1st Round Pre-Pick Thread

[Scottishbengal]

Looking at the first round mock drafts on NFL.com, out of the 8 pundits we have been predicted to take FS (by 3), RB (by 2), WR, OT, and CB (all by 1 each).

From this you'd surmise that the draft nicks consider our greatest areas of need to be RB and FS ... so are they assuming we are set at LB with the Harrison signing and that Andre Smith will more than likely re-sign too ??

Lets look at these "areas of need" and see what we already have on the roster.

Safeties:

Reggie Nelson, Jeromy Miles, and Chris Crocker, although Crocker is at the tail end of his career.

George Iloka will be looking to continue his development.

Taylor Mays has been steadily improving according to the stats but at 4 years experience it's high time he showed up or shipped out.

Tony Dye - coming back from injury, largely unproven talent.

Robert Sands - also coming back from injury, but like Mays needs to prove he's worthy of a roster spot

Perhaps a mid rounder or two to add depth and push Mays, Sands, and Dye for their spot.

Running Back:

BJGE is going to be the principle ball carrier like it or not, like him or not! He did crack up 1000yd season last year although his YPG is far from spectacular.

Cedric Peerman has proved a capable change player and Bernard Scott coming from injury needs to improve his stats.

Daniel Herron will continue to develop and see limited appearances.

We need depth at this spot and to to replace Brian Leonard - I can't really see the Bengals using the No.21 pick overall to take a RB but they do need a change of pace back with a different dimension to balance the running game.

Cornerbacks:

Leon Hall, Dre Kirkpatrick, Adam Jones,

Brandon Ghee and Shaun Prater coming back from injury - will they be good enough?

Terence Newman and Nate Clements both getting on in years at 34 and 33 respectively.

Chris Lewis-Harris - 1 years experience

Perhaps a mid/late rounder would add some depth and prepare for when Clements/Newman hang up their boots.

Wide Receiver:

AJ Green, Andrew Hawkins, Mohamed Sanu, Marvin Jones, will, IMO, form the nucleus of the air attack if all stay healthy

Brandon Tate will stay on the team due to his Special Teams duties but could improve his stats when in a game as a wideout.

Ryan Whalen needs to start to produce, same goes for

Taveon Rogers, coming back from injury needs to prove his worth, as does Dane Sanzenbacher - both at 5' 11" they're not the tall reachy wideouts preferred by Marvin Lewis.

Justin Hilton, will need more time to develop, and only has 1 yrs experience. If the coaches don't see something in him he could be practice squad or cut if a better option is drafted.

If healthy perhaps Sanu or Jones emerge as the legit No.2 with Hawkins filling the slot. If not fully healthy or the coaches think there's a better option in the draft then a WR could well be the first round choice.

OT:

This surely all depends on IF Flesh Zepplin signs and if he does what the terms of the deal are .... ie, just one year?

The longer he holds out the morehis stock goes down in my book, if the Bengals take an OT with the 21st pick then Smith ain't getting the $ he or his agent think he's worth. If he walks then he could end up with having to take a job wherever for whatever salary is offered ...... hasn't been that much interest in him so far it would seem.

If the Bengals are in any doubt that Smith will be the RT for the enxt few years then the 21st pick goes on his replacement, even if he signs a one year deal (or a deal with a get out clause after one year) then a replacement is taken now.

As stated above, it seems like the draft nicks think we'll not take a LB in Round 1 - but I'm not so sure. We have 10 LB's on the roster but quality at depth is an issue.

James Harrison, although adding something, is not the future - that's obvious, but he'll be encamped with Burfict, Moch, Maualuga, with Howard Thomas coming back from injury.

Vincent Rey, Aaron Maybin, Lamur Emmanuel will all need to step up with their development and push for playing time.

Brandon Joiners' missed season due to "off-field issues" could prove costly to him if some competition comes in for roster spots. Same goes for JK Schaffer who needs to proves he's worth of a number.

