2017 NFL Mock Draft: Wild Card Edition
By Tyler Brooke
Reuben Foster
LB, Alabama
Simply put, the Cincinnati Bengals could use some more help at the linebacker position. Vontaze Burfict is becoming more and more of a liability, and the Bengals might be ready to find a new franchise inside linebacker to build around.
Foster looks like the complete package in an NFL linebacker at 6-foot-1 and 245 pounds. He’s an incredibly instinctive player who does a great job of finding a running lane and using his elite closing speed to level the ball carrier. When it comes to stopping the run, Foster knows how to get a big stop when he’s asked to.
Although Foster is at his best when stopping the run, he’s also developing into a more than capable player in pass coverage or when dialing up the blitz. Alabama has a strong track record of linebackers with guys like C.J. Mosley, but Foster could be the best Crimson Tide inside linebacker Nick Saban has produced.
Cincinnati’s defense still has some young talent, but Foster is the kind of guy that can transform that unit. The Bengals could go in some other directions, including some help on the offensive line, but Foster is one of the most talented prospects in this draft class while being far and away the best linebacker.