Bengalszone 1st Round Mock Draft

[HairOnFire]

I gotta tell ya, all of this talk about constantly changing opinions, ever changing draft status, waiting for the combines, and guys that could go as early as 6th overall OR as late as the 2nd round, well....it's enough to make me think that any mock draft written in January might be absolutely worthless.

Full circle.....this is where I came in.....right back where we started from.

Hello, I must be going.

[schweinhart]

I gotta tell ya, all of this talk about constantly changing opinions, ever changing draft status, waiting for the combines, and guys that could go as early as 6th overall OR as late as the 2nd round, well....it's enough to make me think that any mock draft written in January might be absolutely worthless.

Full circle.....this is where I came in.....right back where we started from.

Hello, I must be going.

Delving into the the attributes of college football prospects and surmising the directions teams will go for building their rosters based on what they have or don't have is indeed as worthless as football itself. Now if there is no platform their for grandiose rebuttal or vapid one-liners that convey some opinion about a players' skills or a team's draft interests, so be it......and so long.

But why the New York Jets wouldn't take Quentin Moses with their 1st round pick is an altogether different matter.

[jditty47]

I would like to see them Draft

rnd 1 DE

rnd 2 DT

rnd 4 S

rnd 5 QB

rnd 6 DT

rnd 7 CB

With the salary cap at under 25 mil we should be able to sign some free agents.

Sign LB Adalius Thomas, CB Asante Samuel and TE Daniel Grahm ( Yes we can afford to sign all 3)

By Cutting LB Brian Simmons , DT John Thornton and DE Bryan Robinson you add another 8-9 mil to use in free agency.

Let Justin Smith and Eric Steinbach walk.

You can replace Justin with Frostee Rucker, Robert Geathers and the 1st round draft pick would be a nice rotation.

You can replace Eric with Andrew Whitworth

Resign

LB Landon Johnson - Back up

LB Calib Miller- Back up

TE Reggie Kelly

T Stacy Andrews- Back up

G Scott Kooistra- Back up

S Kevin Kaesviharn- Back up

P Kyle Larson

QB Anthony Wright Back up

DE Jonathan Fanene Back up

glad this guy isnt our gm.

[Spain]

The master of the universe , says Marijauna is better than hash. howver hash goes farthter. the philosophical ? of the ages!

[schweinhart]

I hear you Spain and I agree....Why can't these Bengals numbskulls show a little ingenuity? Now if one of them gets pulled over with a brick of black Leb or blonde Afghani, they wouldn't seem so.......common.

Of course there's hope yet. Wasn't too far off about this time last year when a 1st round DT prospect, Claude Wroten, got pulled over with a couple pounds of weed and a few grand of spare dollars.

Maybe this year's Claude Wroten could be...I don't know....say another early entry like Jamaal Anderson. Then he definitely would be there at #18 and no doubt the Bengals would grab him then with that kind of off field performance.

[HoosierCat]

Hello, I must be going.

Tease.

[HairOnFire]

Hello, I must be going.

Tease.

What can I say, Groucho never left after uttering those words and I probably won't either.

[HoosierCat]

Is there anything more worthless than a mock draft written in January?

Yes.

[HairOnFire]

"Just like in 2004, the 2008 election will be determined by which candidate survives the monkey pox outbreak." --- Samantha Bee

[schweinhart]

With the salary cap at under 25 mil we should be able to sign some free agents.

Sign LB Adalius Thomas, CB Asante Samuel and TE Daniel Grahm ( Yes we can afford to sign all 3)

If somebody can get this done, it'd be amazing. Thomas and especially Samuel both get franchised in all likelihood but both could also make for trade bait if the players can get contracts done with other teams.

Samuel would cost a fortune...Champ Bailey money. Thomas would cost a fortune too, although a smaller one. Sounds like it would take more hacking away than the Bengals could do but between cuts of higher dollar players in their last year and lowballing existing RFAs and UFAs. Add to it no Justin or Steiny and it just might fit.

I would think the addition of Adalius, Asante and Graham would have much greater impact than the loss of Thornton, Simmons, Justin, Steiny and B-Rob. Does sound like at least one other big dollar player might have to get axed.

The draft could go a long way to plugs some of those holes if the Bengals decide to dump some vets and pass on their own higher priced UFAs. Maybe none would fit better than Jamaal Anderson -- he should be a starter at LDE and maybe a pass rusher at RDT. But regardless, they would get a D-Lineman who would be consistent with a team trying to get bigger up thicker up front rather than lighter and quicker.