If Andre Smith signs a mid/long term deal then I can see the Bengals drafting an OT in the later rounds if they see fit - freeing up the No.21 pick for a Linebacker ... perhaps Alec Ogletree Jarvis Jones, Mani Te'o or Arthur Brown

Mock picks for the Bengals at no.21 - update from NFL.com Draft Central's 9 pundits:-

4 for free safety - 2 x Eric Reid, 1 x Cyprien, 1 x Elam

2 for running back - both Eddie Lacy

1 for wide receiver - Deandre Hopkins

1 for O/T - Menelik Watson

1 for cornerback - Trufant

Seems the general feeling of the draftnicks is we strengthen the secondary

[HoosierCat]

How many draft rounds are being selected tonight ???

Just the first. 2-3 tomorrow I believe then the rest Saturday.

[ArmyBengal]

Just the first round tonight.

The 2nd and 3rd rounds Friday night and 4-7 Saturday.

[ArmyBengal]

I don't like the talk about how raw Patterson is.

I hear alot about his potential and an equal amount about how raw he is.

With it already taking a while for WR's to acclimate to the NFL, do you risk it with him in the first ??

Again, I think that's why Hunter intrigues me so much if WR were to be the pick.

[volcom69]

Alot of Reid at 21 as well, if that's the case move back in the draft and get more picks. Not a huge Reid fan, but wouldn't complain, as long as they move back to get him!

[skyline]

After a lot of research, study, debate, and thought, my final conclusion about tonight's pick is...

I have no freaking clue.

And I like it.

[Scottishbengal]

Alot of Reid at 21 as well, if that's the case move back in the draft and get more picks.

I'd be happy moving back in the draft and packaging some of our later round picks to get a fewer number but in the mid rounds.

I think we have enough "projects" or "potential" on the roster and would prefer to see some quality that could push for starting roles and make a contribution this season.

[ArmyBengal]

Not a Reid fan at all.

Taylor Mays 2.0

[HoosierCat]

Not a Reid fan at all.

Taylor Mays 2.0

There are also reports that Reid has some kind of medical issue with his shoulders and has been pulled altogether from some teams' boards. Smoke maybe, but I would just rather have them take Cyprien.

[ArmyBengal]

Even though he's a small school guy the Bengals tend to shy away from early, I would prefer Cyprien over Reid as well.

Call it hate...

[Wraith]

My Safety Rankings as follows for what it's worth.

Kenny Vaccaro

Johnathan Cyprien

D.J. Swearinger

Eric Reid

David Amerson (CB but has Safety Size and has played the position)

Matt Elam

Phillip Thomas

Earl Wolff

Baccari Rambo

Shamarko Thomas

J.J. Wilcox

Zeke Motta

Josh Evans

T.J. MacDonald

[Scottishbengal]

My Safety Rankings as follows for what it's worth.

Kenny Vaccaro

Johnathan Cyprien

D.J. Swearinger

Eric Reid

David Amerson (CB but has Safety Size and has played the position)

Matt Elam

Phillip Thomas

Earl Wolff

Baccari Rambo

Shamarko Thomas

J.J. Wilcox

Zeke Motta

Josh Evans

T.J. MacDonald

Who, if any, of these players in your opinion could become a starter this season ???

I'd be gutted if we went Safety with the 21st (or even if we trade down in the first round). It would flag up either our scouting or coaching is flawed .... we have a roster of Reggie Nelson, Chris Crocker, George Iloka, Taylor Mays, Robert Sands, Jeromy Miles, Tony Dye - and we need to take a Safety with our first pick ?? If that's the case I want to see some walk if they haven't developed/produced ..... time to get ruthless with the roster.

[Walrus]

I expect either a 1st round DE or CB since these "premium positions" are pretty well-stocked with first round talent this year, particularly DE.

Artrell Hawkins was on the radio this morning massively pimping Tyrann Mathieu as an elite 1st round talent. I'm not sure the front office would take that risk in the 1st, but I also wouldn't put it past them. Also, the Bengals have shown significant interest in CB DJ Hayden who is now rumored to be of interest to the Raiders in the top 10 (according to PFT). Reminds me of Johnathan Joseph. Add in Dee Milliner, Desmond Trufant and Xavier Rhodes and that's 5 Rd 1 CBs. At DE, you have Bjoern Werner, Dion Jordan, Ezekiel Ansah, Tank Carradine, Demontre Moore all as probable Rd 1 4-3 DE's.

All told, I see ~ 10 guys the Bengals are likely to consider just at these 2 "premium positions". Surely, several of these guys will be available at 21.

