NFL Mock Draft 2016: Mel Kiper 4.0 gives Bengals a receiver

When it comes to teams drafting in the latter part of the first round, it can be hard to project what position will be addressed at that point.

It's so hard to know exactly who will be on the board when teams like the Cincinnati Bengals are picking in the 20s, thus we'll usually see a variety of positions getting addressed across many mock drafts. That isn't the case though with those very Bengals as wide receiver continues to be the heavy favorite for the position the team will address in Round 1.

That is the case in Mel Kiper's mock draft 4.0, which gives the Bengals arguably the best receiver on the board at 24, which in this case turns out to be Notre Dame's Will Fuller.

24. Cincinnati Bengals

*Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame

Free agency didn't help Andy Dalton all that much. A.J. Green is still all-world at wide receiver, but they could use another player who will get the attention of opposing defensive coordinators and make safeties take a step or two backwards. Fuller has big-time speed and was the best deep threat in college football last season.

Here's an excerpt of Fuller's scouting report via Scouts Inc.

Burner that excels at taking top off the coverage and makes it look effortless. Quickly eats up cushion and shows the ability to run by corners. Initial burst and second gear make him a threat to score any time he gets a seam after catch. While he's not an ankle breaker he's an instinctive open field runner that flashes ability to make defenders miss.

A highly productive receiver the past two seasons Fuller averaged better than 20 yards per catch last year and his tape as well his timed top-end speed are proof that number is no fluke. He's a dangerous vertical threat who excels at taking the top off the coverage and he's a dangerous after the catch. His lean frame and inconsistent hands are both reasons for concern but it would be a surprise if team didn't target this play maker late in the first or early in the second. March, 11 2016.

Though Fuller isn't projected as a first-round pick in every mock draft, most experts seem to think he'll be drafted sometime late in Round 1 with the Bengals being a possible landing spot. Fuller was an explosive playmaker in college that didn't always have the luxury of playing in a stable offense.

And, as the draft nears it looks like he may be increasing his stock.

Based on what I'm hearing, I won't be shocked if Will Fuller is the first WR drafted.

— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) April 6, 2016

This past season with the Irish, Fuller had 62 receptions for 1,258 yards and 14 touchdowns, despite playing with an inexperienced quarterback due to injuries at the position. In 2014, he caught 76 passes for 1,094 yards and 15 touchdowns.

You won't find many receivers with 29 touchdowns over the past two years, let alone in an offense that was pretty balanced between the run and pass over that span. Guys like Baylor's Corey Coleman put up gaudy numbers while playing in pass-heavy offenses, making him appear to be a better prospect in terms of numbers.

But that may be a moot point as Coleman, along with TCU's Josh Doctson and Ole Miss' LaQuon Treadwell, continue to be drafted before Cincinnati goes on the clock in most mock drafts. This could mean Fuller ends up being the best available receiver when the Bengals are on the clock.

Would you be happy if Fuller ended up being the Bengals' first-round selection?