Bengals Draft Depot

If the Bengals can bring in one of those type of players who can play both OLB and DE it could raise their defense to a whole different level. It would cause opposing offenses to prepare for an entire new dimension of the Bengals defense. It would also help with confusion and would cause the defense to get more pressure by letting Zimmer get more creative with blitz packages. With the elite cover corners the Bengals have they could consistently bring pressure with 5 or 6 players up front. The Bengals have the personnel to pull this off if they can bring in one of these players that are hybrids.

Here's a look at how the defense would look with these packages. On the line would be Odom,Peko, and Geathers. The Inside LB's would be Rey and Dhani, but Rivers and Brandon Johnson could also be thrown in there if necessary. The Outside LB's that would be coming off the edge would be Micheal Johnson and the draft pick. The secondary would stay the same with Hall and Joseph at corner and Williams and Crocker at Safety.

One of the players that could fit this mold would be Brandon Graham. I'm very high on Graham as I think he could be a starting DE in a 4-3 and jump to OLB in these packages. He is an amazing talent that consistently gets in the backfield and disrupts plays against the run and pass. I've said many times in my posts that I'd love for Graham to be the Bengals 1st round pick.

Another guy that could slip to the Bengals that would fit this mold is Jason Pierre-Paul. I think he and Graham would be the only 2 I'd consider using a 1st round pick on as both could be every down players at DE when the Bengals are in their base 4-3. JPP will need some developing on his run defense, but his size,speed,and athleticism are possibly better than anyone at that position that is currently in the NFL. Graham is the more NFL ready, but JPP has the bigger upside. The Bengals are in win now mode so I'd take Graham over JPP, but both players would be good picks that represent good value. More importantly either would give them another talented player in the trenches where football is won and lost.

There's quite a few other players that are that hybrid style of player that could go in the rounds after the 1st. I don't see any of them as being able to start at DE in a 4-3 with the exception of maybe Sergio Kindle. Even though they can't start at DE in a 4-3 some are still excellent pass rushers that would be good as a situational player. Most of these guys are better fits in a 3-4 and it's unlikely the Bengals would take a situational pass rusher until the 3rd round atleast. This draft has the biggest pool of prospects that are these hybrid players of any draft in the history of the NFL. That goes for alot of positions, it's unbelievable how deep this draft is at so many positions and alot of good players are gonna be available in the 3rd and 4th rounds. The Bengals getting those comp picks is a blessing, and my first option would still be to trade down unless Derrick Morgan is available.