If not, they go WR. Personally, I would love Patterson. He is absolutely devastating with the ball in his hands. Also like Keenan Allen. Tavon Austin is amazing, but won't be available and if he were, the Bengals wouldn't pick him due to his stature.

[Wraith]

That's the amazing thing about this draft, almost all those guys have starter ability. I know I am going to get flamed for this but Swearinger reminds me of a young Ed Reed with his leadership, football intelligence, and intensity. Cyprien is a terrific talent. Vaccaro is the safest selection but guys like Reid, Swearinger, Cyprien, and Rambo have the higher ceiling.

Deepest and best Safety draft I have ever seen.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Looks like a BPA draft in the 1st.

I don't know how you can pass up Sylvester if he falls to 21 (not likely?) after you watch this:

/>http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=9187247

[ShulaSteakhouse]

That's the amazing thing about this draft, almost all those guys have starter ability. I know I am going to get flamed for this but Swearinger reminds me of a young Ed Reed with his leadership, football intelligence, and intensity. Cyprien is a terrific talent. Vaccaro is the safest selection but guys like Reid, Swearinger, Cyprien, and Rambo have the higher ceiling.

Deepest and best Safety draft I have ever seen.

Aaand the more I think about it and look at guys, the more I think you wait until the 2nd to draft one (either with that first early pick or late 2nd round pick). That is unless Vaccaro drops to 21 (don't see it).

No reason to reach in this draft when you really only have two unsettled positions (SS, RT) - those 2 just need to be addressed in the first two rounds with 2 of those 3 picks.

[membengal]

I hope people saying "trade down" understand roughly 10 teams want to trade down. It's finding someone who wants to trade up which is hard.

[TJJackson]

Looks like a BPA draft in the 1st.

I don't know how you can pass up Sylvester if he falls to 21 (not likely?) after you watch this:

/>http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=9187247

Here's how I can pass on him at 21: I watch clips of Devon Still from 2011

[TJJackson]

I hope people saying "trade down" understand roughly 10 teams want to trade down. It's finding someone who wants to trade up which is hard.

That, and its almost purely circumstantial - some prospect that team A wants badly has to be available at your pick but also likely to be taken on the pick after yours

I hope we do some trading up near the end up round 4 to shed some of our lower round picks to in turn pick up one more potential starter. We need fewer players but better quality at the moment.

[Wraith]

If the Bengals don't trade down I think it's Brown or Cyprien or Reid.

[Scottishbengal]

I hope we do some trading up near the end up round 4 to shed some of our lower round picks to in turn pick up one more potential starter.

We need fewer players but better quality at the moment.

Wholeheartedly agree :sure:/>

[Wraith]

I hope people saying "trade down" understand roughly 10 teams want to trade down. It's finding someone who wants to trade up which is hard.

That, and its almost purely circumstantial - some prospect that team A wants badly has to be available at your pick but also likely to be taken on the pick after yours

I hope we do some trading up near the end up round 4 to shed some of our lower round picks to in turn pick up one more potential starter. We need fewer players but better quality at the moment.

Remember though you cannot trade Compensatory Selections so there is no 7th round fodder for trades to fill in the gaps.

[TJJackson]

true dat

use one of the 7's on a PK

use the other 7 on the (otherwise) UDCFA you just absolutely gotta have

the five and the 2 sixes could be used to potentially get us another 4 though, aye?

[ArmyBengal]

The thing about where we sit at #21 is that teams at the bottom of the 1st round are less likely to trade down.

If anything, they will attempt to trade up.

Likewise, teams at the top of the 2nd will want to trade up, but will find few takers at the bottom of the first.

Why ?? Well, if i'm not mistaken per the CBA, first rounders sign for that 5th year in their initial contract where everyone else is 4 or less.

That might not seem like much, but lets say there is a player at a premium position you get for an extra year.

That's a fairly huge savings if i'm not mistaken.

If we had to pay AJ Green a year earlier than what we are paying him now, what's the cost ??

Pretty significant if your team is known for penny pinching.

Hmmmmmmm.

[TJJackson]

Penny Pinching?

I heard Mike Brown paid the extra dime for the upgrade from a small to a medium soda at Chik-Fil-A the other day