Katherine Terrell breaks down the Cincinnati Bengals' 2017 draft class.
Round 1, No. 9 overall: John Ross, WR, Washington
My take: The Bengals had a chance to take a number of defenders still on the board, including pass-rushers Jonathan Allen and Derek Barnett, and linebacker Reuben Foster. Coach Marvin Lewis said no team wanted to trade up when Cincinnati was on the clock, so obviously John Ross was valued enough to take at No. 9. His selection might seem a little high considering who was available, but speed at receiver was one of Cincinnati's bigger needs -- Ross ran a record 4.22 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. The Bengals relied heavily on star receiver A.J. Green through the first half of the season but had few people able to step up in his place when Green went down toward the end. The Bengals needed a pass-rusher, but they also needed to give their offense a boost one way or another.
Medical concerns? The 5-foot-11, 188-pound Ross is going to have to prove his durability after a series of knee injuries during his career. Ross tore his ACL and had a meniscus injury in 2015. He also tore his labrum last season and played through that before undergoing surgery in the offseason. The Bengals might have to limit how they use him because of his injury history, but with Green, Tyler Eifert, Tyler Boyd and Brandon LaFell, they might be able to get a little creative.
The next kick returner: Bengals wide receiver Alex Erickson can probably be forgiven if he's a little worried. Erickson beat out longtime kick returner Brandon Tate to take the sixth wide receiver spot and showed promise there, leading the NFL with 810 kickoff return yards. But Ross was a superstar kickoff returner in college, returning four for touchdowns in his career. Ross' presence could make it more difficult to justify keeping Erickson unless they start using him more as a receiver.
Round 2, No. 48: Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma
My take: It has been clear for several months how much the Bengals liked Mixon. And if any team was willing to absorb the public scrutiny that came with the pick, it was the Bengals, who stood by Adam Jones after his arrest and have a history of taking chances on troubled players. Mixon is perhaps the most polarizing figure in the draft. Many teams weren’t willing to touch him after a 2014 incident in which he punched a woman in the face. On the field, it’s hard to ignore Mixon’s talent. He can essentially be a "do anything" kind of player, whether it’s being a power runner, catching balls out of the backfield or returning kicks. The Bengals have acquired a talented player, but it came at a price, as he will be squarely in the public eye for years to come.
A lot to prove: Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said Mixon has spent the last three years living under a microscope after the 2014 incident. That’s not going to change anytime soon. The Bengals are going to be heavily criticized for the pick due to the NFL’s increasing scrutiny regarding off-the-field incidents. Mixon will essentially have to be a model citizen in Cincinnati and prove that he is not the same person. The Bengals feel that he has moved past the incident. Now he has to prove that.
How he fits: The Bengals already have Jeremy Hill, who is a power runner, and Giovani Bernard, the more versatile back who excels at catching passes. So where does Mixon fit in? Hill would be one of the first to admit that he has not had the kind of season he would like, and he’s now going into a contract year. The team will fit Mixon into the plan in some way, whether that means he enters a rotation, or simply competes to win a starting job outright. Don’t be surprised to see him heavily used right away.
Round 3, No. 73: Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas State
My take: The Bengals' pass rush has been growing stale in recent years. Defensive end Carlos Dunlap had nine sacks last season, and defensive tackle Geno Atkins provided eight sacks from the interior, but there was a steep drop off after those two. The Bengals have long needed someone else to complement Dunlap. Willis had 26.5 career sacks at Kansas State and played 841 snaps according to Pro Football Focus, which was the ninth-most of any defensive lineman in the country. Although the Bengals spurned getting a pass-rusher in the first round, they made up for it by finding Willis on Day 2.
How he fits: The Bengals tend to bring a lot of their draft picks along slowly, and they still have longtime defensive end Michael Johnson entrenched as the starter. Johnson has had only one season with double-digit sacks, but he did have 10 pressures last season. That means Johnson will still be used heavily, but Willis will figure into the rotation somehow. Willis has played on both the right and the left side, so he could probably figure into the rotation behind either Johnson or Dunlap. At minimum, he’ll be a situational pass-rusher.
Bengals get another steal: While some might think the Bengals reached a little for Ross at No. 9, they were able to get their next two picks much lower than anticipated. Mixon, considered a first-round talent, went to the Bengals in the second round, while Willis fell to the third round. The Bengals came away from the day with good value, even getting an extra fourth-round pick after trading down with the Vikings.
Round 4, No. 116: Carl Lawson, DE, Auburn
My take: Speed seems to be a running theme for the Bengals in this draft. Lawson ran a 4.67-second 40-yard dash at the combine, which ranked eighth among all defensive linemen. The Bengals’ third-round pick, Jordan Willis, ran a 4.53 40-yard dash, while first-round wideout John Ross ran a 4.22, which set a combine record. Lawson likely slid in the draft due to injuries (hip and ACL) and inconsistency, but after taking a medical redshirt in 2014, he had the best season of his career in 2016. Lawson had 24 quarterback hurries and nine sacks in his final season. Considering the Bengals were lacking in their pass rush, they have made great strides to fix that particular category.
