Bengals Add Pieces Around Joe Burrow in Fresh 7 Round Mock Draft
893. . Linebacker. Bulldogs . Willie Gay Jr.. 3. player
Measurements:
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 243 lbs.
Combine:
40- 4.46 s
Bench Press- 21 reps
Vertical Jump- 39.5 in.
Broad Jump- 136 in.
3 Cone Drill- 7.08 s
The Bengals take a gamble here selecting Willie Gay Jr. out of Mississippi State but it could pay off in a big way.
The uber-athletic linebacker was suspended twice during his college career. Once for violating team rules and another time for cheating on an exam. These incidents are the reason he may still be available in round 3.
The risk lies entirely in the off-the-field concerns. When he’s been in between the lines, he’s been outstanding. Pro Football Focus has given him a 90+ grade in coverage, an absolute vital trait for linebackers in today’s NFL.
As you can see from his combine results, he’s a freak athlete as well. It’s rare to get a prospect at the position with this combination of size and speed in addition to outstanding instincts.
When he’s on the field he provides a spark and energy that the Bengals defense has been lacking for years. If the Bengals choose to bring him in, they’d be getting their most talented linebacker and a potential star.
Zac Taylor has done a good job of forming a solid culture and bringing in veteran players to enforce it. He should feel comfortable enough now to bring in a player with past troubles because it’s likely they can keep him on the right path.
PFF has a Specific Linebacker in Mind for Bengals. light. Related Story
From a pure talent standpoint, the Bengals would be getting a fringe first-round prospect at their weakest position.