2017 NFL Draft: Cincinnati Bengals Final 7-Round Mock Draft
By Kenn Korb
Round 7, Pick 9: Josh Harvey-Clemons, S – Louisville
Another red flag selection, albeit for drastically different reasons than the previous ones. While someone like Joe Williams has worries over his character and maturity, there isn’t a problem with drugs for him. That’s the big problem with Harvey-Clemons though, and it could be a more damaging issue in the NFL.
While a player like Williams could cause worry in terms of buying in and giving his all to his team, Harvey-Clemons is a risk to miss significant time to suspensions if he hasn’t put his usage of marijuana squarely in the past.
He failed multiple drug test in college, and players who test positive in college are much more likely to end up repeating those offenses in the future. A team spending their resources on him must be wary of the fact that no matter his on-field talent, his decisions away from the field may prevent him from even lining up for significant portions of his career.
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Concerns with drug usage have derailed talented careers far too often in the past, and they give a clear picture of how wrong things can go if teams rely on players who’ve gotten themselves in this situation.
Look at Josh Gordon. He proved capable of being a top-five receiver when he puts on his uniform behind an impressive 2013 (87 catches, 1,646 yards, nine touchdowns), but his drug issues have ruined what could have been a starry career. He came in with the issues, having to go through the supplemental draft to even join the league, and it just kept getting worse. Even in his great 2013, he missed two games to a suspension; since then, he’s played just five games as he’s had multiple other long-term suspensions never allow him to return to the field.
Another case is Martavis Bryant. He is the sort of dominating size-speed athlete which can help an offense become elite at attacking downfield. With the Steelers, accompanied by fellow skill position players Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell, that’s exactly what he did; few offenses inspired more fear than what their 2015 group was able to accomplish.
Unfortunately, his propensity for drug use seems to have sent him the way of Gordon. He missed the first month of 2015 with a drug suspension, and is still currently on a separate indefinite suspension that already took away his entire 2016 season.
If drug problems are not addressed and managed, even the most talented contributors can be relegated to nothing more than a name on the inactive list. If Harvey-Clemons hasn’t put his earlier transgressions firmly in the rearview, it will result in the same unfortunate fate as Gordon and Bryant.
But just because he has issues in his past, it doesn’t automatically mean he won’t evolve beyond them, nor does it mean he shouldn’t be given the chance to prove he’s put it all behind him. Assuming he can, and then you bring his talent into the equation, he’s worth a late-round pick by the Bengals.
His on-field abilities are the sort teams would hope to find much earlier in the process, and as long as he stays out of trouble he can become a dynamic force at safety the way guys like Kam Chancellor have before him.
Alternative Selection: Sean Harlow, OG – Oregon State
If they haven’t yet grabbed two offensive linemen, they could find themselves with a good option in the final round in Harlow. Harlow was a tackle in college, but his limitations will make guard more palatable for his professional career. That should be fine for the Bengals, who could use as much line help as they can find.
Even if they’ve already gotten two guys earlier, they currently have three starting positions desperately needing new bodies or improved play. Their other two starters are only average as well, so they shouldn’t be afraid to plan on challenging them if they can.
That line is so terrible as a whole that throwing as many resources (albeit cheap ones, since they have proven to not be inclined towards spending big money on the group) as possible at the group is the only way they’ll make it better. Grabbing Harlow here gives them someone who can focus on being a guard while their earlier picks vie for the tackle spots with Ogbuehi and Fisher.