There is no doubt that this has been the most challenging drafts to decipher since I have started following the draft like a nerd. The Bengals seem to be heading in the right direction with a huge opportunity to take 3 of the top 53 players in the upcoming draft to improve their roster. Recently Marvin Lewis has said they will remain a best player available mentality but that team needs will be the defining tie breaker. Corner, Guard, Wide Receiver and improving the pass rush are the top needs.
It all comes down to the types of players needed to fill those needs.
I tend to agree with Bengals fans and fellow draft nerds who think Kirkpatrick may not be the best option to address the need at corner. I would hate to see the Bengals take a player and not be able to turn him into a NFL level man to man type cover corner. If you are taking a corner in round 1 he better be able to fit the system.
The need for a true number 2 wide receiver to pair with AJ Green is also a huge need but will the answer be there in rounds 2-3? Can the Bengals risk missing out on a payer like Kendal Wright hoping a better option will be there in the later rounds?
Running back is another hot button issue. Should the Bengals take a shot a take Martin or Wilson in round 1? Can the front office afford to let the running back of their choice fall to them in round 2? These are just a few of the reasons I had a hard time just getting through the first few rounds.
This is how I see the Bengals getting the most value and upside out of nearly every choice they make this year. I think I have landed 4 to 5 future starters with the selection I have made. The first round is only a day away and we will finally know what Mike Brown and company have decided.
ROUND 1: *Pick 17. Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse
Chandler is a freak athlete but he is also a very good football player. He has been a late riser ranked as high as the 9th best player in the draft by Mayock. He has a frame that can ad some strength to but seems to be growing into his body. With that being said I do not see him as a project. I could see him starting in front of Michael Johnson on the D-line and used as another long athletic DE to rotate though out the season. He is stout against the run and Jones has hands that are lightning fast allowing him to shed blockers at the point of impact. I see Chandler Jones having a very solid rookie season with a 5-8 sack season in Zimmer’s system.
Pick 21. Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
Outside of Blackmon I do not see another WR available who has a more impressive body of work. Kendall should be able to step in day one and claim the number 2 WR spot in the starting line up. There are going to be some nice WR prospects available in the later rounds but with more of a project label attached to them than Wright. I feel he is as pro ready as they come. A four year starter at Baylor with the help of Heisman Trophy winner RGIII Kendal Wright’s NFL dream are about to come true. After running a shocking 40 time of 4.6ish that really threatened to drop Wright out of the first round. His production and film would suggest a much faster player than 4.6 he turned in while in Indy. Wright ran a 4.46 and 4.41 (both unofficial) 40 times at the Baylor pro day to erase those concerns. Pairing AJ with Wright and the other young weapons will only help Dalton be more productive in year two as the franchises QB.
ROUND 2:
Pick 53. Trumaine Johnson, CB, Montana
A huge need and the temptation to take Kirkpatrick or Jenkins in round 1 were tempting. I feel like in Trumaine the Bengals will be getting a really good over sized corner that may be better in man coverage than Kirkpatrick and just as physical in run support. At 6’2 and 204 pounds Johnson is an imposing corner and can even play safety but I feel like his presence in the nickel will help out tediously next season. Leaving Montana with 15 interceptions and 37 passes defended the knock remains lack of competition. The Bengals have brought in some veterans in Jason Allen and Newman but youth is needed for the future of the franchise.
ROUND 3:
Pick 83. Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincinnati
I could not resist selecting Isaiah Pead in the third round but the question is will he be available. One of my all time favorite Bearcat players Pead earned the Senior Bowl MVP award flashing his ability to return punts. With 3288 career rushing yards along with 27 rushing touchdowns proves this man can run the ball. His pass catching ability is what makes him a great fit for the west coast offense. Some will say his time spent in the spread system will not help him bock at the next level. My answer to that is it can be taught and going with a running back by committee I could see Isaiah having a Chris Perry type of impact as a rookie. With the signing of BJGE and the love affair with Bernard Scott and the coaching staff I think Pead would be a great compliment to both of these players. If he is there in round 3 this choice would make the fans happy and help this team put up more points in 2012.
ROUND 4:
Pick 116. Senio Kelemete, OG/OT, Washington
Waiting till the 4th round to address the need at guard will not sit well with some Bengals fans. I think this is a deeper position than most think with the draft only a day away. Senio played Tackle at Washington and did a great job but we all know he is a Guard at the next level. This would be a choice on par with the Boling choice last season. I think he will be a starting level OG in the NFL but will take some work to get him there. In round 4 I see this as a great value pick and improves the depth on the O-Line that is thin at nearly every position.
ROUND 5: Pick 156. Michael Brewster, C, Ohio State
Getting a player who has the experience starting for a major program in round 5 would be a great value pick. Mike Brewster made 48 straight starts for the Buckeyes and was finalist for the Remington Trophy as the nation's best center in 2010. The Buckeye’s took a beating with the drama surrounding the program but I feel that Brewster maintained a high level of play and was a rock in the trenches playing a big role in leading the offense through some very tuff times. I think his value has been taking some hits due to the suspect season last year by the program not the player. Brewster possesses quickness and strength to protect the passer at the next level. Takes two or three steps back immediately after snap if uncovered helping him be a productive pass blocker. He is no push over in the run blocking department with good feet to wall off outside shoulder of defensive tackle. He has showed to ability to move to either side of the defender while engaged.
ROUND 5: *Pick 166. Tank Carder, ILB, TCU
Tank Carder turned in a surprisingly impressive performance at the Scouting Combine but most scouts think he lacks the strength needed to shed blocks in the NFL. I see the Bengals getting special team production and future depth at MLB in the coming years. In my opinion Tank may not be a NFL starting caliber player in the middle but he is the type of player that will make this team better. Tank was the 2011 Rose Bowl MVP and was a three year starter on a damn good TCU defense. He shows great ability to lead and has a great football mind. A solid 5th round choice with upside if Tank can get stronger.
ROUND 5: *Pick 167. Hebron Fangupo, DT, BYU
This is a solid big body to plug in behind Sims, Peko and Atkins in the middle of a young talented D-Line. Hebron is 6’1 and weighs in at 323 pounds giving him an advantage in the trenches with a strong upper and lower body. He is a strong young man pushing 36 reps on the bench. He is versatile playing DE and nose tackle in BYU’s 3-4 defense. Fangupo is a high character player on and off the field with top notch work ethic. Fangupo is the type of player who will appreciate this opportunity and be a very good teammate.
ROUND 6: Pick 191. Jeff Fuller, WR, Texas A&M
This is a player I love and think has more upside than McNutt, Streeter or Jarius Wright. Fuller suffered a stress fracture in his foot at the Senior Bowl that may have caused him to fly under the radar of some NFL teams. His route running needs improvement but he has some basic knowledge of the west coast system playing under Sherman at A&M. Fuller leaves his college career behind with 3092 receiving yard and 34 touchdowns. I continue to mock this player due to his size, speed and production. I think he is a later round steal and an option to get some snaps at the number 2 receiving spot on the roster. This could be T.J. Houshmandzadeh all over again.
Thanks for taking the time to check out my mock and I would appreciate any feedback from the great WHO DEY NATION!
I tend to agree with Bengals fans and fellow draft nerds who think Kirkpatrick may not be the best option to address the need at corner. I would hate to see the Bengals take a player and not be able to turn him into a NFL level man to man type cover corner. If you are taking a corner in round 1 he better be able to fit the system.
The need for a true number 2 wide receiver to pair with AJ Green is also a huge need but will the answer be there in rounds 2-3? Can the Bengals risk missing out on a payer like Kendal Wright hoping a better option will be there in the later rounds?
Running back is another hot button issue. Should the Bengals take a shot a take Martin or Wilson in round 1? Can the front office afford to let the running back of their choice fall to them in round 2? These are just a few of the reasons I had a hard time just getting through the first few rounds.
This is how I see the Bengals getting the most value and upside out of nearly every choice they make this year. I think I have landed 4 to 5 future starters with the selection I have made. The first round is only a day away and we will finally know what Mike Brown and company have decided.
ROUND 1: *Pick 17. Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse
Chandler is a freak athlete but he is also a very good football player. He has been a late riser ranked as high as the 9th best player in the draft by Mayock. He has a frame that can ad some strength to but seems to be growing into his body. With that being said I do not see him as a project. I could see him starting in front of Michael Johnson on the D-line and used as another long athletic DE to rotate though out the season. He is stout against the run and Jones has hands that are lightning fast allowing him to shed blockers at the point of impact. I see Chandler Jones having a very solid rookie season with a 5-8 sack season in Zimmer’s system.
Outside of Blackmon I do not see another WR available who has a more impressive body of work. Kendall should be able to step in day one and claim the number 2 WR spot in the starting line up. There are going to be some nice WR prospects available in the later rounds but with more of a project label attached to them than Wright. I feel he is as pro ready as they come. A four year starter at Baylor with the help of Heisman Trophy winner RGIII Kendal Wright’s NFL dream are about to come true. After running a shocking 40 time of 4.6ish that really threatened to drop Wright out of the first round. His production and film would suggest a much faster player than 4.6 he turned in while in Indy. Wright ran a 4.46 and 4.41 (both unofficial) 40 times at the Baylor pro day to erase those concerns. Pairing AJ with Wright and the other young weapons will only help Dalton be more productive in year two as the franchises QB.
