2014 NFL Mock Draft: Bengals Take Defensive Lineman

After former offensive coordinator Jay Gruden got his way in the 2013 Draft with the top two picks going to the offensive side of the ball, most are guessing that the Bengals might go with defensive in the early rounds this season. With the collective age of the cornerback position group and the proposition that defensive end Michael Johnson might leave via free agency, the sentiment surely makes sense.

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com agrees with defense early for the Bengals and in his recently-released mock draft, he has them selecting University of Minnesota defensive tackle, Ra'Shede Hageman. This is a player that hasn't been on many causal fan's radar, but could be a beast that rises up boards after the Combine. Hageman is 6'6" and 315 pounds and some pundits have been giving him comparisons to former Jaguars tackle John Henderson, to current Texans star, J.J. Watt.

He impressed at the Senior Bowl a couple of weeks ago and his stock sounds like it might be the uptick. If Jeremiah's prediction of Hageman becoming a stud at the Combine rings true, he will likely be projected in the area where the Bengals are picking. Last season, Hageman had 13 tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception. He can play the nose and three technique spots on the line.