Bengals Draft Depot

* different scenario from the last mock, includes a Palmer trade for a late 1st round pick. Some coach out there will be cocky enough to think he can fix Palmer into the all pro he used to be


1. Carolina Panthers- DaQuan Bower,DE,Clemson

The Panthers could decide to give Clausen a shot and see if he can develop. Even though he fell to the 2nd many thought he would be most NFL ready QB in last year's class. Bradford has proven he's way better, but Clausen really has no help around him. They lost Julius Peppers and need a pass rusher.

2. Cincinnati Bengals- Andrew Luck,QB,Stanford

If this happens the Bengals have to take Luck here. This would be like passing up on taking Peyton Manning. I really wish they had a shot to get Luck next year and build the line. But QB's rated this high are rare and the NFL is a QB driven league. If you want to win the Super Bowl you have to have the QB. Luck is only a Sophomore and has shown excellent leadership skills, something I thought Palmer always lacked. He has good size, is tough to bring down like Big Ben, and has great mobility for his size. Shows great decision making and intelligence. The arm strength and accuracy are both in the upper echelon of the NFL. Luck is the total package as a pocket passer, but has better mobility than most QB's in the NFL right now. His mobility includes moving inside the pocket as well as getting out of the pocket and running. As a franchise QB I don't want him taking off and running too often, but that mobility will help with a shaky Bengals O line for getting out of the pocket and making plays. With Brady and Manning both on the plus side of 30 I'd be willing to bet in 4 years or so he's the best QB in the NFL and will stay there for a long time. If they get a chance to draft him they have to take it, he could be the one to take us to the Super Bowl.

3. Denver Broncos- Patrick Peterson,CB,LSU

Champ Bailey is getting old and isn't going to be back in Denver next year. Peterson may be the best defensive player in this draft and in today's NFL you have to have multiple cover guys.

4. Detroit Lions- Prince Amukamara,CB,Nebraska

The Lions secondary has been terrible this year, there are two elite CB's in this draft class that is loaded at CB. If either are on the board I believe the Lions will take one of them.

5. Buffalo Bills- Nick Fairley,DT/DE,Auburn

The Bills were supposed to be switching to a 3-4, but don't quite have the personnel and Maybin their first round pick 2 years ago isn't a good fit at OLB, he's more of a 4-3 DE. They could decide to stay 4-3 and put Fairley at DT or he can play DE in a 3-4.

6. Arizona Cardinals- Ryan Mallett,QB,Arkansas

If the Cards don't take a QB here they should let Fitzgerald go to another team. Fitz is arguably the best WR in the NFL, definitely top 3 and it would be a disservice to him to stick with the current QB's on the roster.

7. Dallas Cowboys- Anthony Costanzo,OT,Boston College

The Cowboys lost Romo this year due to horrible offensive line play. Jerry Jones isn't gonna let that happen again, he hates losing. There may be some temptation for him to take AJ Green here, but I think they have to fix that line.

8. San Francisco 49ers- Cam Newton,QB,Auburn

If Singletary is still there, he doesn't like any of their current QB's. If there's a new regime they usually like to get their own guy in at QB. Someone is going to jump on Newton in the top 10 and if SF is picking here it very well could be them.

9. Tennessee Titans- Stephen Paea,DT,Oregon State

This guy is freakishly strong. The Titans still haven't found a replacement for Haynesworth, and Paea is going to be a force in the middle of a 4-3 D line.

10. Washington Redskins- AJ Green,WR,Georgia

The Redskins would be ecstatic if Green is still here. Everyone is saying he's the best prospect at WR since Calvin Johnson and I agree. He may be even better than Calvin is. The Redskins have zero playmakers on that offense, except for maybe Santana Moss and that's a stretch.

11. Houston Texans- Brandon Harris,CB,Miami

The Texans secondary has been awful. They have good pass rushers, if they could get any CB's that can stay with their man they'd be tough against the pass. They should take advantage of this loaded CB class.

12. Minnesota Vikings- Jake Locker,QB,Washington

Favre is going to be done after this year and they obviously aren't sold on Tavarris Jackson. Locker's stock has dropped, but his supporting cast is awful and it's going to come back up during all the workouts, this guy has all the tools to be a good NFL QB.

