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2017 NFL Draft: Cincinnati Bengals final grade

By John Buhler

Apr 28, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals first round draft pick John Ross holds up his No. 1 jersey with head coach Marvin Lewis in a press conference at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Greene/Cincinnati Enquirer via USA TODAY NETWORK
Apr 28, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals first round draft pick John Ross holds up his No. 1 jersey with head coach Marvin Lewis in a press conference at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Greene/Cincinnati Enquirer via USA TODAY NETWORK /
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Jan 2, 2017; New Orleans , LA, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Joe Mixon (25) runs the ball against Auburn Tigers linebacker Darrell Williams (49) in the first quarter of the 2017 Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2017; New Orleans , LA, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Joe Mixon (25) runs the ball against Auburn Tigers linebacker Darrell Williams (49) in the first quarter of the 2017 Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /

Second Round

48

Joe Mixon

Running Back, Oklahoma Sooners

The Bengals have a history of taking players with troubled pasts and putting them into their locker room. From Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones to Vontaze Burfict, it wasn’t shocking that the Bengals would be the team that drafted Oklahoma Sooners running back Joe Mixon at No. 48.

Mixon had first-round talent, but a domestic violence incident caught on tape had him in the dog house with the NFL right out of the gate. He wasn’t allowed to make the trip to Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine. If his off-the-field issues are behind him, Mixon could be a great value pick for the Bengals at No. 48.

Third Round

73

Jordan Willis

Defensive End, Kansas State Wildcats

Cincinnati decided spend many of its picks in rebuilding its defense. The first defensive player off the board for the Bengals was Kansas State Wildcats defensive end Jordan Willis, who the Bengals took at No. 73 in the third round.

Willis was the most explosive and most productive defensive player in the Big 12 last year. He can wreak havoc coming off the edge. However, most of his production came against lackluster Big 12 offensive linemen. How will his pass rushing abilities translate to the NFL level?

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