Mel Kiper Jr. 3-round mock draft: Bengals get an OT and 3 questionable playmakers

The NFL Draft can’t get here fast enough, but until then, we’ll continue to guess who the Bengals will draft.

The latest mock draft from ESPN’s Mel Kiper has several new names for Cincinnati that haven’t been previously mentioned.

However, the first guy taken is a guy Bengals fans will remember well in Mike McGlinchey. Despite the Bengals’ trade for Cordy Glenn, Kiper still thinks the Bengals will draft an offensive tackle with the 21st overall pick.

But that wasn’t all for Kiper, who went three full rounds in his latest mock draft. Here is a recap of who he took for the Bengals:

Round 1 (21): Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

Round 2 (46): B.J. Hill, DT, NC State

Round 3 (77): DaeSean Hamilton, WR, Penn State

Round 3 (100): Genard Avery, ILB, Memphis

Cincinnati already added a left tackle in Cordy Glenn (and bumped back to pick No. 21 in the trade with the Bills), but I see McGlinchey as a right tackle in the NFL, and I’m not sold on Jake Fisher or Cedric Ogbuehi as above-average NFL starters. The Bengals can overhaul their tackle spots and improve after a disastrous 2017 season in which Andy Dalton was sacked 39 times.

Hill’s game is all about power, and he can learn from one of the most powerful defensive linemen in the NFL in Geno Atkins. Hill started 44 games at NC State. Hamilton was a late addition to the Senior Bowl roster, but he was one of the best receivers there. Inside linebacker is a need Cincinnati must address on Day 1 or 2. Avery is a thumper.

You know all about McGlinchey, who is regarded as one of, if not the best offensive tackle in a very weak class of tackles. Even though McGlinchey may be the first tackle drafted, it may not happen until the 20s, but he’d still be a nice get for the Bengals.

Hill is one of the best true nose tackles in this draft, and he could become a nice contributor next to Geno Atkins. The 6’4”, 315-pound Hill was an honorable mention All-ACC after starting all 13 games this past year, making 57 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks while breaking up three passes.

Hamilton is a quality pass-catcher that could bolster the Bengals’ receiver group. This past season, he racked up 53 catches for 857 yards and nine scores while at Penn State.

Avery was a machine for Memphis this past season at middle linebacker, racking up 80 tackles, 22 tackles for loss (which ranked in the top 10 of the FBS), 8.5 sacks, two pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.

If we’re going off NFL.com’s draft grades, the Bengals end up getting bad value with all three selections made after Round 1. McGlinchey was given a Round 1 grade, and pretty much every draft expert thinks he’s a first-round prospect and someone worthy of the 21st pick.

But Hill was given a Round 3 grade, so taking him in the top half of Round 2 would be a reach.

Hamilton was given a Round 3-4 grade, so taking him high in Round 3 would be a reach. It doesn’t help that an AFC regional scout said he thinks Hamilton could go undrafted. And what makes this worse is he doesn’t fill a need, yet he ends up being a top-80 pick in this projection.

Avery was given a Round 4-5 grade, so taking him at the end of Round 3 is a pretty good reach.

If I had to grade this draft, I’d give it a B-. What say you?