2017 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting First Three Rounds before Scouting Combine

Defensive line might not be the biggest area of need for the Bengals. However, with a player like Malik McDowell slipping this far, it might be worth it for a team like Cincinnati to pick him up.

McDowell has great size at 6-foot-6 and 276 pounds and is versatile enough to play either defensive end or tackle. Although he’s more than capable of stopping the run or pressure opposing quarterbacks, he can struggle with double teams and keeping his pad level low.

Adding Thomas and McDowell to the front seven would give the Bengals a ton of depth in the trenches, and that’s a luxury that few teams in the NFL have.

There isn’t exactly a lot of talent in the Saints’ secondary. New Orleans could use some extra help at safety or cornerback, and after taking the talented linebacker Reuben Foster in the first round, they’ll have to find some secondary help with this pick.

Iowa’s Desmond King is one of the most reliable tacklers at cornerback in this draft class. He has the speed, quick hips and ball skills to immediately play nickel in the NFL, although some scouts believe that King could play safety as well. He’s a smart defensive back with plenty of athleticism, and he’d be an upgrade regardless of whether he plays corner or safety for the Saints.