Dez Bryant to visit with the Cincinnati Bengals

by Josh Kirkendall on Mar 31, 2010 12:01 PM EDT in NFL Draft

You know that we picked Dez Bryant during this year's SB Nation Mock Draft (here's my write-up for the selection on Mocking the Draft). Shutdown Corner also had Bryant being drafted by the Bengals in their mock draft. After an uneventful private workout on Tuesday (a workout that offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski attended), if you don't include forgetting your cleats or breaking in a new pair of shoes which caused him to slip and quit on some drills, the idea that Bryant could fall in the draft is plausible. Bucky Brooks writes that he "can’t help but think Bryant’s disappointing workout and character issues have likely sent his stock spiraling on several draft boards." This blogger says good. Give us your questionable character players and we'll give you another massive headache with a quality third receiver. Nasty. Nasty. Nasty.

While he dines with Jerry Jones on Wednesday, the wide receiver has a scheduled visit with the Bengals. No date was reported, but other teams he's scheduled to visit, including the Cowboys, are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers.

I know some of you are against the move. And really, a lot of the points I can get on board with. But in my opinion, if Bryant is there, the team should draft him. This passing offense, while boosted with free agent signing Antonio Bryant, would see a "new age" of our wide receiver trio that we had in 2005, which was incredible. It also seems to me that with more powerful opponents on the schedule for 2010, we'll need an offense with a bit more firepower than the 19.1 points-per-game the team averaged in 2009 (ranked 22nd in the NFL). Arguments made for a defensive player, or an offensive lineman (or even a tight end that we won't use in the passing game anyway), are logical and reasonable too. We could literally address mostly every position in the first round and make an argument why that's a good move. Are these the dilemmas faced with teams that are actually built with a solid foundation of players?

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Comments

His 40 time is nothing to be worried about, IMO

Crabtree ran a 4.5, so did Fitzgerald. Hell, if I’m not mistaken, Jerry Rice like a 4.6 or a 4.7. If we’re bitching about a 4.5, I’m not sure we’re concentrating on the right thing.

by IFChris on Mar 31, 2010 12:12 PM EDT reply actions

he's also be timed at

4.37 so its all just silly speculation. The one thing that is notable is how fast he plays when the padding is on. Hes faster than most DBs with that on and thats a very good sign.

by Sheffieldbengal on Mar 31, 2010 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions

It looks like he could fall to 21

so Cincy may as well take a look to see if they would pick him at that spot.

by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Mar 31, 2010 12:14 PM EDT reply actions

I'm in agreement

I believe if Dex Bryant is there at 21, the Bengals should take him. I’m all for drafting the best player available.

But if Earl Thomas is there at 21, there should be no talk of Dez Bryant.

by sgiridharan1982 on Mar 31, 2010 12:26 PM EDT reply actions

Bryant is not going to be there at 21. he goes in the top 11 picks. Earl will be a a good pick….
LB from MizzU Witherspoon is just a stud so if thomas is gone, i say stack up on linebackers.

by Bengal E on Apr 3, 2010 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I would love for the Bengals to get this guy.

If he falls all the way to 21 there is a huge chance he will be the best available.

Lets say Earl Thomas and Dez Bryant are both there. Who do you take? Personally I’d go with Thomas – best player between the two is debatable and Thomas fills a need without reaching. However, that said, I would be very, very happy with Bryant.

by Jaegner on Mar 31, 2010 12:37 PM EDT reply actions

Thomas

I think a key aspect to our division’s success is a play making free safety. Both Pittsburgh and Baltimore have GREAT safeties. In order to compete on the next level; the Bengals need a guy who can read coverages and make plays. I’m not sold on Roy Williams and Chris Crocker.

by sgiridharan1982 on Mar 31, 2010 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

What if Dez Bryant and Iupati are there?

I think I might go with Dez, but if we draft him, then I think we need to draft an offensive guard who can pass block in round two. There’s no point in drafting a receiver if your QB doesn’t have time to throw him the ball.

This is our year!

by Paul Cannon on Mar 31, 2010 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

I think there is something to be said about drafting Iupati.

by sgiridharan1982 on Mar 31, 2010 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Would any of us be really disappointed with ANY member of that trio? I know I wouldn’t.

by Todd G on Mar 31, 2010 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions

As far as I’m concerned they are all elite players at their positions. If any one of them fell to us and we then drafted them, I’d be pretty happy.

This is our year!

by Paul Cannon on Mar 31, 2010 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Well

I think I would be extremely disappointed if we didn’t get Thomas (provided he was still on the board).

by sgiridharan1982 on Mar 31, 2010 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I second that. Thomas seems like a top 15 type of player, and if we passed on him, I’d be a little dissapointed. He fits our needs perfectly at safety.

This is our year!

by Paul Cannon on Mar 31, 2010 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions

That's a tough one for sure.

