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As the Pro Day circuit continues, Cincinnati got an up-close look at one of the top wide receivers in this year's NFL draft class.
The Bengals were even represented by TCU alum Andy Dalton, who made it no secret he likes wide receiver Josh Doctson at the Horned Frogs' Pro Day.
Andy Dalton says he'd love for the @Bengals to draft @TCU WR Josh Doctson. "But I'm biased (laughs)." @NBCDFW pic.twitter.com/wTSEPcMM8D
— Pat Doney (@PatDoneyNBC5) March 31, 2016
Offensive coordinator Ken Zampese was also in attendance:
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer & Bengals offensive coordinator Ken Zampese two of the many coaches/scouts at @TCUFootball pro day. @NBCDFW
— Pat Doney (@PatDoneyNBC5) March 31, 2016
Doctson, who has or will work out for the Bengals, is very much in play for the 24th-overall pick. The problem is, he's viewed highly enough that he may very well be off the board at this point. It's getting hard to see him slipping past receiver-needy teams like the Houston Texans (22) and Minnesota Vikings (23) picking before Cincinnati.
But Doctson isn't the only NFL prospect TCU has. In fact, he's not even the only NFL receiver they have as Kolby Listenbee is projected as a fringe top-100 pick by CBS Sports.
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The 6'0", 197-pound Listenbee had 41 catches for 783 yards and four scores in 2014. Though he missed two games in 2015 due to injury, Listenbee led the team with a 19.9 yards-per-catch average on (30 grabs for 597 yards and five touchdowns.
CBS draft writer Spencer Hall even compared Listenbee to a former Bengals receiver:
COMPARES TO: Jerome Simpson - Minnesota Vikings. Similar in height and build while possessing good vertical speed, both struggle against more physical defenders. Listenbee has yet to show he can be a regular contributor to an offense other than as a deep threat. Like Simpson, we see Listenbee as more of a support player in an offense with the occasional flash of explosiveness and long gains.
IN OUR VIEW: Listenbee is a late-round prospect as a deep threat specialist. He has a very limited route tree due to how he was utilized at TCU, but if Listenbee can show scouts some route-running skills, less body catching and impress with his athleticism, he could rise a bit leading up to the draft.
He's expected to go somewhere between the end of Round 3 and into Day 3, so keep him in mind then as the Bengals will likely draft a receiver early and then another one late.
Elsewhere, the Bengals made a short trip down to Murray, Kentucky for the Pro Day of Murray State earlier this week, though the Racers don't have any draftable prospects. But because smaller schools from the FCS and NAIA ranks don't have many prospects, they'll sometimes combine their Pro Days with other schools.
That was the case with NAIA school Campbellsville University, who had quarterback Jacob Russell working out at Murray State's Pro Day, and the Bengals apparently met with him there.
#Chiefs and #Bengals were at the Pro Day for Murray State as well as a couple CFL scouts
— NFL Draft Diamonds (@DraftDiamonds) March 30, 2016
At Murray State's pro day, Campbellsville QB Jacob Russell told me that it went well and chatted with the #Bengals afterwards.
— Jovan Alford (@Jovan10) March 31, 2016
As a senior this past season, Russell set 10 Campbellsville records, including career passing yards (6,681), single-season passing yards (3,676) and career passing touchdowns (66). He threw 38 touchdown passes vs just seven picks and was named the National Christian College Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Year and a NAIA second-team All-American.
Despite lighting up the NAIA ranks, Russell doesn't have a draftable grade yet, so look from him to possibly be someone the Bengals sign after the draft.