3 defensive lineman who impressed at the combine

Defensive line is a confounding position for the Cincinnati Bengals heading into the 2017 NFL season. The Bengals have two starting Pro Bowlers in their prime at defensive end and defensive tackle in Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins, respectively. But, the team is struggling to find support at the other two defensive line spots, rendering the unit, as a whole, painfully average.

In theory, Andrew Billings and Will Clarke are expected to be the next in line, once they develop into starting-caliber players. But, the Bengals might not be entirely confident in Billings’ future after he lost his entire rookie season to a torn meniscus. And Clarke is coming along but has developed at a snail’s pace. The Bengals have made it known the team is seeking improvements at defensive end and with 11 draft picks, tackle could be in play, too. The NFL Combine performances of these three players could very well have impacted the Bengals’ thoughts regarding which defensive lineman the team is considering in the draft.

1) Noble Nwachukwu, DE, West Virginia

Prior to the Combine, Nwachukwu was iffy to be drafted at all, by he may have convinced scouts that he is worthy of a late selection. His 40 time of 4.83 seconds, 27 bench reps, 30.5 inch vertical jump, and 110 inch broad jump showed that his measurables are actually better than scouts expected, despite still being relatively undersized to effectively compete at the NFL level. Scouts know that he is serious and determined to make it at the next level, so a solid combine performance is a step in the right direction. The Bengals could consider him with one of their many late picks just to add some competition to the defensive end pool.

2) Al-Quadin Muhammad, DE, Miami

Perhaps one of the more intriguing prospects this year, Muhammad’s elite build, explosion, and experience in multiple systems would likely have placed him into Day 2 or even Day 1 discussions. But, multiple disciplinary issues in college led to suspensions that virtually destroyed his draft stock. He has been cited by the NCAA for fighting with teammates and receiving unsanctioned benefits from a local luxury car company. Due to so many red-flags on his character, he isn’t expected to be drafted at all. But, a relatively solid performance in most drills in the combine and a top 60-yard shuttle time of 12.14 seconds reinforce his athletic and build strengths. Whether or not he is drafted is still up to speculation, but a team in the NFL is bound to give him a chance in undrafted free agency. In theory, the Bengals could pick him up after the draft and end up with the next Vontaze Burfict-story.

3) Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee

A player whom the Bengals have already been considering, Derek Barnett impressed in the one area that he really needed to on Sunday. One of the biggest criticisms against the standout defensive end from Tennessee is his questionable ability to change direction, which you would expect from such a large person with a big waist. However, he recorded one of the best times among defensive ends in the 3-cone drill (6.96 seconds), showing that the criticism may not be as serious as once thought. As a result, he may not even last to the Bengals’ No. 9 overall pick. However, if he does, the Bengals would be crazy to not consider him.