Would fill an area of need.
With Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins secured and the major wave of NFL free agency in the books, the Cincinnati Bengals’ focus has shifted to the NFL Draft, where it will make the 17th overall selection.
Bengals.com’s Geoff Hobson organized a 17-team mock draft with writers who cover the 16 teams ahead of Cincinnati making selections ahead of Hobson, who, with the 17th pick, took South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori.
The Bengals had a different leader at the helm of its defense last season as Al Golden was hired as defensive coordinator to replace the fired Lou Anarumo.
Hobson believes Emmanwori, a 6-foot-3 safety who was a first-team All-American at South Carolina last season after making 88 total tackles and grabbing four interceptions, would be the perfect fit to help jumpstart the Bengals’ defensive makeover.
“Emmanwori’s 43-inch vertical leap and 11-foot, 6-inch broad jump was ranked No. 1 among all prospects. His 4.38-second in the 40-yard dash was second among safeties, and his 1.49-second in the 10-yard split was first,” Hobson explained. “He can roam, he can hug the slot, and he’s a bad man when he comes downhill with an athleticism score of 91. He’s got the kind of experience the Bengals covet, with 244 tackles and six interceptions in 37 games.
“And you know the Bengals love captains, which he was at South Carolina, not to mention a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll.”
For the full mock draft, which includes more of Hobson’s reasoning for taking Emmanwori, click here.
