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Cincinnati Bengals full 2016 NFL Draft picks

By John Buhler

Feb 29, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Houston defensive back William Jackson goes through a workout drill during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 29, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Houston defensive back William Jackson goes through a workout drill during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Cincinnati Bengals used seven picks to improve their roster in the 2016 NFL Draft. Here are the seven newest Bengals, including corner William Jackson.

The Cincinnati Bengals had seven picks in the 2016 NFL Draft to hopefully keep their perennial playoff team in contention in the ultra-competitive AFC North. Cincinnati went after several positions, including drafting Houston Cougars cornerback William Jackson at No. 24. Here are the seven players the Bengals selected in the 2016 NFL Draft.

  • Round 1 (24): William Jackson, CB, Houston
  • Round 2 (55): Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh
  • Round 3 (87): Nick Vigil, ILB, Utah State
  • Round 4 (122): Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor
  • Round 5 (161): Christian Westerman, G, Arizona State
  • Round 6 (199): Cody Core, WR, Ole Miss
  • Round 7 (245):

The Cincinnati Bengals have made the AFC Playoffs five straight years with much of their strong corps intact. However, Cincinnati has each January failed to advance in the AFC Playoffs with Andy Dalton under center, A.J. Green on the outside, and Marvin Lewis on the sidelines.

Cincinnati’s decision to draft Jackson out of Houston has to stem from having to play the Pittsburgh Steelers twice annually, which means the Bengals need an answer on the outside to stop All-Pro wideout Antonio Brown. Jackson was a fast riser up NFL Draft boards and should be highly successful as an NFL cornerback.

Drafting Boyd helps the Bengals offset the loss of No. 2 wide receiver Mohamed Sanu, who signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 2016 NFL free agency. Expect Lewis and his staff to integrate Boyd into the Bengals’ aerial attack early and often.

Getting Billings in the fourth round is an absolute steal, as the big interior defensive lineman for Baylor at one time had top 15 pedigree in the 2016 NFL Draft. If he can channel what had him up that high on earlier mock drafts at the next level, look for Billings to be a big sleeper in this draft for the Bengals.

For more 2016 NFL Draft coverage, please check out our NFL Draft hub page.

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