Bengals Draft Depot

I'm not gonna give draft grades before a player has even played a single down in the NFL. Overall I think the Bengals had a very good draft, getting great value on quite a few players. There was also a questionable pick, and Safety wasn't adressed at all which was shocking to me as the Bengals have 2 starters that are over 30 and both had injury problems last year.

1st Round: Jermaine Gresham,TE,Oklahoma

This was the pick most people had mocked for the Bengals, as did I up until the last week or so. The pick makes complete sense, were the Bengals going to let Carson Palmer go through his entire career without getting him a good TE. Gresham has some durability issues, but he is reported to have a clean bill of health. If he can stay on the field, he could end up being a steal at 21.

He is going to be a match up nightmare for opposing defenses. His size and route running ability will make Safeties and Linebackers unable to cover him with single coverage. With the Bengals good running game teams are basically going to have to pick their poison. They can choose to only put 7 in the box, but Ced ran it on 8 man fronts last season very well, he would dominate 7 man fronts. Now with Chad and Antonio Bryant on the outside if teams decide to double Chad they basically are gonna leave Gresham over the middle with single coverage against either a Safety or Linebacker which he should win that matchup every time.

I'm excited about this pick, the Bengals now have a red zone target that is big. They will be able to control the middle of the field, and if teams decide to take away Gresham they're gonna leave Chad and Antonio with single coverage which spells defeat for any defense.

2nd Round: Carlos Dunlap,DE,Florida

Right after the season many mock drafts had Carlos Dunlap going in the 1st round. He definitely has 1st round talent, but also has some motor questions, and effort questions. If Zimmer and Lewis can get the best out of him,which I suspect they will, then this could end up being another steal for the Bengals. Dunlap has major talent to get after the QB, and has great size and length for his position. If he works hard and "gets it" he could end up taking over the starting spot for Geathers by the time the season is ending.

The added pass rusher is just what the doctor ordered as Odom is coming off an Achilles injury and the Bengals have a schedule with many pass happy teams on it. If Odom can stay healthy, he and Dunlap could play inside on passing downs with Micheal Johnson and Geathers on the outside. That could provide one hell of a pass rush and with the Corners the Bengals have it could be really tough to throw the ball on them.

3rd Round: Jordan Shipley,WR,Texas

I loved this pick! Shipley didn't run the best 40, but I like what he said that he plays alot faster in football speed, which I agree with. Chad didn't have a good 40 time coming out of college. Shipley is a playmaker who shows up big time in big games. Look at the National Championship game, his starting QB was out and he was still basically uncoverable against a team that had 2 early round CB's picked, including one in the 1st round. Kareem Jackson was unable to cover Shipley, as was Arenas.

Shipley gets the Welker comparisons, which are legit. He has that ability to stop and cut on a dime, and can change directions very well. Carson will love having Shipley in the slot, and I expect him to win the 3rd WR role over Caldwell going into week 1. This guy is simpley a playmaker and those are what the Bengals need on offense. Shipley also has the ability to go deep, but I suspect he won't be asked to very often as they have Chad and Antonio on the outside for that.

3rd Round: Brandon Ghee,CB,Wake Forest

Ghee had a 2nd round grade on him and was invited to the draft in NYC. Most mocks had him going in the 2nd round. Even though he only had 1 pick in 33 games, he's a good cover man that had plenty of pass breakups. He is compared to Joseph with his speed, which was the fastest of any CB at the Combine.

I believe Ghee will win the 3rd CB spot or nickel whatever you want to call it. This was an excellent pick, especially considering the pass happy schedule the Bengals face this year. If Dunlap can play up to his potential, the Bengals could have a very good pass rush with 3 good cover corners. This would make Trent a 4th corner, he was decent as a 3rd and would be an excellent 4th CB. I know people think this pick is also insurance in case J Jo or Hall don't get resigned, well the Bengals better get them re signed. You need 3 good CB's in this day in the NFL, that should be their top priority.

4th Round: Geno Atkins,DT,Georgia

Another great value pick. Mocks had him going in the 2nd and early 3rd round. Another penetrating defensive lineman, he doesn't have great length but he is quick and can get after the QB from the inside. This gives the Bengals a great 4 man rotation at the DT position.

I love what the Bengals are doing on the D line! A few years ago the Giants won a Super Bowl, primarily because they had a great 8 man rotation on the D line and the Patriots best offense in history couldn't do much against them. The Bengals D line isn't to that level yet, but with Atkins and Dunlap added they will have 8 very good D lineman with some good versatility out of quite a few of them. I don't know how many D lineman the Bengals are going to keep, but I suspect Frostee Rucker has played his last play as a Bengal. If they keep 9 I'd think it will be: Odom,Geathers,M. Johnson,Dunlap,Atkins,Sims,Peko,Tank,and Fanene. That's a very good D line that has unbelievable depth.

4th Round: Rodrick Muckelroy,LB,Texas

Another player from a big time school. I like these picks that come from schools that win alot of games. These players know how to win and have played in big games against big time competition.

Muckelroy was a middle LB at Texas, but also played on the outside. My guess is they are going to put him as SAM and groom him to take over for Rey when Dhani leaves/retires and Maualuga moves to the inside. For now he'll be able to be a big time contributor on special teams and gives the Bengals added depth at LB. If he is put at WILL he will compete immediately for the backup job with Brandon Johnson.

5th Round: Otis Hudson,OT/OG,Eastern Illinois

I honestly don't know much about this player other than he went to Minnesota where they had him playing on both sides of the ball, he then transferred to Eastern Illinois. I don't really understand this pick as alot of people think he could've been had as an undrafted free agent. I think 7th round atleast. Reshad Jones was on the board at this point, honestly I didn't like this pick and have to question what they were thinking making it, bad decision.

6th Round: Dezmon Briscoe,WR,Kansas

This however is a great value pick. Quite a few people had Briscoe graded as a 3rd round pick. He holds multiple receiving records at Kansas and was a very productive player in the Big 12. Most had him as the 2nd best WR in that conference behind Dez Bryant.

This pick gives the Bengals a ton of depth at WR now. Briscoe is going to have to fight for a roster spot, but I think he makes the team. I think we've seen the last of Jerome Simpson and unless Matt Jones shows up big time in the preseason and training camp I think he gets cut. I think the Bengals keep 6 WR's and they will be Chad,Antonio,Shipley,Caldwell,Briscoe,and Cosby.

7th Round: Reggie Stephens,Iowa State,OC/OG

I don't know much about him either, but in the 7th round I like the pick of adding an interior lineman. I'm a believer in taking and acquiring as much depth on the line on both sides of the ball as you possibly can. If anything he becomes a PS player and pushes the other guys to get better to keep their jobs. You can never have too many good lineman and I like that the Bengals drafted 4 lineman total in this draft, 5 if you want to count Gresham who's a part time lineman on running downs.