|
|
Post by 77bengal on Mar 30, 2016 15:02:27 GMT -5
The Bengals have several holes to fill and some depth to add if they're going to remain at the top of the AFC North. At least two of their draft picks need to come in and be ready to contribute from the get go. That's why I've included a trade in this mock draft. Some of my picks may be considered by some to be rather optimistic, but keep in mind that players fall in every round of every draft and this draft will be no different. Nobody thought that OT Jake Fisher would be available to the Bengals in round two, but he was. Nobody thought LB Paul Dawson would be available to them at the end of round three nor CB Josh Shaw in round four, but they were. This draft also represents one of many drafts that I've concocted that would go a long way in helping this team get over the hump. Here goes nothing.
Trade down with Kansas City. The Chiefs and the Cardinals were both trying to trade up to the Bengals spot at 24 and a bidding war ensued which is good news for the Bengals. The Chiefs outbid the Cardinals by trading away their first and second round selections in order to move up and grab the player they wanted all along. It's a deal the Bengals couldn't refuse.
Round One: WR Josh Doctson, TCU. I really wanted the Bengals to go defense here with a player like DT Andrew Billings or DE/OLB Noah Spence, but there's no getting around the fact that the Bengals lost their number two and number three WR's to free agency so grabbing a WR in round one is a must. Doctson has great hands, confidence, speed and extraordinary leaping ability that he uses to out jump defenders and pluck the ball cleanly out of the air. His 6'4" frame gives him a big size advantage over most DB's.
Round Two A: DT Vernon Butler, Louisiana Tech University. The most glaring weakness on either side of the ball for the Bengals last season, other than Jeremy Hill's inability to run the ball like he did the previous season, was the Bengals inconsistency at stopping the run. Undrafted free agent Thomas Rawls of the Seahawks ran all over the Bengals for 169 yards on 23 carries for a whopping 7.3 yard average. The Bengals can't allow this to keep happening or they're going no where. Enter Vernon Butler. A massive hulk of a player that weighs around 325 pounds and is a noted run stopper. Butler is also light on his feet and thus he's able to get up field and make plays. Teaming him up with all-world Geno Atkins could really turn into something special.
Round Two B: WR Tyler Boyd, Pittsburgh. The Bengals have filled both Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu's shoes with arguably better players with this pick and their first pick. Boyd has a ton of ability and he may be the most NFL ready WR in this draft class. Boyd blew up the combine showing good speed and the best pair of hands in this draft. There was a time when he was considered to be a sure round one selection. Great value pick.
Round Three: S Karl Joseph, WVU. My favorite player in this draft. Pound for pound, Joseph hits harder than any S I've seen in quite some time which bodes well for any player entering the AFC North. If not for an injury that ended his season early this past year and being considered a bit undersized for the position, he would've been a late round one early round two prospect. His style of play fits the Bengal 'D' to perfection. He's a big play waiting to happen at both picking off passes and at stripping the ball. He reminds me somewhat of Ed Reed.
Round Four: DE Matt Judon, Grand Valley State. The reason(s) for selecting Judon in round four is fairly straight forward. DE Michael Johnson isn't the same player he once was and DE's Margus Hunt and Will Clarke haven't shown much. Judon lit up the combine with one of the fastest forties amongst all DL and he has nice measurables standing 6'3" and weighing in at 275 pounds. His production was off the charts registering 20 sacks, 23.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and 81 tackles. His junior year was almost as productive which demonstrates that he's not a 'one year wonder'.
Round Five: C Evan Boehm, Missouri. All I know is that at minimum, Russell Bodine needs to be pushed in camp if not replaced. Fundamentally and/or technically, Boehm may already be ahead of Bodine. Depth at the C position is weak. Boehm adds stability.
Round Six: CB KeiVarae Russell, Notre Dame. KeiVarae Russell was at one time considered to be one of the best young up and coming CB's in all of college football, but injuries really took their toll. If Russell can stay healthy, the Bengals have a player that has the ability to become a solid starter but it's going to take some work on his part. The ability is there. It's just a matter of getting it out on a consistent basis.
