After signing veteran WR, the Bengals could draft another on the first day

by Josh Kirkendall on Apr 9, 2008 12:20 PM EDT in NFL Draft

There's a realistic possibility that the Bengals could go after a wide receiver in the first round, reports NFL Network's Adam Schaefer on NFL Total Access. The team is bringing in Malcolm Kelly and James Hardy for interviews. Kelly, wide receiver out of Oklahoma scored 19 touchdowns on 111 receptions in the final two seasons of his college career. Hardy, receiver out of Indiana, recorded 26 touchdowns on 130 receptions in the final two seasons of his college career.

In Todd McShay's latest mock draft, Kelly is the first receiver taken at #11 -- Bills. Hardy fell to #43 with Devin Thomas (Michigan State), DeSean Jackson (Cal), Limas Sweed (Texas) and Mario Manningham (Michigan) in between. It would seem that the Bengals, if they are targeting a wide receiving during the first day, that they'll go after Kelly in the first round. If he's gone, then Hardy in the second round.

However, as a result of keeping their depth, the Bengals signed Doug Gabriel to a one-year deal on Tuesday.

Year	Team	Rec	Yrds	TD
2003	OAK	1	17	0
2004	OAK	33	551	2
2005	OAK	37	554	3
2006	OAK/NE	30	428	3
Career		101	1,550	8

Gabriel is the sixth receiver signed for 2008 -- including the uncertainty of Johnson's stay in Cincinnati.

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Malcolm Kelly

Malcolm Kelly ran a 4.75 and a 4.68. I don't care what surface you are on, those are not #9 overall pick times. Recent receivers with similar poor times are Michael Williams and Dwayne Jarrett who have both done nothing (grant it, it's probably too soon to count him out of being worthy of his selection).

4.75/4.68...you can't take this guy at 9. There WR class is deep but there is not one guy who separates himself from the rest. The Bengals should by no means select a WR with the 9th overall pick. They can get one later in the draft.

by mp45242 on Apr 10, 2008 11:42 AM EDT reply actions

If..

you were gonna go receiver at #9- which you wouldn't unless you were just nuts or maybe Al Davis, James Hardy would be the way to go. He's as tall and fast- if not quite as thick, as last year's #1 Calvin Johnson. Okay, maybe he's not as freakishly talented as Calvin Johnson.

Some receivers we might grab in later rounds;

Marcus Monk- Arkansas, big and fast, coming off an injury
Adrian Arrington- Michigan, I actually like him better than Manningham.
Jordy Nelson- K State, former track star, a bigger Wes Welker and a first rate return man.
Dexter Jackson- App. State, made Michigan secondary look silly- though that may not be saying much. Lightning fast but small.
Jerome Simpson- Coastal Carolina, 6-2, 200, moderately fast, great hands.
Donnie Avery- Houston, small but real fast.

by IgnatiusJReilly on Apr 15, 2008 2:28 AM EDT reply actions