Here's What I see for Cincinnati in the 2008 Draft

Here's what I see shaping up with the Bengals in the 2008 Draft.

Here's what I think will be the likely first 9 selections of the first round.

1. Miami - they need everything but I think they will take a player that will pay dividends for years to come in Jake Long.
2. St Louis - they don't use a 3-4 defense alignment so I think they will opt for DE Chris Long in order to strengthen the rush.
3. Atlanta - They need a QB to replace Vick but I think they can't afford to pass up a lock in Glenn Dorsey.
4. Oakland - Against better judgment Oakland again will draft erratically and take RB Darren McFadden.  
5. Kansas City - I going to go out on a limb here and say that the New York Giants will trade up with KC and take Vernon Gholston.  I see this as a real possibility considering that the Giants have a couple of LB positions to fill.  If this doesn't happen I see KC taking QB Brian Brohm.
6. N Y J - If the Giants do make the trade then I see the Jets taking RB Jonathan Stewart or if the Giants don't trade up they will take Gholston.
7. N. E. - Since New England lost 2 starters at CB I see them working real hard to strengthen that position.  So in that case I see them taking either Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie who's stock has really risen or Leodis McKelvin.  Although the could I don't think that NE will go after Sedric Ellis because of the need at CB plus they already have youth at DT.
8. Baltimore -  I see the Ravens being a real spoiler here because I think they will move to prevent Cincinnati from getting a top notch DT.  Therefore I see them taking Sedric Ellis if he is still on the board.  If not on the board I think that they will draft QB Brian Brohm or Matt Ryan.  Both of these are typical pocket passers and I think that is what Balt is looking for plus it will provide insurance to them at QB.  In the event that neither of those players are available I think that they will go after OT Ryan Clady to shore up the offensive line.   
9. Cincinnati - Since both Dorsey and Ellis will be gone by the time that Cincy picks I see them taking either Rashard Mendenhall at RB or Derrick Harvey at DE.  Harvey would appear to be a good pick for them but he and Mendenhall are really not the best player on the board at the number 9 pick.

With this scenario I see that Cincy really needs to work out a trade with either St. Louis or Atlanta in order to move up in the draft so that they can get Dorsey.  Preferably I think Cincy should work out a trade with St. Louis for the number 2 position so that way they can get either Dorsey if he's not the first pick or Chris Long who is bona-fide DE.  Note if it comes to them taking Chris Long I feel that it will work out because they will be able to move Geathers back to a rover LB position plus they can always pick up a DT during a later round.  I see them swapping first round positions with St Louis plus throwing in either their 3rd round pick or perhaps a veteran player instead of the pick.

After that I think that Cincy should focus on WR James Hardy or OLB Shawn Crable or WR Devin Thomas or MLB Phillip Wheeler MLB with their 2nd pick.  I'm thinking Hardy will add the depth for the loss of Chris Henry but OLB Crable will add further depth at the LB position.

For their regular 3rd pick I feel they should take either WR Andre Caldwell or DT Frank Okam depending on whether they trade up on the first round.  I really like Okam if they can get him. He has plenty of bulk and in a 4-3 set should really solidify the defensive line.  Of course if they do trade up it's possible that this pick will be lost via the trade.

For their 3rd round compensatory pick I think they should focus on with DT Red Bryant or WR Jordy Nelson or OG Roy Schuening, or OLB Beau Bell.  WR Nelson appears to be a burner and could be a kickoff specialist.

For their 4th round pick I see RB Tashard Choice or TE John Carlson or OC Steve Justice as possible picks.  The RB sounds appealing based on last years running game but I also see a need to pick up a backup Center.  

For their 5th round pick I see WR Will Franklin who has good size or WR Kennan Burton does also or CB Tyvon Branch who can give depth at CB or DE Kendell Langford which has good size at the position or OG Jordan Grimes who can provide OL backup.

After the above picks they will still have 4 picks in the 6th round that they can use to pick up backup OLM.