Round Seven: QB Nate Sudfeld, Indiana. It won't be long before A.J. McCarron is either made the Bengals starter or he'll ask to be traded. NFL teams should draft a QB every two to three years in order to have a solid back-up on the roster that knows the system and can fill in should injury occur to the teams starter. And you never know when one of these guys prove to be more than just a back-up. Unlike Dalton and McCarron, Sudfeld is a big QB standing at 6'5" and weighing 230 pounds. He has a strong arm and is able to make all the throws the position demands. He needs to work on his accuracy but that should improve with time. Very confident kid with a nice upside.
There you have it. Four players for the offense and four players for the defense. Two of those defensive players are linemen with the offense adding one linemen for the middle. Adding linemen in every draft is a must as is selecting a QB every few years. Overall, I think this draft is fairly balanced while also addressing needs but I do plan on posting one or two more mock drafts prior to the draft. Thoughts lost, Rod, guys and gals?
|
|
|
|
Post by lostwou on Mar 30, 2016 16:44:24 GMT -5
Arizona doesn't have a 2nd rd pick. No way would KC give up a 2nd rd pick to move up 4 spots the value is way off. 3rd rd at most. Other than that like the picks.
|
|
|
|
Post by 77bengal on Mar 30, 2016 20:24:11 GMT -5
Arizona doesn't have a 2nd rd pick. No way would KC give up a 2nd rd pick to move up 4 spots the value is way off. 3rd rd at most. Other than that like the picks. I agree that this trade is somewhat of a stretch, but the thinking behind this trade (which I should have posted) has KC trading up to pick QB Paxton Lynch who the Chiefs and Cardinals have been linked to. When it comes to trading up in the first round for a QB, teams always end up paying a steep price. The reason the Bengals make this trade with KC instead of Arizona is because the Cardinals don't have a second round pick to trade. But the main reason I have included a trade is to demonstrate how creative the Bengals need to be in this draft. They have two gaping holes at WR, one at DT and depth needed at several other positions. There's a lot of mid-round talent in this draft, so adding as many extra mid-round picks as possible would be a good strategy. This mock isn't perfect, but I think it shows what positions need an upgrade and what players (or type of players) may be available. |
|
|
|
Post by Rodneck on Mar 30, 2016 23:30:24 GMT -5
You can trade down in the 1st round with somebody definitely so I don't have any hangups that nullifies your draft. Overall I like the philosophy and balance. Of the first 5 rounds you have 3 spots going to linemen and 3 spots on opposite sides of the pass. Beautiful. With some really solid, smart FA signings and the progress Dalton made in his game last season I am light years ahead of where I was last April with this team. Really looking forward to this draft. Hell I might not even be on suicide watch when Coney Island closes Labor Day weekend now! HAHA!!  |
|
|
|
Post by lostwou on Mar 31, 2016 7:16:17 GMT -5
There are several interesting WR prospects. As 77 and I both pointed out they all have there flaws. With the Bengals signing Lafell, which I am not sure I am crazy about the idea of him expected to be the #2 WR it changes things up a bit.
It opens up the draft a bit more. Now its possible the Bengals could go with BPA most likely on defense. They could go CB at this spot. They still haven't filled the void left by Leon Hall, and Kirpatrick is a FA after this season. If this happens, we could be looking at the next level of WRs in rd 2.
Will Fuller- Love this guy has great speed 4.32. Has tendancy to drop balls, but with his ability to separate from defenders most definitely makes up for it. I consider him a deep threat type.
Michael Thomas- IMO is being under-valued. For a WR his size to run a 4.4 is amazing. Runs clean routes good hands. He could be the most well rounded receiver in the draft.
Braxton Miller- 31 teams may regret not drafting this guy. Sure he had only one year at the position. But this guy dominates the field every time he steps on it. He is an amazing athlete and catches some impossible balls. He would be an amazing slot receiver with the most upside of anyone. I really think they should consider him. Ran a 4.3. Also played QB. He is a dual threat. More dangerous after the catch. Would fit well in a West Coast offense.
I believe Doctson and Treadwell may both be gone when we select. That would leave Corey Coleman possibly at #24.
Coleman again another electrifying player. He can play Wide or slot. If the Bengals pass on him and draft a CB, he is gone before rd 2.
