Early in the process, there are a few big mistakes the Cincinnati Bengals could make that have started to emerge in mock drafts and projections.
A new mock draft just shone a light on one of those.
Over at For The Win, Jeff Risdon has the Bengals taking LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane at 10th overall:
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“After transferring from Virginia Tech, Delane’s all-around play at cornerback rose to top-10 worthy. His instincts and quick reactions in coverage are in very short supply in Cincinnati, which must fix its leaky defense.”
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Delane is a great prospect, of course. But the Bengals think they have long-term starters on the boundary with Dax Hill and DJ Turner.
The real issue is some of the players taken after the Bengals do this:
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn.
16. New York Jets (from IND): Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State.
20. Dallas Cowboys (via GB): Caleb Banks, DT, Florida.
The Bengals need help on the front seven along the line, especially on the interior, if they want to improve Al Golden’s defense. That’s perhaps the most commonly mocked thing for the team right now…
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…unless Caleb Downs is there. Safety is a mess and has been since Jessie Bates left and Geno Stone is a free agent.
Granted, Delane could easily be Cincinnati’s best player available when they hit the podium. It would be a hard thing to complain about, but much would hinge on how they attacked free agency.
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This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: NFL mock draft showcases big possible Bengals mistake