[El Tigere]

amen! Glad someone is more open minded!

[jditty47]

i dont think thomas would make much of a difference if we lost simmons in my opinion.

thomas, jeanty, and johnson is still not a threatening LB core.

[Spain]

If I were to be. I think they will draft a DB. In this new pass happy NFL. You can never have enough. However Im starting to fall off the Ratlif pick. We spent a second on this guy and he cant break the starting lineup.

[fattyjay]

I gotta think that they will take two DB's in the draft, a safety and a corner on the first day. Second day I could see them taking a LB and, if they don't resign JSmith, a DE. If they do sign JSmith I think they switch that pick to another LB. Who knows once it gets to round 6 or 7, they may look for a developmental QB. It is just painful that they have spent so many draft picks the past few years on defense and nothing has changed.

[schweinhart]

Well, out of the 1st half of this mock, the only senior to show up for the Senior Bowl this week was CB Leon Hall and he didn't do anything to jeopardize his shot at being the 1st corner off the board. Probably higher than the Bengals pick but maybe not. If the Bengals target CB at #18, they'll most likely have to roll with one of the juniors in Darrelle Revis or Chris Houston.

The bottom half of this mock had 10 players who showed up for the Senior Bowl, topped by MLB Patrick Willis, who still didn't really seem to answer the question whether he'd have to come of the field in nickel situations but did get a chance to show off his 38-inch vertical in red zone passing drills. Willis is probably going to be there and the Bengals are going to be very tempted.

Out of the other 9 1st round picks in this mock at the Senior Bowl, Levi Brown solidified his shot at getting picked mid-round but still may not convince teams he's got the feet all the time to start at left tackle.

Among the others, Amobi Okoye did nothing but generate interest in his quickness at the line but the same strength he showed should show up too as his weakness of taking himself out of plays when they actually play the game tomorrow at 4 p.m. EDT. Still, he's looks like he's established himself as the 2nd DT off the board now that Glenn Dorsey decided to stay his senior year, Quinn Pitcock didn't show enough to impress more and an obese Tank Tyler looked pitiful.

Among descenders in this mock, tackle Tony Ugoh just didn't bring his feet to Mobile and as slow as he looked to react won't help him. Marcus McCauley looked all right in bump coverage but vanished in off coverage and everything deep. Kevin Kolb did nothing to separate himself from Troy Smith and Drew Stanton and it's hard to believe that any of those 3 will be viewed with franchise QB potential worthy of a 1st round pick.

Several players have improved their 1st round chances IMO:

Dwayne Bowe (but he's got a chronic case of the dropsies which is not good for a possession reciver)

Brandon Meriweather (overrated as a safety but flashed enough CB slot skills that he helped himself immensely)

Quentin Moses (he stayed lean and in shape and has positioned himself to be the Manny Lawson of this year's draft)

Joe Staley (at times looked like the best left tackle prospect there)

Adam Carriker (showed how hard he is for linemen to handle when there's lots of space like he would find as a 3-4 DE)

Ben Grubbs (Easily the best left guard there)

Ryan Kahlil (Easily the best center in the draft if somewhat underweight)

[HairOnFire]

Probably higher than the Bengals pick but maybe not. If the Bengals target CB at #18, they'll most likely have to roll with one of the juniors in Darrelle Revis or Chris Houston.

It's far to early for me to bother making a short list, but if I did I'm pretty sure that I'd start off with Darrelle Revis, a player who could not only step into the Bengals secondary rotation immediately, but also a guy who gets a grade so high on the moral ledger that his selection would likely silence all but the most hysterical amongst us. Best, I think the coming draft features a strong class of defensive lineman...far deeper than the pool of quality CB's, so there's a high probability the Bengals could still add a very good DL prospect with their 2nd round pick. Conversely, I think waiting until the 2nd round for a CB would result in selecting a prospect with fairly major warts. (Lack of speed or technique.)

[fattyjay]

It's just hard for me to picture the Bengals taking another CB in the first round. Seems like a Detroit Lions move of having too many first rounders in one spot, not enough in others. Not to say that Revis wouldn't be a worthy pick, but I feel that the need for a first round safety might be slightly bigger.

[CJBestInAFC]

Well, out of the 1st half of this mock, the only senior to show up for the Senior Bowl this week was CB Leon Hall and he didn't do anything to jeopardize his shot at being the 1st corner off the board. Probably higher than the Bengals pick but maybe not. If the Bengals target CB at #18, they'll most likely have to roll with one of the juniors in Darrelle Revis or Chris Houston.

