Technically, the Bengals could obtain a linebacker without drafting one.
Should they decide to select a linebacker in Saturday's first round of the NFL draft, one method of filling that need might be to grab Florida State's Reinard Wilson, a defensive end considered to possess the aptitude to switch positions.
The Bengals have no virtually no chance at selecting Alabama's Dwayne Rudd, the top-rated linebacker in the draft. The possibility exists that James Farrior and Jamie Sharper, the outside linebackers from the University of Virginia, also could be gone before Cincinnati makes the 14th overall selection.
Universally envisioned as a first-round choice, Wilson would seem to be an acceptable option if the Bengals decline to sign a prominent veteran free agent. They might want him even if Farrior or Sharper is still available.
Draft expert Joel Buchsbaum said that Wilson plays with greater ''intensity, strength and nastiness'' than his more heralded college teammate, Peter Boulware, who is projected to be among the top six or seven picks.
At 6-foot-1ó and 260
pounds, Wilson appears more suited for linebacker than end in the NFL. In the latter spot, he would encounter offensive linemen who outweigh him by 40 or 50 pounds.
Playing linebacker would enable him to use his impressive quickness, which compensates for his ordinary 40-yard dash clocking of 4.85 seconds. Quickness helped him get 13 sacks last year, increasing his school-record total to 35. He was consistent, with a sack in every game but two.
At least one NFL scout believes Wilson could make the switch: ''I love Reinard Wil
son,'' he said. ''He's just a football player.''
Wilson could follow the example of Chris Slade, the New England Patriots' highly regarded four-year veteran linebacker who played defensive end in college.
Another defensive end viewed as a candidate to switch to linebacker is Colorado's Greg Jones (6-4, 240), who is expected to be drafted somewhere between late in the first round or midway through the second. Like Wilson, Jones has earned raves for his pass-rushing skills.
The most obvious matches for the Bengals at linebacker are Farrior and Sharper, which is why it's so widely assumed they'll select one of them.
But Farrior almost surely will be drafted before the Bengals' turn, and Sharper could be.
''Teams like Atlanta (which has the No. 11 selection in the first round) and Houston (No. 13) are very interested in taking linebackers,'' said Brad Blank, the agent who represents both Farrior and Sharper. ''You're not going to get a good outside linebacker after that.''
However, Blank added, ''Every mock draft I read has the Bengals taking Sharper.''
BRAHAM STAYS; GRAHAM SIGNS ON April 16, 1997
Previous draft stories
'IMPACT' PLAYER, TRADE UNLIKELY April 13, 1997
14TH PICK NOT TOO LATE TO GRAB GOOD PLAYER April 13, 1997
Recent stories
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MAP FAVORS BENGALS WITH FREE AGENTS March 5, 1997
3 FREE AGENTS VISIT TODAY March 4, 1997
CB HARRIS SETS FREE-AGENT VISIT Feb. 27, 1997
BENGALS MAKING HEADWAY WITH FREE AGENTS Feb. 25, 1997
BENGALS HAVE CAP ROOM FOR FREE AGENTS Feb. 15, 1997
BENGALS WON'T CHASE TOP FREE AGENTS Feb. 14, 1997
