Bengals 2017 draft tracker
After a trade in the second on Friday night, Cincinnati Bengals have 12 selections in the upcoming National Football League Draft, most of any team in the league.
The draft begins with the first round on Thursday night and runs through Saturday evening.
Bookmark this page for all things draft-related from The Enquirer, including a tracking of each draft pick and subsequent player profile pages and videos from Bengals beat writers Jim Owczarski and Paul Dehner, Jr.
FIRST ROUND
No. 9: John Ross, WR, Washington
John Ross may be somewhat of a surprise pick at No. 9 overall, but the University of Washington receiver fills an immediate need for over-the-top speed across from A.J. Green. It was an element to the Bengals offense that was sorely lacking in 2016, and Ross brings that ability. He doesn’t fit the physical profile of most recent Bengals draft picks in terms of his size, but his deep ball ability, his route-running and surprising effectiveness in the red zone make him an attractive target.
There are medical concerns with Ross, who suffered multiple knee injuries and a shoulder injury while in college, though he recovered from all of them and played through the shoulder (labrum) before getting it fixed after the college season.
Aside from durability, big question now is where he fits in with the recently re-signed Brandon LaFell. It seems that 2016 second-round pick Tyler Boyd has found his niche in the slot and as one of Andy Dalton’s top third down targets, so will the Bengals use four wide receiver sets more often, work Ross in slowly or in specialty packages, or have LaFell be the primary backup across several positions?
SECOND ROUND
No 41: Bengals trade back, swapping with Minnesota and add a fourth-round pick, No. 128 overall.
No. 48: RB Joe Mixon, Oklahoma
The Bengals never hid their desire to do deep research on Oklahoma running back Mixon. They knew about the tape of him breaking the jaw of Amelia Molitor in July of 2014. They felt his on-field talent was worth the public relations hit.
Mike Brown and company decided Mixon would be the perfect complement on the field. Now they face the issue of the the public relations hit that will come from selecting the controversial figure taken completely off the board of multiple teams in the draft.
At Oklahoma, Mixon is thought of as a top-10 talent and maybe the best overall running back in this draft. He can catch the ball well out of the backfield and at 228 pounds still power between the tackles. He averaged 6.8 yards per carry for his career and ridiculous 13.8 yards per reception.
Yet, the video of what Mixon did won't go away and now attaches itself to this organization.
THIRD ROUND
No. 73: Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas State
The Bengals entered the draft with a need at pass rush and grabbed Willis in the third round. The 6-4, 255-pound that ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and has an arm length of 33 1/2 inches. A three-year starter at Kansas State, WIllis played all four years and finished his career by recording 11.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss while forcing three fumbles. Scouts like his size and arm length for engaging at the line of scrimmage, as well as his work ethic.
Per CBS draft analyst Dane Brugler, Willis lined up exclusively at the left defensive end spot, so either he will work in a rotation with two-time Pro Bowler Carlos Dunlap or will have to learn how to rush comfortably from the right side to spell Michael Johnson at times.
This pick should be considered a steal for the Bengals, as many had him with a second-round grade. Pro Football Focus considered him a first-round talent.
FOURTH ROUND
No. 116: Carl Lawson, defensive end, Auburn
The Bengals go defensive end for the second straight pick. They need pass rushers and will go for an attack by volume. Lawson came on last year with nine sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. He differs in size from the prototypical Bengals defensive end coming in at 6-2, 261 pounds. He comes with a concerning medical history of an ACL tear and a cracked hip over the last three years, but was cleared medically. Can fly off the edge and could also play some LB as a pass rusher.
No. 128: Josh Malone, wide receiver, Tennessee
The wide receiver room is bolstered again with this pick, as they add a 6-3, 208-pound big wideout to go with first-round pick John Ross. Malone was the Volunteers top pass catcher as a senior, with 50 receptions for 972 yards and 11 touchdowns. A common denominator here? Speed. Malone clocked a 4.4-second 40-yard dash time.
No. 138 (compensatory selection): Ryan Glasgow, DT, Michigan
The Bengals are never shy about filling out the defensive line and they add another defensive tackle with the 6-3, 302-pound tackle out of Michigan. His older brother Graham plays for Detroit, and Ryan ended the year as Michigan's defensive lineman of the year and a second-team all Big-Ten selection. He finished with 39 tackles, 9.5 for loss and four sacks. He primarily plays the role of hard-working run stopper in the middle.
FIFTH ROUND
No. 153: Jake Elliott, K, Memphis
The Bengals needed competition for Randy Bullock heading into camp and get it with the first kicker drafted in the Marvin Lewis Era. The Bengals had three kickers with draftable grades and Elliott ends up the first off the board. He will immediately show up and the best man will win between Bullock and Elliott in training camp.
No. 176 (compensatory selection): J. J. Dielman, C, Utah
In a weak offensive line class, the Bengals scooped up an interior lineman in the 6-5, 309-pounder. He fits the Bengals mold with strength, putting up 27 reps on the bench press. Perhaps he fell to this spot because his senior season was wiped out due to injury after just five games, but he was an All-Pac-12 pick as a junior. He has some versatility, moving to center last year after starting 26 games in 2014 and 2015 at right tackle.
SIXTH ROUND
No. 193: Jordan Evans, LB, Oklahoma
Bengals linebackers coach Jim Haslett called Evans one of the better cover linebackers he's seen. That will be the trait the Bengals are banking on with this pick. He needs improvement in run defense, hand use and getting off blocks, but figures to help immediately on special teams while trying to refine the rest of his game.
No. 207 (traded up with Tennessee (originally from the New York Giants), giving up No. 217 overall and No. 227 in the seventh round): Brandon Wilson, CB, Houston
The Bengals began the day with 12 picks and used some of that late capital to move up to select the corner. A converted running back, Wilson did visit the Bengals and he was a playmaker at Houston across offense, defense and special teams. Two years ago, he scored multiple times rushing the ball, on an interception and fumble return and on two kickoff returns. He made a big impression as the Houston pro day, running a 4.36-second 40-yard dash.
No. 217 (compensatory selection): Traded to Tennessee
SEVENTH ROUND
No. 227: Traded to Tennessee
No. 251 (compensatory selection): Mason Schreck, TE, Buffalo
The Bengals complete their draft with a tight end to help fill the room. He caught 59 passes last year, so he was productive for the Bulls. He ran a 4.76 40-yard dash at 6-4, 253 pounds.
