Which wide receiver should the Cincinnati Bengals take in the 2017 NFL Draft? Find out about our three favorites below, and don’t forget to check out our picks for best defensive ends and running backs!
Of the three position groups we’ve discussed so far, wide receiver is the one that could be most immediately impacted by the draft. AJ Green is an All-Pro talent. But who else on the roster catches your eye … or the ball? Tyler Boyd led all non-Green receivers in TD catches for 2016 with one. The Bengals had to wait for tight end Tyler Eifert to recover from an ankle injury and get back on the field to take pressure off Green. Quarterback Andy Dalton has the goods to get the ball to his playmakers. He just needs more of them. Snagging someone who can line up opposite Green can go a long way toward improving on the 18 touchdown receptions the Bengals had last year.
TOP WIDE RECEIVER PROSPECTS FOR THE CINCINNATI BENGALS
1. Corey Davis – You don’t become the Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year by carrying the water bucket. That’s about the only thing Davis didn’t do for Western Michigan. He is the leading receiver in major college football history with 5,285 yards. He was a three-time all-conference pick and nabbed first-team All-America honors in 2016, catching 97 passes for 1,500 yards and 19 scores. Seeing as he was a two-star recruit, those numbers only serve to reinforce Davis’ reputation for consistency and hard work. Whoever nabs him won’t regret it.
2. John Ross – Ross is so fast (4.22 in the 40) that he could take the Flash’s place in this year’s Justice League movie. He hauled in 81 catches for 1,150 yards and 17 touchdowns as a Washington Husky in 2016. His 5-11 frame doesn’t make him an ideal target for jump balls in the red zone. But with his speed, a few go-routes would do wonders for taking the top off a defense. He was also versatile enough to be UW’s starting cornerback for three games. That could be an X-factor in Cincy’s draft plans, given the depth issues in the secondary.
3. Mike Williams – This former Clemson wideout has good size (6-4, 218) and even better mental toughness. He came back from a 2015 neck injury that put his playing career in doubt. He made a did-you-see-that catch (one of eight) late in the fourth quarter of the Tigers’ 35-31 national championship win over Alabama. Performance under pressure isn’t an issue. Plenty of teams would love to make him their first-round pick. Are the Cincinnati Bengals one of them?