Carl Lawson to Bengals: Twitter Reacts as DE Is Selected in 2017 NFL Draft

Auburn defensive lineman Carl Lawson's wait finally ended when the Cincinnati Bengas selected him with the No. 116 overall pick of the 2017 NFL draft.

Twitter reacted accordingly to the selection.

Lawson was a productive force in his final season with the Tigers, notching 14 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in 12 games.

He had just 30 tackles for the entire campaign, but his ability to get into the backfield proved fruitful on a number of occasions. It was also a positive that he played 12 games since he appeared in only seven contests in 2015 and missed the 2014 season because of injuries.

If he can stay healthy at the NFL level, he boasts potential as an athletic edge-rusher as either a defensive end or outside linebacker. He is listed at 6'2" and 261 pounds on his NFL.com draft profile and turned heads with his strength at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Lawson's college coach congratulated him for his performance, and Cole Thompson of USA Today's Draft Wire listed him among the biggest winners at the event:

He clearly caught Cincinnati's eye, even though he has the ACL and hip injuries in his past.

Lawson's athleticism and speed off the edge stand out, and his NFL.com draft profile said "finesse tackles will struggle to handle his speed-to-power bursts." 

However, the same scouting report noted his "poor tackle production" as a weakness. "Pursuit is too measured and uneven," the scouting report continued. "Below-average lateral agility limits tackle radius. Too content to ride out the edges he sets rather than looking to eat as tackler."

The lack of overwhelming tackling ability could hinder his playing time in the immediate future, but his potential and overall versatility suggest he can develop into an impact player with more experience.

The Bengals have done a terrific job of developing late-round defensive linemen in recent years. Geno Atkins is a star. Michael Johnson has had an up-and-down career, but he had a two-year run from 2011-12 with 17.5 sacks. 

Assuming Lawson can remain healthy, Cincinnati will get a bonafide pass-rushing star for very little risk in the fourth round. The Bengals already have a formidable defense, finishing eighth in points allowed last season, and continue to stockpile talent to get better.