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Missouri defensive end Shane Ray, a projected first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, was pulled over and issued a citation for marijuana possession on Monday morning. This comes at a very unfortunate time, only a few days before the draft begins.
The Cincinnati Bengals have shown interest in Ray this offseason, with pass rushing being an immediate need for the team. Many mock drafts have the Bengals selecting Ray with pick No. 21 overall. The question is: Will this recent conflict have any effect on the Bengals’ first-round decision?
The good news is that Ray was a first-time offender and wasn’t under the influence when pulled over. The bad news is he already has a foot injury that could put him out for five months, and this recent arrest certainly didn’t help his case. Many are predicting that these circumstances could drop him out of the first round of the draft completely.
Ray is walking on thin ice right now and his stock has definitely dropped. However, I personally believe that if he falls to the Bengals at pick No. 21, he will be hard to pass up — especially for a team that so desperately needs a defensive end of his caliber. Ray registered a school-record 14 sacks and was named SEC defensive player of the year last season; these accolades are hard to ignore for a team like Cincinnati.
Bottom line is the Bengals could benefit in so many ways by drafting Ray. He was once a likely top 10 pick, but now, due to these recent events, may fall right into Cincinnati’s lap. The question is whether or not they’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.