A huge need and the temptation to take Kirkpatrick or Jenkins in round 1 were tempting. I feel like in Trumaine the Bengals will be getting a really good over sized corner that may be better in man coverage than Kirkpatrick and just as physical in run support. At 6’2 and 204 pounds Johnson is an imposing corner and can even play safety but I feel like his presence in the nickel will help out tediously next season. Leaving Montana with 15 interceptions and 37 passes defended the knock remains lack of competition. The Bengals have brought in some veterans in Jason Allen and Newman but youth is needed for the future of the franchise.
I could not resist selecting Isaiah Pead in the third round but the question is will he be available. One of my all time favorite Bearcat players Pead earned the Senior Bowl MVP award flashing his ability to return punts. With 3288 career rushing yards along with 27 rushing touchdowns proves this man can run the ball. His pass catching ability is what makes him a great fit for the west coast offense. Some will say his time spent in the spread system will not help him bock at the next level. My answer to that is it can be taught and going with a running back by committee I could see Isaiah having a Chris Perry type of impact as a rookie. With the signing of BJGE and the love affair with Bernard Scott and the coaching staff I think Pead would be a great compliment to both of these players. If he is there in round 3 this choice would make the fans happy and help this team put up more points in 2012.
Waiting till the 4th round to address the need at guard will not sit well with some Bengals fans. I think this is a deeper position than most think with the draft only a day away. Senio played Tackle at Washington and did a great job but we all know he is a Guard at the next level. This would be a choice on par with the Boling choice last season. I think he will be a starting level OG in the NFL but will take some work to get him there. In round 4 I see this as a great value pick and improves the depth on the O-Line that is thin at nearly every position.
ROUND 5: Pick 156. Michael Brewster, C, Ohio State
Getting a player who has the experience starting for a major program in round 5 would be a great value pick. Mike Brewster made 48 straight starts for the Buckeyes and was finalist for the Remington Trophy as the nation's best center in 2010. The Buckeye’s took a beating with the drama surrounding the program but I feel that Brewster maintained a high level of play and was a rock in the trenches playing a big role in leading the offense through some very tuff times. I think his value has been taking some hits due to the suspect season last year by the program not the player. Brewster possesses quickness and strength to protect the passer at the next level. Takes two or three steps back immediately after snap if uncovered helping him be a productive pass blocker. He is no push over in the run blocking department with good feet to wall off outside shoulder of defensive tackle. He has showed to ability to move to either side of the defender while engaged.
ROUND 5: *Pick 166. Tank Carder, ILB, TCU
Tank Carder turned in a surprisingly impressive performance at the Scouting Combine but most scouts think he lacks the strength needed to shed blocks in the NFL. I see the Bengals getting special team production and future depth at MLB in the coming years. In my opinion Tank may not be a NFL starting caliber player in the middle but he is the type of player that will make this team better. Tank was the 2011 Rose Bowl MVP and was a three year starter on a damn good TCU defense. He shows great ability to lead and has a great football mind. A solid 5th round choice with upside if Tank can get stronger.
ROUND 5: *Pick 167. Hebron Fangupo, DT, BYU
This is a solid big body to plug in behind Sims, Peko and Atkins in the middle of a young talented D-Line. Hebron is 6’1 and weighs in at 323 pounds giving him an advantage in the trenches with a strong upper and lower body. He is a strong young man pushing 36 reps on the bench. He is versatile playing DE and nose tackle in BYU’s 3-4 defense. Fangupo is a high character player on and off the field with top notch work ethic. Fangupo is the type of player who will appreciate this opportunity and be a very good teammate.
ROUND 6: Pick 191. Jeff Fuller, WR, Texas A&M
This is a player I love and think has more upside than McNutt, Streeter or Jarius Wright. Fuller suffered a stress fracture in his foot at the Senior Bowl that may have caused him to fly under the radar of some NFL teams. His route running needs improvement but he has some basic knowledge of the west coast system playing under Sherman at A&M. Fuller leaves his college career behind with 3092 receiving yard and 34 touchdowns. I continue to mock this player due to his size, speed and production. I think he is a later round steal and an option to get some snaps at the number 2 receiving spot on the roster. This could be T.J. Houshmandzadeh all over again.
Thanks for taking the time to check out my mock and I would appreciate any feedback from the great WHO DEY NATION!
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