With The First Pick
Fansided

2017 NFL Mock Draft: Free Agency Settling Down

By Carl Cockerham

Sep 19, 2015; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Myles Garrett (15) defends against Nevada Wolf Pack offensive lineman Austin Corbett (73) during the game at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2015; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Myles Garrett (15) defends against Nevada Wolf Pack offensive lineman Austin Corbett (73) during the game at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
10 of 33
Next
Nov 7, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive end Taco Charlton (33) sacks Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Hayden Rettig (11) in the fourth quarter at Michigan Stadium. Michigan won 46-16. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive end Taco Charlton (33) sacks Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Hayden Rettig (11) in the fourth quarter at Michigan Stadium. Michigan won 46-16. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

56. The Cincinnati Bengals missed the playoffs last year because the defense wasn’t up to snuff. We already know about QB Andy Dalton, WR A.J. Green and the offense doing their part. The Bengals went out and got ILB Kevin Minter in free agency to help the defense. <p>That will help with their run defense and covering RBs and TEs but they need more than that. The Bengals need to get after opposing QBs better if they’re going to survive the AFC North. They have Carlos Dunlap at one DE and Geno Atkins bringing the heat to the QB.</p><div class=. DE. Michigan. Taco Charlton. 9. player

It will take another DE coming off the edge in the Bengal’s 4-3 defense to get things done. So here at No. 9 overall, they take Taco Charlton, who could be a bit of a reach this high. Derek Barnett is the best available edge rusher but the Bengals like their DEs tall and long.

So if that’s the type of athlete the Bengals like to work with at that position, more power to them. It has worked out with guys like Dunlap so Charlton has a good chance to succeed there. Put him together with what the Bengals did in free agency and they are on the way up.

" >

9

Taco Charlton

DE, Michigan

Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals /

The Cincinnati Bengals missed the playoffs last year because the defense wasn’t up to snuff. We already know about QB Andy Dalton, WR A.J. Green and the offense doing their part. The Bengals went out and got ILB Kevin Minter in free agency to help the defense.

That will help with their run defense and covering RBs and TEs but they need more than that. The Bengals need to get after opposing QBs better if they’re going to survive the AFC North. They have Carlos Dunlap at one DE and Geno Atkins bringing the heat to the QB.

It will take another DE coming off the edge in the Bengal’s 4-3 defense to get things done. So here at No. 9 overall, they take Taco Charlton, who could be a bit of a reach this high. Derek Barnett is the best available edge rusher but the Bengals like their DEs tall and long.

So if that’s the type of athlete the Bengals like to work with at that position, more power to them. It has worked out with guys like Dunlap so Charlton has a good chance to succeed there. Put him together with what the Bengals did in free agency and they are on the way up.

Home/Mock Drafts