Somebody posted somewhere else on here that Iupati and Bryant would be the only two offensive players they’d like to see drafted in the first, and I would agree with that statement.

by Jaegner on Mar 31, 2010 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Regarding the future...

i don’t mind the sound of Dez Bryant and Caldwell being our No.1 and No.2 in the next few years.

After some seasoning i think Caldwell will be a very good no.2 who on third down plays in the slot (ala TJ) and Bryant has the skills to be a no.1 for a long time.

I am insanely excited about this draft because we can just take BPA.

by Sheffieldbengal on Mar 31, 2010 12:38 PM EDT reply actions

matt jones...?

i know people have been talking a lot about drafting a receiver so we have the rookie plus chad plus bryant as our three. did i miss something about matt jones? I thought we signed him to fill that stretching the field role because he’s huge etc. are we just assuming that he won’t really figure into our plans because he was out of football for so long?

by bcbengalfan on Mar 31, 2010 12:40 PM EDT reply actions

Jones has to do a lot to stick

The Bengals lose nothing to release Jones, while everyone else gets paid up front awith a signing bonus of some sort.

by jim0ijk on Mar 31, 2010 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Competition

I think Matt Jones was brought in for WR competition. If he works out and makes the team that’s good for him (which means he has to work pretty hard). But I’m not sold on him actually making the 53 man roster come September.

by sgiridharan1982 on Mar 31, 2010 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Me neither.

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

by Josh Kirkendall on Mar 31, 2010 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions

he's last year's Gary Russel

a guy signed just as insurance in case we don’t get what we want via the draft.

by ephram on Apr 6, 2010 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Who said being stocked at WR was a bad thing?

We saw the deck of cards fall last year when Henry was gone, so lets make sure it doesn’t happen again. Chad/Antonio/Dez with Caldwell/Jones/Simpson/Purify all competing for backup slots sounds like a great situation to be in to me.

by Jaegner on Mar 31, 2010 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

As soon as I posted this,

I realized I probably shouldn’t assume that D. Bryant will take over Caldwell’s slot (I still have faith in the guy). The point stands though.

by Jaegner on Mar 31, 2010 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I still like donuts.

by UpStateMike on Mar 31, 2010 1:28 PM EDT reply actions

+1

3 yards and a pile of dust

by Hudepohl Dey on Mar 31, 2010 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions

hmmm... sprinkles

by The Dealio on Mar 31, 2010 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

totally

by TheWalrus1971 on Mar 31, 2010 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions

I really don't want us to draft him.

He has incredible talent, but we’ve frequently taken talent over fundamentals and leadership, in the last few years. We take players with great potential, but, just to be safe, I’d like to take someone that’s already polished and as baggage-free as possible. I’d like our first-rounder to be more of a Leon Hall than an Andre Smith—maybe not as high of a ceiling, but consistent, proven, and no character issues.

This can obviously backfire—Keith Rivers was the safe pick, and he still has a lot to prove—but I’m sick of betting on raw athleticism and ability, which is why I don’t want Taylor Mays, either.

If we draft him, I’ll get on-board and obviously hope for the best, but I’m praying that we go defense.

by Big Sky Bengal on Mar 31, 2010 1:43 PM EDT reply actions

I'd settle for a first-rounder who doesn't HOLD OUT THROUGH THE WHOLE F#$%@&ING TRAINING CAMP!!!!

Sorry…did I say that really loud? Just a pet peeve of mine. Bygones.

by TheWalrus1971 on Mar 31, 2010 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Wouldn’t worry about that, picking at 21. But you never know.

by Todd G on Mar 31, 2010 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes

You never know with Katie Blackburn and Mike Brown. They might offer the 21st pick 1 dollar and call it fair market value.

by sgiridharan1982 on Mar 31, 2010 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

In their defense...

Performance/playtime incentives could make that a cool $50.

by Todd G on Mar 31, 2010 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Katie Blackburn+First round pick= Holdout!!!

More math

CB85......Collaros for Heisman

by TennBengalfan on Apr 1, 2010 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Character issues?

since when does a Bullshit ruling by the NCAA give someone crippling character flaws? Dez Screwed up. Dez should have had legal counseling with him when he was interviewed by the NCAA.

by tenacious rdc on Apr 1, 2010 1:44 PM EDT reply actions

Hey don't forget,

he also forgot his cleats that one time. Total scumbag. /sarcasm

If this guy drops, a lot of teams are going to be kicking themselves.

by Jaegner on Apr 1, 2010 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions

he will never fall to the Bengals, but if he did Heck Yeah pick em

by Bengal E on Apr 3, 2010 1:48 PM EDT reply actions

are we really at the point where we call a receiver (A Bryant) who has only caught more than 44 balls in 2 out of 8 seasons boosting our passing game?

by ephram on Apr 6, 2010 11:15 PM EDT reply actions