Report: Bengals to host South Dakota State linebacker Danny Batten

Earlier on Saturday we wrote about the team's improvement at linebacker over a three-year period, granting the team a gift that they can improve the position, rather than remaking it like they've been forced to do nearly over Marvin Lewis' entire administration. However, just because it's unlikely they'll draft a linebacker in the first round in this year's draft, it doesn't mean that the Bengals won't draft a linebacker later. After the Fearsome Foursome (I know, corny name, right?), the Bengals have a collection of role backup players like Rashad Jeanty (former starter), Abdul Hodge and Dan Skuta. These are positions on the roster that could be improved through the draft.

And the Bengals are thinking so. National Football Post's Aaron Wilson writes that South Dakota State linebacker Danny Batten will be visiting the Cincinnati Bengals, along with three others teams. Batten has already visited with the Baltimore Ravens and has three private workouts scheduled for three other teams and already worked out with the Arizona Cardinals.

Wilson writes that "Batten is projected as a middle to later-round draft target. He recorded 85 tackles, nine sacks and 17 tackles for losses last season."