Bengals’ mid-round targets hinted with latest NFL draft visit

The Cincinnati Bengals figure to attack the defensive side of the ball early and often during the NFL draft.

Fans know the names for No. 10 overall. Guys like Caleb Downs, Sonny Styles and Rueben Bain rule the day there.

But what about the second round and beyond?

According to Ryan Fowler, the Bengals hosted Texas Tech defensive lineman Lee Hunter on a visit recently, so that’s certainly one name to know.

Here’s NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein on Hunter’s projection in the pros:

“Hunter’s girth and length are advantages when aligning over the center as a run defender. He doesn’t have enough quickness or skill as a rusher to see many passing downs, but he can dent the pocket with his power. Hunter projects as an early down space-eater who can make interior offensive linemen work for their gaps.”

The Bengals were always going to attack the interior of the defensive line this offseason. Jonathan Allen was merely the beginning. They simply haven't gotten the necessary leaps from Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson.

Granted, the Bengals hope Allen helps and BJ Hill is fully healthy next year. But there’s a reason a reunion with DJ Reader in free agency was a popular fan theory (and still is).

Taking someone like Hunter in Round 2 or Round 3 would probably end the Reader talk. But it would represent the Bengals once again pouring significant long-term investments into the problem area.

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals’ mid-round targets hinted with latest NFL draft visit