Finally know what I want

[walzav29]

There are so many options. Here we go.

Sign Michael Bush and draft LaMichael James in the 2nd round

Sign Meachem or Garcon for #2 WR

Draft Decastro and Dre Kirkpatrick

Sign Goldson safety (Prefer Griffin)

Sign Tracey Porter (Prefer Carlos Rodgers)

The above should get us the division.

[cHaD711Johnson]

We still need another guard even if we sign Decastro. I also would rather get Trent Richardson at 17 than draft Michael Bush, but we'll see how that works out. I would prefer Meacham or Manningham and not Garcon. Tracey Porter would be fine.

[TJJackson]

would rather get Trent Richardson at 17 than draft Michael Bush

You know, I was going to point and laugh at you endlessly for thinking Richardson might be there at 17, but that's actually "somewhat" more likely than the possibility of drafting Michael Bush

You know, with Michael Bush being a veteran player and ergo not being in the draft and all that.......

[walzav29]

It's been proven over and over that a good RB can be found in any round. I was thinking Bush or Tolbert in the sense of a pounder for the AFC North. James seems so Sproles like and I can't see any team not wanting such a weapon.

[ArmyBengal]

James wasn't used as a receiver out of the backfield much and is noted as his biggest weakness.

I don't see that as something ANY team running a WCO would be interested in.

It's not to say he won't be a good RB, but he needs the right fit.

I'll pass.

[cHaD711Johnson]

would rather get Trent Richardson at 17 than draft Michael Bush

You know, I was going to point and laugh at you endlessly for thinking Richardson might be there at 17, but that's actually "somewhat" more likely than the possibility of drafting Michael Bush

You know, with Michael Bush being a veteran player and ergo not being in the draft and all that.......

Yes, I meant sign Michael Bush. Typo my friend. Thanks.

[walzav29]

Ok. What about Isiah Pead? Ran a 4.4 40 I believe he's a good receiver out of the backfield (39 last year) he's had good production. Reedy says that the 2nd round is a reach, but I disagree.

[Wraith]

2nd is a reach for Pead but there is no reason in the world why you couldn't grab him with a third of a fourth.

I would like to grab Richardson (if he's there) at #17, if not DeCastro @ 17 Kirkpatrick @ 21

I still love the idea of spending a 2nd on a Safety (Barron is my favorite and he is projected anywhere from mid-first to late second at this point) Take Pead of Polk in the 3rd (Polk is dropping like a rock on draft boards at this point)

I love another guy who is dropping fast Alameda Ta'amu in the 4th. Take our two 5ths and move back up to draft Marvin McNutt in the fourth.

There is a sleeper BTW if the is eligible for the draft Ifeanyi Momah from BC has been denied a 6th year of eligibility and as a TE he averaged 18 YPC the last two years albeit with substantial injury issues.

I would like Tolbert or Bush in FA. Would love to draft a guy like Brent Gimes or Courtland Finnegan. I LOVE the idea of LaRon Landry even though he has been a disappointment with the Redskins.

My #1 target in FA would be Ben Grubbs because he makes us stronger while making the Ravens weaker.

[derekshank]

(Polk is dropping like a rock on draft boards at this point)

Not anymore.

One of the concerns scouts had about Polk was that he didn't seem very fast at the Senior Bowl practices. (That's right... scouts ignored the speed you see on game film, and didn't think he "looked" fast in the practice).

At the combine he ran a 4.46 in the 40 yard dash. He might not "look" as fast as Doug Martin... but it doesn't matter how you look. It matters how fast you are. Both the game film and now the official time clock proves that he's actually faster than Martin.

The questions regarding his speed have been answered. I'm guessing he'll be picked with a late 1st round or early 2nd round pick.

[Wraith]

Polk's official time was 4.57 seconds good enough for 14th in the RB draft (15 when Richardson runs at his proday), he is certainly fast enough to play but not fast enough to generate buzz. Rob Rang has him ranked 5th, Mayock has him out of his top 5 and there is ABSOLUTELY no talk about Polk. Unless something drastic happens between now and the draft he is going to fall into the 3rd round where I would be thrilled for the Bengals to draft him.

Richardon is going to be the 1st RB drafted he will go in the first anywhere from 4 to 17.

Then a group of second tier backs Miller, Martin, Wilson have emerged. Alot of people have LaMichael James as the next best back but he doesn't fit every scheme (like the Bengals for example) so I am saying Polk is the next best guy but that probably takes us to the third considering that Richardson is probably the only back carrying a consistent 1st round grade. I seriously doubt more than 2 or 3 RBs go in the second.

BTW watch out for Ronnie Hillman from San Diego St. Averaged 138 yards / game last year and came into the combine and blew it up with the second fastest 40 and the 4th best vertical. He is will start getting looks in that third tier as well with Pead and Polk, somebody in that group will be available to the Bengals in the third.

I like Richardson in Rd. 1 if here is there (duh)

I like Martin or then Wilson or then Miller in rd. 2

I like Polk then Pead in rd. 3

I am worried however that they will reach for someone in the first.

[ArmyBengal]

While I love the fact there is no talk about Polk, I really don't see him falling that far. Maybe not even to us in the second. Why ?? Because while he may not have top end speed (which is debateable) he is a complete back capable of doing all things very well. Is he the next coming of Sanders ?? No, but for what the Bengals offense is trying to do with the WCO and the need to improve in short yardage situations, Polk simply comes across as the best fit for what the Bengals are doing.

