FanPost

Bengals' NEEDS going into the draft. A quick roster review.

QB - Andy Dalton, Josh Johnson, Z Robinson
Andy is a good young QB. Hopefully we're set at the starting position. Johnson offers athleticism, yet inexperience as the backup - a project more than a mentor. Z Robinson is replacable. Could use a late round pickup to groom behind Dalton should Andy not re-sign. This is not an immediate need. RB - BJGE, Cedric Peerman, Dan Herron, Chris Pressley, John Connor, Jourdan Brooks, (B Scott), (B Leonard)
A nice, but unspectacular group. BJGE is a safe option, but lacks that 'wow' to change a game. Peerman has shown flashes, but in a limited role. Not sure we need 3 fullbacks. Kind of a glut there.
They could use a stud (Dillon) type of RB, but it's debatable if that can be found in this draft class. A rotational guy at the least should be added, but his role will depend on how they want to use BJGE & Peerman. This is a NEED, to get a RB of some sort. WR - AJ Green, M Sanu, A Hawkins, M Jones, R Whalen, B Tate, D Sanzenbacher, J Hilton, T Rogers
The #1 position is basically set in stone. Sanu could become a Housh or Anquan Boldin type - but that's based on projections. Jones is a decent 3rd or 4th WR. Hawkins has a niche role.
They could use a #2 receiver opposite Green. If they don't draft an elite one early, what they draft really won't be an improvement on what they currently have in their top 3 or 4 guys. A #2 is a NEED, but that could be mitigated by the potential emergence of Sanu (or even Jones). TE - Jermain Gresham, Orson Charles, Richard Quinn
Gresham is good. But lacks the consistent hands & blocking skills to be considered elite. Charles is probably a career #2, more than a Gresham replacement? Currently there is no need for a TE, but that may change based on their future plans with Gresham. OLINE - A Whitworth, K Zeitler, K Cook, C Boling, A Collins, D Roland, T Wharton, T Robinson, D Knapp, (A Smith)
Whit is productive, but aging. Boling/Wharton offer a battle for a solid LG. Zeitler should have RG secure. Cook/Robinson is adequate yet unspectacular. If Smith doesn't re-sign, RT become an open hole, with Collins the top candidate.
This is not a NEED, as they have enough warm bodies to field a decent line. If they can get somebody better than Cook or Collins (if Smith leaves), it would be a nice addition to the team, but it's not a pressing need, per se. DT - G Atkins, D Peko, D Still, B Thompson
Geno is a stud. Peko is very solid. Still & Thompson are unproven. This isn't a need, except for possible depth, but that would probably come via a UDFA or late round flier. DE - M Johnson, C Dunlap, W Gillberry, R Geathers, J Anderson, D Evans
The first 4 likely make up their opening day roster at DE. Geathers could be replacable with a good DE from the draft. But it's not exactly a need, except perhaps for depth. LB - V Burfict, E Lamur, D Moch, A Maybin, B Joiner, JK Schaffer, R Maualuga, (T Howard)
Burfict is the lone good LB in this group with any experience. Re-signing Howard doubles that total. Lamur isn't bad, but may not be starter quality? Maybe? At this point, Maybin / Moch / Joiner are all fliers, and hopefully one of them sticks. This seems to be a NEED. CB - L Hall, A Jones, D Krikpatrick, B Ghee, J Allen, C Lewis-Clark, S Prater, (N Clements), (T Newman)
Hall is aging, but still good. Jones is a good 3rd CB. The rest of them are completely unproven. Assuming Dre is healthy and can start opposite Hall, they've got a solid set of 3 CB's on the field. It's only a need if one of the top 3 gets hurt. S - R Nelson, T Mays, G Iloka, R Sands, T Dye, (C Crocker)
Nelson is good. Mays is adequate. The rest of them are unknown. This position seems to scream need. LB and Safety seem to be the 2 most pressing, urgent needs. RB and WR2 seem to be needs, but to a lesser degree, since we have bodies at those positions. OLINE would be nice to see upgraded at Center and/or RT (depending on A Smith)



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