ESPN's Todd McShay thought that the Cincinnati Bengals' best move was not reaching for a quarterback (In$ider). Yes. This is obviously going on the list of things that pleased us.
The Bengals resisted the temptation to take a quarterback at No. 4 and instead selected the best player on the board in A.J. Green, who just happened to fill a significant need. And whether it was genius or luck, staying put and not trading away picks to move up, and still getting QB Andy Dalton, worked out well for them. Dalton is the quarterback offensive coordinator Jay Gruden wanted and is the best fit for Gruden's version of the West Coast offense. Cincinnati has had some great play from its quarterbacks and receivers in recent years, but it just hasn't worked out for them. Maybe this time they got it right in a span of 35 picks.
But it was total luck that the Bengals didn't make a trade to move up. While a team like the Minnesota Vikings panicked and selected Florida State's Christian Ponder with their 12th overall pick, the Bengals were able to sit back and select Andy Dalton in the second round with their 35th overall pick.
But the truth is, they didn't sit back. It just kind of worked out that way.
Reports surfaced that Cincinnati wanted Green Bay's 32nd overall pick because there was a general fear New England would trade their 33rd overall selection on Friday to a quarterback-needy team. The Buffalo Bills were also a team that the Bengals were worried about, who were projected to at least develop a quarterback under Ryan Fitzpatrick.
In the end, New England stayed put and selected Ras-I Dowling 33rd overall while the Bills followed suit with their own defensive back in Aaron Williams.
The Bengals selected the quarterback they wanted 35th.
McShay's questionable move? Drafting selecting Dontay Moch in the second round. That's not my typo. So we wonder if it would have been questionable if Moch was selected in the third round. You know, like where he was actually selected.
Moch is best suited to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, and while he will be worth the pick if he becomes a good situational pass-rusher, Moch's exceptional speed just doesn't translate to the field. He is too much of a straight-line player and doesn't have the flexibility to bend the edge tightly. He's simply too tight and doesn't fit Cincinnati's 4-3 scheme very well.