13. Cleveland Browns- Julio Jones,WR,Alabama

The Browns need some playmakers on offense and Jones is a physical freak with his combo of size and speed. Holmgren usually doesn't take WR's in the 1st, but he's never had an offense that annemic. Dareus could also be the pick here.

14. New England Patriots- Marcell Dareus,DE/DT,Alabama (from Oakland)

I doubt Dareus will fall this far, but if he does NE will be happy and this would almost be unfair if they land him. This would be worth them giving up Seymour for this pick.

15. Seattle Seahawks- Mark Ingram,RB,Alabama

You know they will hope Locker, the hometown guy, is still there. But since he isn't Pete Caroll loves having a stable of good RB's and right now his best is Marshawn Lynch. Ingram is the only RB worth using a 1st round pick on in this draft.

16. San Diego Chargers- Robert Quinn,DE/OLB,North Carolina

If Quinn didn't have to sit out the entire 2010 season he may have been a top 5 pick next year. That rules violation is going to cost him millions. Too bad SD can't draft an entire special teams unit, but Quinn can contribute there and to their pathetic pass rush.

17. Indianapolis Colts- Gabe Carimi,OT,Wisconsin

The Colts O line has struggled this year and if you're the GM of a team with Peyton Manning at QB you should make sure he has a good O line with lots of depth. You give Manning a good line and he'll win you Super Bowls. Carimi can also run block very well and the Colts are terrible in that department. Carimi has the versatility to move inside to Guard if they want him to as that's the team's biggest weakness the interior offensive line.

18. Miami Dolphins- Von Miller,OLB,Texas A&M

Teams have had success throwing the ball on Miami this year. I don't know who's more to blame the secondary or the pass rush, but the best way to stop the pass is to pressure the QB and Miller is a perfect fit for their scheme.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Adrian Clayborn,DE,Iowa

I like what the Bucs did in last year's draft taking the two DT's in the first 2 rounds. Look for them to add some talent on the ends of that D line next year and Clayborn is an every down player equally as good against the run as the pass.

20. Green Bay Packers- Mike Pouncey,OC/OG,Florida

This may be a bit of a reach, but NFL GM's are realizing having that franchise Center is crucial to the success of an Offensive line. Rodgers has been brilliant the last 2 years despite being under pressure constantly. Imagine if he had a good O line. They are heading in the right direction after drafting Bulaga last year.

21. St. Louis Rams- Justin Blackmon,WR,Oklahoma State

Bradford looks like the real deal in St. Louis and their fans should be excited. He has a few talented young WR's, but he needs that legit number one WR and Blackmon will be just that.

22. Kansas City Chiefs- Janoris Jenkins,CB,Florida

I love what the Chiefs are doing, I wish the Bengals had their management team here in Cincy. They have an arsenal of young talent on both sides of the ball. They took Eric Berry last year and Pioli knows how important cover CB's are in today's NFL.

23. Cincinnati Bengals- Nate Solder,OT,Colorado (from Jacksonville for Carson Palmer)

If the Bengals land luck it's time to beef up the Offensive Line. Solder has unbelievable athleticism for a guy 6-8, 300 lbs. He is a natural LT, with great pass blocking ability to protect Luck's blindside. This will allow Whitworth to move back to Guard where he can be an all-pro. This pick instantly makes the left side of that line a major strength and Luck will be worry free about getting hit on his blindside for the most part. It sucks that Andre Smith is such a bust and you have to use a 1st round pick on an OT two years after taking one 6th overall, but that's the situation.

Solder is not a concern like Smith is. He is a very hard worker, who's intelligent, and will be a leader in the locker room in no time. He's an excellent student right now and will be a student of the game that's willing to put the work in. He has room to add some bulk to that frame, but I wouldn't add to much and take away from that speed he has. He has a great quick first step and you won't need to worry about him being beat by speed rushers. He can read and react better than any O Lineman in this draft class. His run blocking ability is also excellent and he's basically the total package at OT. His height is his only concern and that's why people having him going behind Costanzo and Carimi. If he goes before either then one of those 2 will be the pick and both are rated about the same. Any one of those 3 will be a good pick. Carimi is more built for the right side though. Anyway with him and Whit on that left side the line is on it's way to being good. You have Cook and Reggie Stephens to battle out for Center, I like Cook there and Stephens could learn to play Guard after Williams retires. The only concern left is RT. The Bengals currently have a high priced player there that isn't performing. Hopefully he gets his act together.

