My Top Ten in the Draft and a Bengal's Wish List for Same.

by IgnatiusJReilly on Apr 18, 2008 8:39 PM EDT Comment 6 comments

The first ten picks as theorized by me and, then, a wish list of sorts for the Bengals' other nine picks.

Dolphins are talking to Jake Long, supposedly trying to pre-negotiate a deal but I think it's a smoke screen and Chris Long is the pick. He's just too good to pass up. Size, speed, pedigree, film, everything you need in a DE.
St. Louis will be hugely pleased that Jake Long was a Dolphin smokescreen and snap him up before Goodell finishes the words, "...on the clock."
Atlanta can't live with Chris Redman as a starter and goes for perhaps the only bonafide NFL-caliber QB available this year, Matt Ryan.
Al Davis has a rare lucid moment and opts to ignore the flash and move to replace the retiring Warren Sapp with the potentially equally good, Glenn Dorsey.
Kansas City may have Jared Allen to replace and Vernon Gholston would really fill that bill.
New York Jets finally stop Darren McFadden's mini-slide.
This is the draft pick the Pats should have lost, not the 31st. However, their secondary is in shambles. DRC is bigger, stronger, and faster than either Jenkins or McKelvin so they go with the Tennessee State corner.
There's a real possibility that Baltimore trades up to Atlanta at 3 for Matt Ryan. Assuming that doesn't happen, no other QB merits the 8th, so they go with Ryan Clady in an effort to replace the retiring Ogden.
"Cincinnati is now..." SEDRICK ELLIS!
New Orleans opts to shore up a horrid secondary with Leodis McKelvin.

Bengals Picks?

2. Even assuming Odell is reinstated, LB is still a big need. Curtis Lofton would be my first choice here, followed by Adibi or Henderson.

3a. If, by some strange happenstance, Chris Johnson is available... I know, okay, Early Doucet or Malcolm Kelly if he slips this far- fingers crossed.
3b. Marcus Howard, OLB Georgia.

Dexter Jackson, WR, Appalachian State.
Kellen Davis, TE/DE Michigan State- that's right, tight end and defensive end. 6-7, 270lbs., 4.59 40. Played defensive end freshmen year.

6a. Brian Johnston, DE, Gardner Webb

6b. Stanford Keglar, LB, Purdue.

7a. Arman Shields WR, Richmond

7b. Robert Jordan WR, Cal.

0 recs | Comment 6 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Fingers crossed

I have my fingers crossed that Ellis will drop to us. I keep thinking the Pats will take him but you're right on point with your analysis. I can just see the Pats screwing it up for us though...

I wish Dorsey would fall to 9 but I have my fingers crossed that Ellis will fall to us- which is much more likely.

by BengalChronic on Apr 19, 2008 9:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

My top 9 (subject to change)

Miami - Vernon Gholston. No way Tom Condon lets Jake Long take a deal 3% cheaper than Jamarcus Russell got. Dolphins go with plan B.
St. Louis - Chris Long. Could go with Dorsey but Leonard Little ain't geting any younger.
Atlanta - Glenn Dorsey. All the tea leaves say he's their guy, not Ryan.
Oakland - Sedrick Ellis. Raiders make the smart move for a change and get a replacement for Warren Sapp. Bengal fans watching the draft switch to hard liquor.
Kansas City - Ryan Clady. Could also be Albert or Otah.
New York Jets - Darren McFadden. Running game will provide breathing room for their iffy QBs.
New England - Leodis McKelvin. Pats get a replacement for Samuel plus a great special teams guy.
Baltimore - Matt Ryan. Will be the starter against Cincy on opening day.
Cincinnati - Derrick Harvey. A bit of a surprise, Harvey gets the nod over Rivers. Gives the Bengals a potentially scary pass rush.

by BeerRun on Apr 19, 2008 3:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Whether Miami goes Gholston or C. Long- and I'm not sure how they pass on the game proven, pedigreed Long for an admittedly freakishly athletic but tending to disappear on film Gholston, I think the Rams biggest need is protecting Bulger and getting their once vaunted offense back on track. Hence, Jake Long fits their needs to a tee.

On the other hand, I'm sure a certain amount of wishful thinking went into mine- given how much I think we need Ellis.

What about moving up? Seems 6 would be about as high as we could go without giving up the farm. I saw on another mock, they had us trading Chad to Washington for their 22. It sounded good til I remembered the cap hit augmented by trying to sign 2 first rounders- of course that genius had us taking Devin Thomas at 9 and Otah at 22.

by IgnatiusJReilly on Apr 19, 2008 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree about the Rams...

...if Jake Long slips out of the 1 spot they should snap him up, for exactly the reason you mention. But Leonard Little is 34 and, like the Bengals, their o-line looks like it will be much healthier come the season, so I think they roll with defense here and then reach for the best available OT at the top of the second.

But yeah, if the Rams go with Jake the chance of someone like Ellis falling go up.

Regarding Gholston over Chris Long, it's certainly a big gamble. Chris Long may be the most NFL-ready player ever to come out of college, but by the same token how much upside he has is a question mark. He may be pretty much WYSIWYG.Gholston has a lot more room to grow, but also a lot more room to bust.

I'm down with moving up. And yeah, I've seen that mock (draft academy, right?) and it may be the worst one ever.

by BeerRun on Apr 20, 2008 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Argh

Too many damn Longs in this draft. Jake at 5, not Clady.

by BeerRun on Apr 19, 2008 3:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Freddie Coleman

On ESPN radio listed his mock top ten as;

Chris Long
Glenn Dorsey
Matt Ryan
Jake Long
Ryan Clady
Darren McFadden
Keith Rivers
Dominick Rodgers- Cromartie
Vernon Gholston
Leodis McKelvin...

...which I loved until he got to us passing on Ellis- not to mention the Saints passing on him as well. That and were the Chiefs to go OL at 5, I'm hearing it's Albert they covet, not Clady.

I love Gholston, don't get me wrong. I just think that having a beast like Ellis in the middle- which we really haven't had since, what, Krumrie?- would help free up both Geathers and Odom to get their rush on, especially if we add a speedy rush end/OLB like Marcus Howard in the late third. Going Gholston leaves us still with a gaping hole in the middle and getting the ball rushed down our throats. Honestly, I don't think it will be an issue because the chances of us having that choice to make are slim and none.

by IgnatiusJReilly on Apr 20, 2008 6:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs