This guy is nuts!

[walzav29]

No way he's available at #24, but if he isyou take him.

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/8303830

[Bengalbob]

There ain't no way!!! That said, I hope this guy is giving advice to the 18 or so teams that take a pass on Davis!

[TJJackson]

Yeah, wouldn't it be great if it went that way...maybe we could talk him into an alternate version where DE Mario Williams falls to us at 24 and Vernon Davis at 55... Oh, and how about Michael Huff in round 3?

*laff*

[GO85CHAD]

I think we would draft him there. He is the only clear cut 1st round TE. He has such talent. I am a uva fan and i saw him play a lot. he looked excellent in workouts. he has top 7 talent for this years draft. i would be happy with this pick.

[jjakq27]

I think we'd be nuts to take him. As has been stated many times here on this board, the TE position is a non factor in the Bengals offense. It is merely an extension of the O-line.

I am not saying that he isn't good enough or a bad player but unless this guy is Gonzalez or Gates then I wouldn't waste the pick. He'll never see the ball.

[TJJackson]

Really.

Odd how TE Dallas Clark managed to "see the ball" quite often despite the presence of 3 outstanding wide receivers (one of them is almost certainly guarenteed a spot in Canton someday) and a great pass-catching running back in our game vs Indy

There can never be enough weapons, particularly when any given player can be carted off the field any given sunday, and some teams will be weaker defending the TE but strong defending the WR.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Davis isn't so good that we should take him in round 1 instead of a defensive player when guys like Tim Day and David Thomas will be there on day two, and guys like Fasano, Klopfenstein, Byrd, Pope, and Marcades Lewis will be there in rounds 2 and 3.

It's a bad pick in my opinion.

[jjakq27]

Really.

Odd how TE Dallas Clark managed to "see the ball" quite often despite the presence of 3 outstanding wide receivers (one of them is almost certainly guarenteed a spot in Canton someday) and a great pass-catching running back in our game vs Indy

There can never be enough weapons, particularly when any given player can be carted off the field any given sunday, and some teams will be weaker defending the TE but strong defending the WR.

Yes, really. Last time I checked, Bob Bratkowski was the Bengals OC not the Colts OC.

A guy can't make the HOF if they don't throw you the ball.

[TJJackson]

You two are crazy :-)

Not that it matters...he will be off the board well before we pick anyway

[BlainThePain]

Really.

Odd how TE Dallas Clark managed to "see the ball" quite often despite the presence of 3 outstanding wide receivers (one of them is almost certainly guarenteed a spot in Canton someday) and a great pass-catching running back in our game vs Indy

There can never be enough weapons, particularly when any given player can be carted off the field any given sunday, and some teams will be weaker defending the TE but strong defending the WR.

Yes, really. Last time I checked, Bob Bratkowski was the Bengals OC not the Colts OC.

A guy can't make the HOF if they don't throw you the ball.

They seem to really like Leonard Pope so you better get used to the idea of drafting a tight end in the first round because there is a good chance it will shake out that way.

On a different note, did you guys check out the response below to the mock draft by Toast2001?

Just like Dodd's articles, it is best unwritten.

[Stripes]

This mock looks a lot like the ones done before the combine. Looks to me like Dodd was trying to offer something a little different from all the mocks we've been seeing that are all virtually the same. I doubt VD will be anywhere near available at 24, but if he is then of course we need to take him. He is a TE with receiver hands and speed and he can block too.

Bob Bratkowski will learn what a TE is when his options at the position are no longer Matt Schobel, Reggie Kelly, and Tony Stewart.

[GROIIIDayton]

Whoever claims we should pass on him if he were there, which he won't be, is making me question if you have ever watched football. I see a tight end that can not only go over the middle and block he can stretch the field vertically. You are crazy not to want this guy.

[derekshank]

If Davis is available at 24 you take him. He is a rare talent, and you find a way to incorporate rare talent in any style offense. You tailor your scheme to the talent you have.... this is the main reason we don't use TE's in the passing game. We don't have the right kind of players to do it with.

That said... Davis is the only TE in this draft that I wouldn't be pissed off if we took in the 1st round.

[TJJackson]

Yes, really. Last time I checked, Bob Bratkowski was the Bengals OC not the Colts OC.

A guy can't make the HOF if they don't throw you the ball.

Yeah, if I was Bob Bratkowski, I wouldn't have wanted to throw to our receiving tight end - you know, Matt "hands of stone" Schobel - either. Completely understand.

[TecmoFever]

I can't believe two things:

1) That Dodd was able to post this mock draft and not get fired. It's horrible. There's no way that Davis falls to 24. I've seen him as high as sixth.

2) That people are posting that they wouldn't want him if he fell to us. There is no bigger glaring need than the TE position right now, and with Chris Henry's future in doubt and Palmer's health a concern, it would be really nice to have a stud target in the middle of the field.

I am now officially dumber for having read this article.

[Stripes]

1) That Dodd was able to post this mock draft and not get fired. It's horrible. There's no way that Davis falls to 24. I've seen him as high as sixth.

I would hope that a writer would not get fired simply for straying from the norm in a guessing game.

[BengalPappaw]

If Vernon Davis gets past St. Louis Rams, then you can get your hopes up.

-- BUT, I don't think Davis will be there at 24.

We can dream, can't we

[Bobcat Bengal]

He wouldn't make it past the Broncos anyway.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Due to the depth at the position, Davis could likely drop. The fact is, there are a LOT of good tight ends in this draft. If there are guys at other positions available, he could fall a long long way.

[TJJackson]

Possible, but highly unlikely

[MacD BengalFan]

If Davis is available at 24 you take him. He is a rare talent, and you find a way to incorporate rare talent in any style offense. You tailor your scheme to the talent you have.... this is the main reason we don't use TE's in the passing game. We don't have the right kind of players to do it with.

That said... Davis is the only TE in this draft that I wouldn't be pissed off if we took in the 1st round.

A smart coach would do exactly that. If Davis falls into the Bengals lap, you find a way to use him. That is the kind of TE that will give defenses fits because of the threat he may present. Gates and Gonzalez are able to change a game with one catch. Currently, the Bengals don't truly have that kind of threat at TE. It would only make the offense even that more potent.

[TJJackson]

Another player meeting that "rare talent" measure is Manny Lawson.

Anyone taken a look at him?

I fully realize that virtually every web profile on him specifically notes how his best fit would be on a 3-4 team, but if you do go looking, look at everything else besides that.....

[ArmyBengal]

There is no way in hell Davis falls this far, but for the sake of argument, there is also no way in hell the Bengals would pass on the #1 TE in the draft at #24, NO WAY !!!

On the real though, there is also no way that Lienart drops all the way to Detroit and Oakland takes someone else... SH*TTY MOCK !!!

WHODEY !!!

[TecmoFever]

I agree with you wholeheartedly, ArmyBengal. I don't mind a guy trying to shake it up a little, but this may be the worst mock draft I've seen.

[ArmyBengal]

Yep, shaking it up is fine by me, but this is like saying we get Davis in the 1st, Ngata in the 2nd, and Super Mario in the 3rd...

Is there anyway someone can make that one happen ???

WHODEY !!!