The bottom half of this mock had 10 players who showed up for the Senior Bowl, topped by MLB Patrick Willis, who still didn't really seem to answer the question whether he'd have to come of the field in nickel situations but did get a chance to show off his 38-inch vertical in red zone passing drills. Willis is probably going to be there and the Bengals are going to be very tempted.

Out of the other 9 1st round picks in this mock at the Senior Bowl, Levi Brown solidified his shot at getting picked mid-round but still may not convince teams he's got the feet all the time to start at left tackle.

Among the others, Amobi Okoye did nothing but generate interest in his quickness at the line but the same strength he showed should show up too as his weakness of taking himself out of plays when they actually play the game tomorrow at 4 p.m. EDT. Still, he's looks like he's established himself as the 2nd DT off the board now that Glenn Dorsey decided to stay his senior year, Quinn Pitcock didn't show enough to impress more and an obese Tank Tyler looked pitiful.

Among descenders in this mock, tackle Tony Ugoh just didn't bring his feet to Mobile and as slow as he looked to react won't help him. Marcus McCauley looked all right in bump coverage but vanished in off coverage and everything deep. Kevin Kolb did nothing to separate himself from Troy Smith and Drew Stanton and it's hard to believe that any of those 3 will be viewed with franchise QB potential worthy of a 1st round pick.

Several players have improved their 1st round chances IMO:

Dwayne Bowe (but he's got a chronic case of the dropsies which is not good for a possession reciver)

Brandon Meriweather (overrated as a safety but flashed enough CB slot skills that he helped himself immensely)

Quentin Moses (he stayed lean and in shape and has positioned himself to be the Manny Lawson of this year's draft)

Joe Staley (at times looked like the best left tackle prospect there)

Adam Carriker (showed how hard he is for linemen to handle when there's lots of space like he would find as a 3-4 DE)

Ben Grubbs (Easily the best left guard there)

Ryan Kahlil (Easily the best center in the draft if somewhat underweight)

Where's Anthony Spencer? He has been one of the most impressive players at the Senior Bowl. I like Carriker a lot because it would force the Bengals to switch to a 3-4. Forget Leon Hall in the first round. He doesn't have the speed to cover NFL Wrs.

[Kazkal]

It's just hard for me to picture the Bengals taking another CB in the first round. Seems like a Detroit Lions move of having too many first rounders in one spot, not enough in others. Not to say that Revis wouldn't be a worthy pick, but I feel that the need for a first round safety might be slightly bigger.

Lions took WR's what 3 years in a row? 2 CB's is quite difference... it's quite different I would say 2 CB's is 1 thing 3 WR's a way different story.

would force the Bengals to switch to a 3-4

It woulden't force the bengals.. he could be 4-3 end it would just make it easier go between 4-3 and 3-4.

[HairOnFire]

Why use the Lions as an example when it involves selecting wideout after wideout? Aren't the Ravens a better example?

[fattyjay]

Lions example was just the first one that popped in my head as far as drafting multiple 1st rounders at the same powition in consecutive years. I'm not saying that it would not be beneficial to get another CB in the first round again, especially considering the way O'Neal's performance seems to be sliding (whether due to injury or attitude). All I was suggesting was spreading the wealth around the entire defense.

[schweinhart]

Where's Anthony Spencer? He has been one of the most impressive players at the Senior Bowl. I like Carriker a lot because it would force the Bengals to switch to a 3-4. Forget Leon Hall in the first round. He doesn't have the speed to cover NFL Wrs.

Spencer looked good too and definitely helped himself by at the very least surpassing LaMarr Woodley. I'd say his real 1st round push, though, is going to come at the combine when they ask him to stand up and play space as a 3-4 OLB. Right now, he reminds me of Darryl Tapp and what he did last year.

Carriker's versatility will make several teams covet him and it will be interesting to see in today's game how Carriker, Spencer and Okoye do when they have to go up against the best players of the south line in Joe Staley, Ben Grubbs and Ryan Kalil.

Leon looks quick enough off his cuts and reaction to fare well in the slot and I've notice when receivers like Ginn and Jarrett had gotten behind him, it's been safety bracket coverage where he was where he should've been. Teams probably got some concerns about his tackling, like the big time whiff he had on Robiskie. But he looks fast enough to me and should be faster straightline than either Darrelle Revis or Chris Houston.