Bengals Draft Depot

The Defensive Tackle position is absolutely loaded in this draft. Two of the top three picks could be a DT. The consensus top rated player in this draft is a DT. There's a very good chance five DT's will be taken in the 1st round and up to thirteen could be taken by the 3rd. This DT class is loaded with elite talent and packed with deep talent of players that could be very good contributors to a defense. Also there's a good mix of gap control DT's and penetrating DT's that can cause havoc in the backfield.

So as the pertains to the Bengals do they take advantage of all these good players and possibly take one in the 2nd or 3rd round? Or if someone slips like Dan Williams do they grab him and have a run stuffing duo in the middle? The Bengals shouldn't consider DT a big need as they have 3 very good players at the position currently on their roster. Obviously Safety, Tight End, and Guard are more pressing needs, but who knows if there will ever be this good of a DT class ever again.

I consider DT the most important position on the defense. DT's can shut a teams run game down and if they can penetrate can keep players like Peyton Manning from stepping up in the pocket and picking apart your defense. It all starts up front in the middle. These guys can take up multiple blockers and free your LB's up to make tackles in the run game and rush the QB in the passing game.

Honestly I'd love to see the Bengals grab someone fairly early in the draft. The only one I'd take in the 1st though is Dan Williams. Williams and Peko could be a run stuffing duo comparible to the Williamses in Minnesota. For years the Vikings were tops in the league in run defense due to those two big boys up front. The Bengals run D is already good, with the addition of Williams they'd be downright dominant. Chances are Williams will be gone by the time we pick. If they were willing to trade back someone like Brian Price or Jared Odrick would be available to them. Now these two aren't known as much for their run stopping as their pass rush. That would be fine with me as well, one of them along with a healthy Odom and MJ with another year of experience could be an outstanding line on passing downs.

Most likely 1st round won't be a DT for the Bengals, but I could see them taking someone like Cam Thomas, Alex Carrington, or Tyson Alualu. Thomas is a run stuffer, Alualu is a pass rusher, and Carrington does both pretty well. They all have 2nd to 3rd round grades, likely will go in the 2nd, but if any of them falls to the 3rd that would be an outstanding pick. Even into the 4th or 5th there are gonna be some quality players.

Bottom line is I think the Bengals have to get one of these guys at somepoint in this draft, whether it's the 1st or the 5th round. I'd prefer it be a middle round because I don't think you're going to have this quality of DT available that late ever again. Look what happened when Peko went down last year, teams started to run the ball all over us. In the AFC North depth on the lines is a must, a team can never have too many good players on either line. Plus with the 4 man rotation at DT our guys will remain fresh throughout the game and less likely to get injured to begin with. Whatever the Bengals prefer is fine with me a run stuffer, or a penetrater that comes in on passing downs and gets pressure up the middle. Remember for years the Bengals had no one at DT, now they could be the right player away from having the best DT group in the NFL.