Skip to content

Bengals' Billings motivated by draft slide

Cooper Neill / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Among the most surprising developments during the 2016 NFL Draft this past weekend was the monumental slide for Andrew Billings.

The former Baylor defensive tackle was considered by many to be a first-round talent heading in, but he remained on the board until being scooped up by the Cincinnati Bengals at 122nd overall.

All indications are that being passed over has only given him more motivation as he sets out to begin his NFL career.

"This is something I'm going to carry with me my whole life," Billings said, according to Coley Harvey of ESPN. "It's actually a good thing for me."

Though teams won't typically expect early returns from Day 3 picks, Billings could conceivably carve out a role for himself as a rookie. He fits as a nose tackle on Cincinnati's 4-3 front, where he'll compete with Domata Peko for a lead role alongside four-time Pro Bowler Geno Atkins.

If the size of the chip on his shoulder can be taken as any indication, the Bengals may have found themselves a mid-round steal.

"It's huge," Billings added. "I can't even explain how huge it is.

"I like the feeling, though."

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox