Bengals Select Kansas State Cornerback Julius Brents in ESPN's Three-Round Mock Draft

The Bengals made some head-scratching picks in the exercise.

CINCINNATI — ESPN's Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. released their annual tag-team mock draft this week and McShay slotted Cincinnati with Kansas State cornerback Julius Brents at the 28th pick.

"I'm guessing this will be a bit of a surprise, but I love this dude's tape," McShay wrote. "And I just moved Brents up to No. 27 overall on my board. He is tall and long, and he can smother receivers in press coverage. The Bengals really need some help in that area."

Brents would be a reach at No. 28. He is the consensus 62nd-ranked player overall and the 10th-best cornerback. It would be surprising to see them take Brents over Bryan Bresee or Myles Murphy, who went in the next two picks.

McShay had the Bengals again at No. 60 and has Cincinnati taking Syracuse offensive tackle, Matthew Bergeron.

"The Bengals signed Orlando Brown Jr. to end their pass-protection woes once and for all," McShay wrote. "But if Jonah Williams gets traded, the issues could pop right back up. Bergeron has the quicks and strength to provide depth at offensive tackle; but he also could play guard despite seeing just five snaps there in college."

Bergeron is the consensus 64th-ranked player and seventh-best offensive tackle.

The Bengals took Penn State safety Ji'Ayir Brown with Pick 92.

"Cincinnati plugged the Jessie Bates III hole at safety with Nick Scott in free agency, but there are still some question marks at the position on the Bengals' depth chart. Watch a few minutes of Brown's tape and you'll be wowed by his instincts and recognition skills. I think he could move around the defense and contribute as a rookie."

This would be a slight reach on the surface and a definitive one given the roster makeup. 

Brown is the consensus 95th-ranked player and eighth-best safety. Cincinnati is set at safety for the next two seasons and has Tycen Anderson filling a reserve role. Any safety pick before Day 3 would be surprising.

Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell played nearly 100% of the team's defensive snaps last season. Starting safeties dominate playing time in Lou Anarumo's defense.

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