Mel Kiper resets expectations for one of Bengals' controversial picks

When the Cincinnati Bengals drafted Washington cornerback Tacario Davis in the third round, it didn’t move the needle as much as some of the surrounding picks the franchise made in the order.

As we noted in our deep dive analysis of the Davis pick, the value was a little off by some boards and he projects to fill a pretty niche role for the time being.

But it’s Davis getting some major spotlight in the draft aftermath from someone like ESPN’s Mel Kiper.

Kiper recently highlighted Davis and name-dropped Mansoor Delane in the process.

“Mansoor Delane was a popular match for Cincinnati at No. 10 before the Lawrence trade, and while Tacario Davis in the third round isn't that level of premier cover CB1, he should be a solid option opposite DJ Turner II,” Kiper wrote.

For now, Davis projects as a possible tight-end stopper right away while developing into a possible very down-player in the future.

Still, not bad to get that sort of schematic, niche fit with some upside in the third round. And boundary cornerback depth was very quietly a pretty big need for the Bengals this offseason.

Those Bengals have some tough decisions to make on future contracts for the likes of DJ Turner and Dax Hill on the boundary, too. Davis’ arrival and what he shows early could play a small role in how those things play out, too.

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Mel Kiper resets expectations for one of Bengals' controversial picks