While Derek and I might disagree slightly as to how important RB's may be in this particular draft, I agree with his thought that blocking and running between the tackles is still something that our team needs. I will tell you what, if Polk is sitting there in the 2nd and we pass on him with the hopes he would still be there in the 3rd, I think it would be very foolish.

As far as his "Official time" I call bulls**t anyway. Most teams had him in the 4.4-4.5 range and some at the lower end of 4.0. My point to that is we are talking about the difference of less than a 10th of a second and when you put the game film on, I will take Polk's 4.46ish time over another RBs 4.3.

A good example is looking at the WR's. Streeter out of Miami ran a sub 4.4 forty at 6'5, 219. That is simply an amazing time for a WR of his size. Outlandish one might say. However, I would challenge anyone to find a game where Streeter displayed that speed regularly.

[Wraith]

I agree with the thought that we need a back who can get us the tough yards.

That being said, I like Doug Martin's ability to do that.

I still think you might package some of our picks this year and next to trade up to get Richardson...after all he is the guy that best describes what you are looking for in a RB and if you can build a package that will land him and keep our #21 you could get the RB and the Guard you are looking for and combined with a few FA tweaks you have your offense for the next 4-6 years.

BTW, I think you are going to have to throw out the whole trade value chart because with the rookie salary cap now in place those higher draft picks are worth more than ever, I think you are going to see someone completely empty the piggy bank to get RG-3.

[ArmyBengal]

Yeah, that trade value chart is MUCH harder to define since the new CBA.

It would be nice to see something come out that is a more accurate depiction.

We do have two 5th rounders this year as well. Package away...

[shahud]

It's difficult to talk about the draft before we see what happens in free agency. Most people have the Bengals drafting a defensive back, a guard and a running back with our first 3 picks. The problem is that the Bengals have a huge hole at all of these positions which restricts our draft. Even though I know how cheap Mike Brown can be, I envision us signing at least one big time free agent.

Free Agent Wishlist:

1. Guard (Carl Nicks (27) or Ben Grubbs (28))

2. Cornerback (Cortland Finnegan (28)or Brandon Carr (26))

3. Running Back (Michael Bush (28) or Marshawn Lynch (26))

4. Wide Receiver (Robert Meachem (27) or Laurent Robinson (27))

If we could just sign two of these guys, then it would give us many more options in the draft. For example, let's say we sign Ben Grubbs and Brandon Carr. It would no longer be absolutely necessary to draft a guard and a cornerback with our first two picks. We could trade up to get Trent Richardson. We could draft Michael Floyd. We could trade down and draft Mark Barron. We could trade down to stockpile picks. Or we could just take the best player available with our picks.

Basically, filling a couple of our needs through free agency would put us in an amazing position during the draft. This would be my ideal scenario for both the near and distant future because all of these free agents are young. I don't think that this is a crazy idea either. There is no reason this can't happen.

[HoosierCat]

If we could just sign two of these guys, then it would give us many more options in the draft.

Welcome! And...absolutely. Solve some problems someplace...anyplace. I am not often a fan of Muckraker Mike but he is dead on with his first point: spend some money!

/>http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/29/bengals-2012-to-do-list/

[volcom69]

I agree get a couple of starters in FA and give yourself options In the draft. There is no reason they shouldn't spend money to help this team

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

There is no reason they shouldn't spend money to help this team

You mean other than cheapness?

[TJJackson]

It's difficult to talk about the draft before we see what happens in free agency. Most people have the Bengals drafting a defensive back, a guard and a running back with our first 3 picks. The problem is that the Bengals have a huge hole at all of these positions which restricts our draft. Even though I know how cheap Mike Brown can be, I envision us signing at least one big time free agent.

Free Agent Wishlist:

1. Guard (Carl Nicks (27) or Ben Grubbs (28))

2. Cornerback (Cortland Finnegan (28)or Brandon Carr (26))

3. Running Back (Michael Bush (28) or Marshawn Lynch (26))

4. Wide Receiver (Robert Meachem (27) or Laurent Robinson (27))

If we could just sign two of these guys, then it would give us many more options in the draft. For example, let's say we sign Ben Grubbs and Brandon Carr. It would no longer be absolutely necessary to draft a guard and a cornerback with our first two picks. We could trade up to get Trent Richardson. We could draft Michael Floyd. We could trade down and draft Mark Barron. We could trade down to stockpile picks. Or we could just take the best player available with our picks.

Basically, filling a couple of our needs through free agency would put us in an amazing position during the draft. This would be my ideal scenario for both the near and distant future because all of these free agents are young. I don't think that this is a crazy idea either. There is no reason this can't happen.

I would prefer Grubbs over Nicks as the OG because he should be cheaper and for the hurt his loss would put on the Ravens

I would prefer Finnegan over Carr

Either RB is fine

I would prefer Marques Colston over the two WRs you named due to his size, experience, and productivity on short and medium routes. Then a young WR raw-but-talented could be groomed behind the experienced pro Colston and the rookie phenom Green

and yeah - just get us 2 of these 4 spots covered in this fashion, and I would be absolutely thrilled

[walzav29]

I believe there is a chance they could actually sign good players this offseason. They actually did lower ticket prices. Which you know they didn't like. Those games looked real bad on TV last year. With all of those empty seats. A homerun in Free Agency and the Draft will bring people back. It's going to be interesting.