In all the hubbub surrounding free agency, it's easy to forget that there is another important event right around the corner--the NFL draft. And leading up to the draft, the calendar is littered with pro days, which are essentially mini-combines held by each university or college with prospective NFL-ers.
On Thursday, the University of Oregon hosted their annual pro day, allowing representatives from 27 NFL teams access to their facilities to scout the 15 players participating. Although the Bengals haven't publicly confirmed that they were in attendance, Cincy Jungle sources have corroborated their presence at the event.
Out of the 15 participants working out, only a handful are likely to be targets for the Bengals during the draft. One such player is RB Kenjon Barner, who led the Ducks in 2012 with 1,767 yards on 278 rushing attempts. Barner was apparently displeased with his 40 time from the combine because he opted to run it again on Thursday, where he clocked a 4.43 on his fastest attempt. He also ran a 4.27-second short shuttle and displayed good hands out of the backfield during his position drills. With only three running backs currently on the roster, the Bengals are very much in the market for a new one, and Barner could be a definite possibility on day three of the draft.
Also posting impressive workouts were LB Kiko Alonso and G Kyle Long, who is the son of NFL legend Howie Long. With multiple linebacker spots up in the air and the constant necessity for depth on the offensive line, either of these players could also be targets for the Bengals in the later rounds.