Bengals Draft Needs

by Mike Boyd on Feb 4, 2009 8:39 AM EST

As I wrote last week, I believe the Bengals top priority should be to draft an offensive tackle. The experts agree. Mel Kiper has the Bengals drafting Jason Smith of Baylor in his mock draft. Todd McShay of ESPN's Scouts Inc. has them drafting Andre Smith of Alabama who he has ranked the fourth best player in the draft. Kiper has Andre Smith going second to St. Louis. A lot of people like Jason Smith because he is a converted TE so has good feet.

McShay has the Bengals drafting Paul Kruger, a DE from Utah, in the second round with the 38th pick. Like the rest of the country when it comes to Utah football, I don't know much about Kruger. Kiper doesn't have him in the top 5 DEs who he has all going in the first round. Clearly DE is a need, but should it be the Bengals second priority? Perhaps. DE is a physically demanding position. Geathers and Odom are good players but have been injured. If "best athlete available" were a DE, that would probably be an appropriate choice with the 38th pick.

On the other hand, you can never have enough good inside and outside linebackers. Big impact LBs can often be found at the top of the second round.

The Bengals desperately need a Center. They haven't been able to run the ball since Rich Braham got hurt and retired. According to the "experts," this is a good draft for centers so perhaps we don't need to wade into free agency to overpay for someone like Matt Birk of the Vikings. McShay has the top-rated interior prospect Alex Mack of California going to the Steelers with the 32nd pick. If he was still available at 38, he would be a steal. Other top-ranked centers are Max Unger of Oregon, Eric Wood of Louisville, Antoine Caldwell of Alabama, and Jonathan Luigs of Arkansas.

I know this is weird but I would love to see the Bengals draft Kevin Huber, the punter from the University of Cincinnati and McNicholas HS. Kyle Larson had a bad year last season (but maybe his leg just got tired from punting so much).

Did anyone notice we need a running back? Cedric Benson may be the answer. He may not. It may be worthwhile to use a 2 or a 3 on a RB to get some depth.

We have two months to think about the draft so let us know what you think.

Tweet Comment 5 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

possibly making a trade

it is not easy to do, but i hope the bengals get an offer to trade their first pick. We have so many needs and by doing this we will be able to get an additional 2nd round pick to fill some holes.

there are several offensive tackles listed as top 10 picks and we could go back a few spots and pick the best available there, or use it to get the best available defender at a hole we need filled (de, dt, lb).

if we get a rb in the first round, i am selling my season tickets

by nadfflictar on Feb 4, 2009 11:59 AM EST reply actions

possible trade

Nadfflictar read my mind. There are four highly rated OTs in this draft. If an offer to drop from 6 to say 10th came to pick up an extra 2 pick, they would hopefully take it. Chances are they would still get one of the OTs pick up a center with one of the two 2nd round picks and use the remaining for the best player available hopefully a LB or DT.

by redberkey on Feb 4, 2009 12:09 PM EST reply actions

Although going with Defense in the 1st seems to be gaining momentum......

I’m sticking with drafting an OT in the 1st round. I’m a firm believer that the O-line is still the most important part of a football team and ours desperately needs improvement. Trading down would be awesome but I don’t have much faith in our front office pulling it off so I predict:

1st: OT (Andre Smith in my dreams but probably Oher, Monroe or Jason Smith)
2nd: ILB (unless Alex Mack is still available but thats unlikely)
3rd: C (Caldwell or Unger)

by CincyMike56 on Feb 4, 2009 1:37 PM EST reply actions

RE:

I think OT and Center (if Mack is available) is the safest bet through the first two rounds.

Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 4, 2009 4:06 PM EST up reply actions

Trading the Pick

I oppose trading the pick because of the big drop-off after the top 4 tackles who all will likely go in Round 1. Smith, Smith, Oher, and Monroe. We have to get one of them.

by Mike Boyd on Feb 4, 2009 7:39 PM EST reply actions