It’s always easier to look back in the hindsight. So if the football gods offered me the opportunity to not only go back to April 2010, but to also step in the war room and make the final say on all the selections, what would I do?
Would I grab that Tebow kid from Florida? Or maybe that beast from the ‘Huskers named Suh? Perhaps that uber-athletic Taylor Mays kid from USC. Trade up for Jason Pierre-Paul?
Here’s what I would have done.
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Round 1...#21 overall

Originally: Jermaine Gresham TE, Oklahoma

My pick: Devin McCourty CB, Rutgers.
It would be tempting to jump up and grab some of the stars taken earlier than #21 overall. No, not Tyson Alualu. But guys who actually deserved to be taken high, like Eric Berry, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Mike Iupati. This draft seems to have too many good players to give up a first and a second to jump up though.
My choice here is between Jermaine Gresham TE, Demaryius Thomas WR, Dez Bryant WR, Devin McCourty or Rob Gronkowski TE. I’ll be called a fool for passing on Gronk, so be it.
Why? The McCourty has 14 INT’s already. Turnovers change games, and 14 INT’s in 3 years greatly changes games. He could play Safety next to Nelson and make the loss of J Jo easier to manage after that. He would have been the Bengals’ leader in INT’s for 2 of the last 3 seasons.

Round 2...#54 overall

Originally: Carlos Dunlap DE, Florida

My pick: Carlos Dunlap DE, Florida.

The Bengals nailed this one.
One of the most prolific pass rushers of the while draft, despite not being a full-time starter. A great talent on the field, whose "red flags" never emerged.

Round 3...#84 overall

Originally: Jordan Shipley WR, Texas

My pick: Navorro Bowman LB, Penn St
Originally it appeared to be a solid pick, as he grabbed 52 balls for 600 yards as a rookie. But after the injury in 2011 he was never the same. Navorro is a pro-bowl and all-pro linebacker. Not a bad acquisition.

Round 3...#96 overall

Originally: Brandon Ghee CB, Wake Forest

My pick: Aaron Hernandez TE, Florida
It’s been 3 years and we still don’t know if Ghee can play. Hernandez provides an impact starter who can dynamically change the passing game as a difficult to cover TE. May not block exceptionally well, but I liked him in the 2010 draft, and I’m taking him.

Round 4...#120 overall

Originally: Geno Atkins DT, Georgia

My pick: ok, this is about as obvious as it gets. The Bengals nailed this one. Next.

Round 4...#131 overall

Originally: Roddrick Muckelroy LB, Texas

My pick: Greg Hardy DE, Ole Miss
I was tempted to grab Antonio Brown, but a better WR can be had later (the advantages of good ole hindsight!). Also, the Bengals were crowded at WR in 2010 with TO and Chad, and a second WR likely wouldn’t have made the roster.
Hardy was a highly regarded prospect who unexpectedly fell all the way down to the 6th round on draft day. Emerged last year with 11 sacks. With MJ, Dunlap & Hardy, the Bengals are poised to bring a strong, young pass rush from the edges for years to come.

Round 5...#152 overall

Originally: Otis Hudson T, Eastern Illinois

My pick: J’Marcus Webb LT, West Texas A&M
A 7th round pick who ends up being a starting LT is a hard find. May not be an elite LT, but could start at LG next to Whit, or RT over Roland when Andre got hurt.

Round 6...#191 overall

Originally: Dezmon Briscoe WR, Kansas

My pick: Victor Cruz WR, UMass
The salsa dancing madness sweeps the Queen City as the Ocho is sent packing to the Patriots a year later. Briscoe got cut in favor of Shipley, Caldwell, TO, Chad, Simpson. With Shipley out of the picture, room emerges for a WR to make the roster.

Round 7...#228 overall

Originally Reggie Stephens C, Iowa St

My pick: Chris Ivory RB
Has played well in New Orleans, outpacing former Heisman Winner Mark Ingram. Gives a little balance to Benson’s plodding style, and perhaps a little more than what Bernard Scott offers.
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So that’s what I would have done. You may like some of it, but hate most of it. Maybe. Maybe not. What would you have done?