24. New York Giants- Akeem Ayers,OLB,UCLA

The Giants biggest weakness is it's LB core. Their best player there is the old man Keith Bulluck. Unless they bring in some FA's they almost certainly have to go LB in the first round, they can't go into next year with their current LB's, especially with Vick in their division.

25. Chicago Bears- DeMarcus Love,OT,Arkansas

Really you could put Love almost right up there with the other 3 OT's. I put Love and Sherrod just a shade below. The Bears O line has been pathetic this year both in run blocking and pass protection. I'm suprised they've won as many games as they have, Cutler's been getting killed and Forte has been inconsistent due to having nowhere to run the ball.

26. New York Jets- Allen Bailey,DE,Miami

The Jets have been struggling on offense as of late, but they have a great line, good RB's, and a deep talented group of WR's. The QB stinks, but they're not gonna take another one. They haven't been as dominant on D, due to the pass rush. Bailey has the size to play DE in their 3-4 and can get penetration and disrupt from the DE spot.

27. Philadelphia Eagles- Derek Sherrod,OT,Mississippi State

The Eagles have Mike Vick at QB and still give up a ton of sacks. It's scary to think what could happen if they get a good line.

28. Baltimore Ravens- Aaron Williams,CB,Texas

The Ravens biggest need is CB and they luck out that the deepest position in this draft class is CB.

29. New Orleans Saints- Ryan Kerrigan,DE,Purdue

The Saints play with the lead alot of the time and could use a pass rusher opposite Will Smith. Kerrigan also happens to be from Purdue and I think there's another guy on their team from Purdue who happens to be pretty good.

30. Pittsburgh Steelers- Kyle Rudolph,TE,Notre Dame

Heath Miller is often injured and isn't giving the Steelers much production these days. Rudolph is the best TE in this draft and is a well rounded TE that can block, which will help them keep extra blockers in to keep Ben from getting killed all the time.

31. Atlanta Falcons- Travis Lewis,OLB,Oklahoma

This guy is a flat out playmaker. As good as the Falcons have been, teams have been able to run on them. Lewis is a tackling machine and will help stop the run.

32. New England Patriots- Brandon Burton,CB,Utah

It's unfair the best team in the NFL has 2 picks in the 1st round. That said they take another 1st round CB for the 2nd year in a row and now have a duo of 1st rounders on a team that always has the lead.


2nd Round


33. New England Patriots- Cameron Heyward,DE/DT,Ohio State

What's even more unfair is they have the first pick of the 2nd round, so they basically have 3 first round picks. If they take Heyward, they will have him,Dareus,and Vince Wilfork on the line of a 3-4. That's scary as all 3 can get after the QB's and they may be able to get pressure rushing just 3. Add to that 2 first round CB's and Mayweather in the secondary and that's a dominant defense. Plus all 3 on that line can defend the run and they become tough to run or throw on.

34. Cincinnati Bengals- Jonathon Baldwin,WR,Pittsburgh

The guy has blazing speed and is 6-5. His production is down this year at Pitt which has his stock down a little, but his supporting cast and the QB play there has been terrible. Yeah the Bengals need Safety help real bad and Rahim Moore would be a good pick here as well, but with a new QB I want his confidence to be as high as I can get it and I'm building up that offense for him first. Chad and TO are gone, I don't want a rookie QB around those 2. Baldwin has all the tools and physical ability to be an elite number 1 WR in the NFL.

Baldwin is the big play threat the Bengals will need that has the ability to stretch the field and will be a good compliment to Shipley on the underneath routes and Gresham in that mid range. He has excellent ball skills, can go up and get the ball over defenders, and uses his size to box out defenders (think Antonio Gates as a WR). Needs some work on his route running, but so does Desean Jackson. He isn't quite as fast as Jackson, but is close and is 6-5 230 lbs. This guy has the work ethic to go with the great physical package as well and if this draft goes how it has on this mock the Bengals should be excited about how good the offense is about to become. If this played out like this and they could add a FA Right Tackle or fat boy Smith decides he wants to work you could look at an offense that could be top 5 for years to come and starting about 2 years from this draft.