How he fits: Lawson projects as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense or a defensive end in a 4-3 defense. The Bengals run a base 4-3 defense, so Lawson will likely join the defensive line rotation along with Willis, sliding in as a backup behind Michael Johnson and Carlos Dunlap and perhaps being used as a situational pass-rusher. According to Pro Football Focus, Lawson had at least three pressures in all games but one during the 2016 season. This could be a totally new look on the Bengals' defensive line, as Andrew Billings projects to replace Domata Peko at nose tackle.
Round 4, No. 128: Josh Malone, WR, Tennessee
My take: The offense was one of the weak points in 2016, putting up inconsistent numbers from week to week and at times struggling to move the ball. It was clear the team had to rely heavily on star wide receiver A.J. Green without much help. That was partially attributed to several newcomers in the fold, including Brandon LaFell and Tyler Boyd. More changes are coming now with the additions of John Ross and Josh Malone, who both bring quickness. Malone, 6-foot-3, 208 pounds, also brings size.
How he fits: The Bengals like to keep their draft picks, so it seems that five of potentially six spots are already locked up, with roster spots allocated to Green, LaFell, Boyd, Ross and Malone. That leaves the sixth spot open for competition, but kick returner Alex Erickson’s job got tougher now that the Bengals added Mixon and Ross, who can both return kicks, as well. With two new wide receivers, the Bengals could be mixing and matching often this year.
Round 4, No. 138: Ryan Glasgow, DT, Michigan
My take: According to ESPN Stats & Information, this is the first time in team history the Bengals have drafted three defensive linemen in the first four rounds. That means defensive coordinator Paul Guenther is serious about getting younger in all areas of the defense. Glasgow is a run-stuffer who ended his college career with two sacks and a forced fumble in his final two games. He had 9.5 tackles for loss last season.
How he fits: Glasgow said he wants to prove that he’s a three-down player. He can rush the passer (four sacks in 2016) but appears to be a specialist at stopping the run, meaning the Bengals will likely use him rotationally in run defense. Outside of Geno Atkins, the Bengals don’t have many proven players on the interior of their defensive line. That could mean Glasgow sees playing time right away as part of a rotation with Andrew Billings and Pat Sims.
Round 5, No. 153: Jake Elliott, K, Memphis
My take: The Bengals needed a kicker after struggling to find a viable one in 2016. Cincinnati stayed loyal to Mike Nugent for more than half the season, even though he missed six extra points and six field goals. Nugent’s replacement, Randy Bullock, missed a game-winning kick against the Texans. The Bengals hadn’t drafted a specialist since 2009, when they took punter Kevin Huber, who is still with the team. That shows they are serious about Elliott, who never missed an extra point in his collegiate career and has a career long of 56 yards. This was a position of need, one the Bengals had to address.
How he fits: Although the Bengals have a habit of keeping their draft picks for at least one full season, they have a bit of wiggle room here with 12 picks. Elliott will compete with Bullock and Jonathan Brown for the kicking spot, and the last man standing could be Cincinnati’s kicker of the long-term future. The Bengals kept Shayne Graham and Nugent around for seven seasons each.
Round 5, No. 176: J.J. Dielman, C, Utah
My take: The Bengals have said that they are fine with the players on their offensive line, despite a 2016 season in which they allowed 41 sacks. The two best players on the line, Kevin Zeitler and Andrew Whitworth, departed in free agency. Despite their public confidence, the Bengals can't be completely confident in the offensive line going forward, so it was slightly surprising they only took one lineman in the fifth round.
How he fits: The Bengals don't appear concerned about Dielman's medical history after he missed the combine with a broken foot. Dielman says he's close to 100 percent. He could end up playing at any position on the offensive line. Bengals offensive line coach Paul Alexander says he's comfortable putting him at center, guard or tackle, so Dielman projects to be a swing lineman.
Round 6, No. 193: Jordan Evans, ILB, Oklahoma
My take: Bengals linebackers coach Jim Haslett seemed excited about adding Evans, who seems to be a somewhat of a project. Haslett said Evans is not polished and needs to work on his run support, but he loved his four interceptions in his last season at Oklahoma, two of which went for touchdowns.
How he fits: Haslett said he liked Evans' ability in coverage the most, so don't expect to see him rushing the passer often. He will likely also play special teams to start his career. Evans is an athletic player who used to play defensive back in high school, which has probably aided in his coverage skills. He looks like someone the Bengals might bring along slowly.
Round 6, No. 207: Brandon Wilson, CB, Houston
My take: The Bengals traded up to get Wilson, although he doesn't play at a position of strong need. There was already a connection there because the Bengals' 2016 first round cornerback William Jackson III was Wilson's teammate. Wilson's versatility is intriguing.
How he fits: The Bengals see Wilson as a potential nickel cornerback or safety and someone who could also cover kicks on special teams. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said Wilson had "incredible measurable" and sees him as someone who can "make or break himself" with his special-teams play. Expect him to be a special-teams contributor with several other defensive backs in front of him in line to play.
Round 7, No. 251: Mason Schreck, TE, Buffalo
My take: Schreck is essentially a luxury pick who will compete for a roster spot this summer. He caught 59 passes for 651 yards and four touchdowns in his final season at Buffalo and gives the Bengals their third pass-catcher of the draft.
How he fits: Schreck compared himself to Tyler Eifert, a player he said he grew up watching. Tight end is by no means set in stone after Eifert, and Schreck can certainly compete against C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Kroft for the third spot. However, he'll have to either stand out on special teams or have an excellent camp. He is a more likely practice-squad candidate.