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The Bengals have finally made their 11th and last pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
The pick is Florida State wide receiver Auden Tate. This is the first wide receiver the Bengals drafted in 2018 and someone who will compete for a spot on the roster this season.
Tate is a 6’5”, 228 pound receiver with 33 3/4” arms and 9 3/8” hands. He ran a 4.68 second 40-yard dash at the combine as well as a 31.0” vertical jump and 112” broad jump. His massive size should make him a nice redzone target for Andy Dalton.
He joins a very crowded and young wide receiver group that features A.J. Green and Brandon LaFell at the top. 2017 first round pick John Ross is hoping for a much bigger role this year after having two touches in his rookie year. There’s also Tyler Boyd, Alex Erickson, Cody Core and Josh Malone in the receiver room.
Tate spent three years at FSU though he only played in 2016 and 2017. He racked up 957 yards and 16 touchdowns in the process. 10 of those touchdowns came this year. His 14.7 yards per reception are quite impressive and the Bengals will be looking to see how much they can get out of him as a seventh rounder.
Here’s an excerpt from his NFL.com draft profile:
Even though he separated his shoulder during the 2017 season, Tate still impressed scouts with a strong junior campaign. He started eight of 12 games played, scoring a team-high 10 touchdowns while accumulated 548 yards on 40 receptions. Tate played in 13 games in 2016, starting four and catching 25 passes for 409 yards and six scores. He played in six games as a true freshman in 2015, struggling to make the field due to injury early in the year and failing to make a catch during the season despite being named a four-star recruit and top 25 receiver prospect nationally after excelling in the Tampa area. Tate was named the Seminoles’ most improved player on offense in spring 2016 practices, setting up his break-out season.
Poll
How would you grade the Bengals’ 253rd selection in Round 7?
This poll is closed
-
38%
A
(277 votes) -
32%
B
(238 votes) -
20%
C
(149 votes) -
5%
D
(38 votes) -
3%
F
(25 votes)
Here’s a rundown of every pick the Bengals hold in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Bengals 2018 draft picks
| Round | Pick Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Round | Pick Number | Notes |
| 1 | 21 | From Bills |
| 2 | 54 | From Chiefs |
| 3 | 77 | |
| 3 | 78 | From Chiefs |
| 4 | 112 | |
| 5 | 151 | |
| 5 | 158 | From Bills |
| 5 | 170 | Compensatory |
| 7 | 249 | From Patriots |
| 7 | 252 | Compensatory |
| 7 | 253 | Compensatory |