off the edge as a hybrid defensive end.

The California native posted numbers at the combine that suggested he was well above average in athleticism for the position. Add this to the previously mentioned fact that he’s scheme diverse, and the Bengals have a prospect with the potential to turn into a difference-maker.

Looking at the big picture, coordinator Anarumo gets another weapon to work with. If used creatively, Walker has the attributes that could allow him to reach a level he hadn’t in college. In addition, special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons acquires a guy who can contribute to his unit right away. At this point in the draft, Mykal checks off all the boxes a team typically looks for.