Report: Bengals are considering eight players for the first round

by Kirkendall on Apr 23, 2009 3:47 PM EDT Comment 12 comments

Joe Reedy writes that there's eight names that he's hearing from various people that are considered for the first round, while also stating the team's draft board is complete. Most of them we've talked about a lot, so there's no real surprises here. So let's see.

The Big Three - Jason Smith, Eugene Monroe and Andre Smith. Check.

Outside Linebacker that create devastating duo - Aaron Curry. Check.

Player that could make the Bengals one of the best defensive tackle rotations in the history of the NFL (overstating it a little bit?) - B.J. Raji. Check.

Wide Receiver that no one thinks they should go after - Michael Crabtree. Check. Let me clarify the point here. It's not that we don't want to go after Crabtree specifically. It's that we really don't want to go with a wide receiver at all.

Running back that we're not sure are first round needs - Beanie Wells and Knowshon Moreno. Again, these guys are tremendous. However, we're still arguing that these guys are irrelevant if the Bengals offensive line sports the league's 30th best yards-per-rush average in back-to-back years. In other words, these guys might not survive.

The noticeable missing are Michael Oher and Jeremy Maclin. At one point, it was a toss-up between Smith and Oher. Now that most people have calmed down from the whole character-issue, Smith has gained traction as likely the third tackle selected in the draft. Maclin omission was a surprise in that the Bengals courted him a bit longer than we felt comfortable with.

It's a good list. We just hope that it doesn't go beyond the top two, offensive tackle or Aaron Curry.

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I would be satisfied with any of those listed except the 2 RBs and Crabtree. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Raji.The DT group drops after him.The OT prospects are deep and they could possibly get a decent one in round 3-4.When Tank was signed,Zim said they wanted to get a better push from the middle.Is it possible for Peko,Harris or Sims to move to end if they did draft Raji ???? I don’t think Curry will be there at 6.

by redberkey on Apr 23, 2009 4:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Is there a serious reason why we’re not including Jason Shirley in the discussion when we talk about the Bengals’ current crop of Defensive Tackles? I think a rotating combo of Tank/Shirley in the red zones and Peko/Sims between the 20s would be very effective!

by TheWalrus1971 on Apr 23, 2009 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My guess?

We just haven’t seen him. He was so limited in his snaps that you forgot he existed. And if the Begnals go with Raji, Shirley’s PT will be severely limited.

Begin Iggy’s man-crush post on Shirley.

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

by Kirkendall on Apr 23, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's not a man crush

It’s a bromance! I like the idea of starting Sims and Johnson, rotating Peko in for Sims on the next series, Shirley in for Tank on the next, Sims in for Peko, Johnson back in for Shirley, etc. Each guy gets two consecutive series so they stay fresh.

by IgnatiusJReilly on Apr 23, 2009 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nooooo Curry!

Maybe he will be a monster in the NFL but really I wrote about this exact thing this morning at the CSF. I do not think we need to stockpile on defense till later rounds. We need to stockpile OL so that we can open up HUGE holes for Cedric and most importantly PROTECT Palmer so we can actually watch his magic next year unlike this year. I think the ONLY pick they need to look at is one of those big ole boys on the O-Line. Read my article on Curry…http://www.cincysportsfanatix.com/2009/04/detroit-lions-have-stafford-in-their.html

the CSF
www.cincysportsfanatix.com

cincysportsfanatix.com

by cincysportsfanatix.com on Apr 23, 2009 4:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

"I do not think we need to stockpile on defense till later rounds"

I would argue that drafting Curry wouldn’t be stockpiling. Considering this. Curry is selected, and likely beats out Rashad Jeanty by the regular season. Note, I’m totally not taking into account of a possible holdout. However, Jeanty, Brandon Johnson, Darryl Blackstock, Abdul Hodges and Jim Maxwell are all free agents after this year. And let’s be honest, we don’t even scare the children with our roster of linebackers, do we?

Anyway, that’s my argument for Curry, which IMHO, happens if the top three tackles are already gone — which seems very unlikely.

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

by Kirkendall on Apr 23, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Protecting Palmer is without a doubt our biggest need

but drafting blindly for need instead of value is just as stupid as the other extreme of drafting the best player available no matter what position he plays. If somebody falls to us that would be a steal at #6 and plays a position that we are very unsettled long term in then we have to take it.

Curry is the real deal, which is why theres over a 90% chance hell be gone, but if he is there we sprint to the podium. Right now we should be planning on going OT, C, RB, LB. But any competent front office person knows that if something unexpected happens you have to alter your plans. For example what if one of the top MLB Laurinaitis or Maualuga unexpectanlty plumits to us in the 2nd? Assuming we went OT in the first, we have to take them for value at a position we still need and try to use our plethera of draft picks to try to trade back up into the end of the 2nd to get a Center

by CincyMike56 on Apr 23, 2009 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"drafting blindly for need instead of value is just as stupid"

Now that’s a hellva seed for a killer argument. You can always make quality arguments, with great examples for each side.

It just so happens that Curry, and outside linebacker is a need, not just a high-value pick. Now, I know that some of you will disagree with me about LB being a need. Is it a need this year? Well, think of it this way. Rashad Jeanty has been serviceable, no doubt about that. But when you think of our linebackers, what do you think? Elite? Strength? No. You think average, at best. Brandon Johnson was good, but he could be gone by this time next year, as well as everyone else save for Dhani and Rivers.

Curry is more of an upgrade rather than a need right now. However, by this time next year, LB will be a serious need because we won’t have anyone. At least worth getting excited about. And if we keep even a fraction of the LBers that we have this year, it’ll still be a need. We have four centers on roster right now, however, most of us identify that center is a big need.

Like I said, it’s an argument that could go both ways. However, in my argument, LB is a need. Therefore drafting Curry won’t just be an upgrade, it would be addressing a need that will progressively become critical faster than we’ll see.

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

by Kirkendall on Apr 23, 2009 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think there are just two choices (need pick or value pick) but instead countless combinations of the two. I think going all the way to one side while ignoring the other is stupid no matter which way it is.

It should be looked at like an equation (Quality of Pick = Need x Value) In this equation if either variable reaches 0 it doesn’t matter how high the other one is (such as if Matthew Stafford fell to us the value would be tremendous but the need would be 0 so the quality of pick would be 0).

I think when using something like this Curry is no doubt the most quality pick as the need is high (though not as high as OT) and the value is extremely high (more than A.Smith).

by CincyMike56 on Apr 24, 2009 3:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"I don’t think there are just two choices (need pick or value pick) but instead countless combinations of the two."

Fine. One-up me, see what I care. :)

But your make the best, common-sense, conclusion.

So all I say is, “+1”.

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

by Kirkendall on Apr 24, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree Kirkendall, that is why I hope Chad “dont look at my” Johnson gets put in a package of picks and tossed away for Rey Maulaluga or somebody who wants to hurt some people.

by 80%OFTHETIMEIMRIGHTEVERYTIME on Apr 23, 2009 5:04 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs