Bengals' 3rd Round: Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas State

With their third round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, No. 73 overall, the Cincinnati Bengals selected Kansas State defensive end Jordan Willis.

ENQUIRER ANALYSIS

The Bengals entered the draft with a need at pass rush and grabbed Willis in the third round. The 6-5, 249-pound that ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and has an arm length of 33 1/2 inches. A three-year starter at Kansas State, WIllis played all four years and finished his career by recording 11.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss while forcing three fumbles. Scouts like his size and arm length for engaging at the line of scrimmage, as well as his work ethic.

Per CBS draft analyst Dane Brugler, Willis lined up exclusively at the left defensive end spot, so either he will work in a rotation with two-time Pro Bowler Carlos Dunlap or will have to learn how to rush comfortably from the right side to spell Michael Johnson at times.

This pick should be considered a steal for the Bengals, as many had him with a second-round grade. Pro Football Focus considered him a first-round talent.

MEASURABLES

• Height: 6-4
• Weight: 255
• Arm length: 33.5 inches
• 40-yard dash: 4.5 seconds

KEY STAT

11.5

Sacks Willis had in his senior year

STATS/AWARDS

• 26 career sacks
• 40.5 career tackles for loss
• Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year
• First Team All-Big 12 honors 

ROLE EXPECTATION

Willis is expected to be worked quickly into a right defensive end rotation with Michael Johnson and providing some pass rush help while learning the finer points of rushing from that side. He has rushed from the right edge in the past, but his most productive seasons have come off the left side.

Expect Willis to be the primary backup to Johnson, and be utilized in that stand-up, drop-back role that Johnson often fills in certain fronts in Guenther's defense.

HE SAID

On being surprised to fall to the third round

"I don't know exactly why I got to the point that I'm at. I don't know why teams passed on me. some of the players that did go ahead of me kind of did shock me that they would pick some fo those guys ahead of me."

On if he was having a draft party 

"I've been sitting in my room the last few days, waiting on the phone call."

On what's ahead with the Bengals

"I will say people have not seen -- I have not played my best football. I do think I'm underrated. But sometimes that's the hand your dealt."

COACH SPEAK

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis

"He's a guy who's played hard. He's played a lot of football. Those guys play almost 90 snaps per game there in that conference sometimes defensively. We're really looking forward to (him) being a guy who comes in and helps in our rotation of players here."

Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther

"You can see that there's some things that show up that has NFL traits right away, his body lean, his bend and his relentlessness."

Bengals defensive line coach Jacob Burney

"He's got good fundamentals about him. And, he can go rush as well. He knows how to rush. He's a good technique rusher. He's a student of the game. He really studies the tackles, and he's relentless."

DRAFTNIKS SAY

CBS draft analyst Dane Brugler

"He fills out his uniform with ease and will win over a coaching staff with his work habits and committed mentality. Willis is quick off the snap with a stubborn motor, but his game is built more on hustle than twitch, despite the impressive workout numbers. Although he doesn’t necessarily have the loose body control that scouts covet in edge rushers, Willis competes with intense determination and urgent athleticism that leads to production that cannot be overlooked – top-50 prospect."

Pro Football Focus

"There was no more productive edge player in our grading system than Willis, but when forced to go up against quality competition at the Senior Bowl practices he was one of the lowest-graded. The massive leap from junior year to senior year is encouraging as he’ll need to continue that improvement to be an effective starter at the next level."

LINKS

Many felt Willis had worked his way into the first-round discussion

HIGHLIGHT VIDEO