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NFL Mock Draft 2017: Defense rules early

By Brad Weiss

Dec 30, 2016; El Paso, TX, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) throws the ball against the Stanford Cardinal defense at Sun Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2016; El Paso, TX, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) throws the ball against the Stanford Cardinal defense at Sun Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 8, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) in action during the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. The Aggies defeat the Volunteers 45-38 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) in action during the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. The Aggies defeat the Volunteers 45-38 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
9

Derek Barnett

Edge, Tennessee

The Cincinnati Bengals finished outside the playoffs in 2016, and there are questions as to whether or not Marvin Lewis’ time in Cincy will be coming to an end soon. He will be back as the team’s head coach in 2017, but if they play the way they did last season, it could mean the end of his tenure with the team. This offseason, the Bengals have been pretty quiet, and with the ninth overall selection, they need to make sure they bring in a difference maker on the defensive side of the ball.

Most mock drafts have Reuben Foster going to the Bengals at No. 9, but Derek Barnett is going to be very hard to pass up. The Bengals love to get after the quarterback, and outside Myles Garrett, there may be no better player in this draft at doing just that. Barnett has the size and speed to play not only on the defensive line, but also at linebacker, making him a valuable pick in the first round.

Cincinnati let go of Rey Maualuga this offseason, so beefing up their defense is definitely a priority next week. They did sign Dre Kirkpatrick to a five-year deal to play in the secondary, but outside of that move, little has been done to improve the roster. The Bengals already have enough talent to be a playoff team, and they could be one of those teams who makes a nice improvement in 2017 after a very disappointing season in 2016.

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