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NFL Draft 2017: Top target for each team

By John Buhler

Oct 29, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) looks to throw in the first quarter against the Miami Hurricanes at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) looks to throw in the first quarter against the Miami Hurricanes at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reuben Foster (10) during warm-ups before the 2016 CFP Semifinal against the Washington Huskies at the Georgia Dome. Alabama defeated Washington 24-7. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reuben Foster (10) during warm-ups before the 2016 CFP Semifinal against the Washington Huskies at the Georgia Dome. Alabama defeated Washington 24-7. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

Cincinnati Bengals: Reuben Foster

The Cincinnati Bengals need to get better in the middle of their defense, both at defensive tackle and inside linebacker. They also need a serious overhaul on the offense line and maybe a No. 2 receiver to complement A.J. Green. In short, the Bengals have a lot of work to do in the NFL Draft.

One player that will almost certainly be available for them to take at No. 7 would be Alabama Crimson Tide inside linebacker Reuben Foster. He was an absolute beast in the middle of Nick Saban’s Alabama defense the last two years. Foster won the Dick Butkus Award in 2016, totaling 115 tackles, 13.0 for a loss of yardage and five sacks in his senior season in Tuscaloosa.

Without much debate, Foster is the best inside linebacking prospect entering this draft. Good middle linebackers are getting increasingly harder to find in the college game. The position isn’t as valued at the next level as it used to be, but it is advantageous for an NFL team to grab a premium player there when available.

To add another interesting wrinkle to why Cincinnati will likely end up taking Foster is that the Bengals tend to build their teams around players with off-the-field issues. Not to say that Foster is a bad seed, but he was asked to leave the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine two days early for an issue with a medical examiner.

Cincinnati has seen enough tape to know that Foster will be able to play at a high level professionally if he goes to the right team. The Bengals have a great defensive-minded head coach in Marvin Lewis. While Foster may not be a Pro Bowler, the Bengals could be getting a great value player if they take him at No. 9.

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