Putting Lafell outside opposite Green, leaves the slot void. Yes you have Shepard and Cooper both would be good choices. But, for a slot guy, do you pass on Braxton Miller in Rd 2? Miller is only going to get better. Like I said, teams may regret it.
|
|
|
|
Post by 77bengal on Mar 31, 2016 14:52:02 GMT -5
There are several interesting WR prospects. As 77 and I both pointed out they all have there flaws. With the Bengals signing Lafell, which I am not sure I am crazy about the idea of him expected to be the #2 WR it changes things up a bit. It opens up the draft a bit more. Now its possible the Bengals could go with BPA most likely on defense. They could go CB at this spot. They still haven't filled the void left by Leon Hall, and Kirpatrick is a FA after this season. If this happens, we could be looking at the next level of WRs in rd 2. Will Fuller- Love this guy has great speed 4.32. Has tendancy to drop balls, but with his ability to separate from defenders most definitely makes up for it. I consider him a deep threat type. Michael Thomas- IMO is being under-valued. For a WR his size to run a 4.4 is amazing. Runs clean routes good hands. He could be the most well rounded receiver in the draft. Braxton Miller- 31 teams may regret not drafting this guy. Sure he had only one year at the position. But this guy dominates the field every time he steps on it. He is an amazing athlete and catches some impossible balls. He would be an amazing slot receiver with the most upside of anyone. I really think they should consider him. Ran a 4.3. Also played QB. He is a dual threat. More dangerous after the catch. Would fit well in a West Coast offense. I believe Doctson and Treadwell may both be gone when we select. That would leave Corey Coleman possibly at #24. Coleman again another electrifying player. He can play Wide or slot. If the Bengals pass on him and draft a CB, he is gone before rd 2. Putting Lafell outside opposite Green, leaves the slot void. Yes you have Shepard and Cooper both would be good choices. But, for a slot guy, do you pass on Braxton Miller in Rd 2? Miller is only going to get better. Like I said, teams may regret it. One of the problems that i have with drafting a WR in round one is that most of them are rated higher this year then they normally would be because of the overall weakness at the position. However, there has been weaker WR classes such as the 2008 class. That year, not one WR went in round one and the Bengals wound up really, really reaching by selecting WR Jerome Simpson in round two which proved to be a terrible pick. Simpson never lived up to his athleticism and he's now playing for his third or fourth team. I just don't want the Bengals to make the same mistake twice by overvaluing a prospect. The other problem I have with the drafting of a WR in round one is that a teams offensive and defensive lines come first and the Bengals need an upgrade at C, DT and DE. And next year they may need to add a G if they aren't able to retain Kevin Zeitler. Another words, one could make the case that the Bengals would be better served by taking DE/OLB Noah Spence in round one; C Nick Martin in round two; DT Chris Jones in round three and a G prospect in round four. It's not the draft I would put forward but it does make some sense. |
|
|
|
Post by lostwou on Mar 31, 2016 17:20:28 GMT -5
There are several interesting WR prospects. As 77 and I both pointed out they all have there flaws. With the Bengals signing Lafell, which I am not sure I am crazy about the idea of him expected to be the #2 WR it changes things up a bit. It opens up the draft a bit more. Now its possible the Bengals could go with BPA most likely on defense. They could go CB at this spot. They still haven't filled the void left by Leon Hall, and Kirpatrick is a FA after this season. If this happens, we could be looking at the next level of WRs in rd 2. Will Fuller- Love this guy has great speed 4.32. Has tendancy to drop balls, but with his ability to separate from defenders most definitely makes up for it. I consider him a deep threat type. Michael Thomas- IMO is being under-valued. For a WR his size to run a 4.4 is amazing. Runs clean routes good hands. He could be the most well rounded receiver in the draft. Braxton Miller- 31 teams may regret not drafting this guy. Sure he had only one year at the position. But this guy dominates the field every time he steps on it. He is an amazing athlete and catches some impossible balls. He would be an amazing slot receiver with the most upside of anyone. I really think they should consider him. Ran a 4.3. Also played QB. He is a dual threat. More dangerous after the catch. Would fit well in a West Coast offense. I believe Doctson and Treadwell may both be gone when we select. That would leave Corey Coleman possibly at #24. Coleman again another electrifying player. He can play Wide or slot. If the Bengals pass on him and draft a CB, he is gone before rd 2. Putting Lafell outside opposite Green, leaves the slot void. Yes you have Shepard and Cooper both would be good choices. But, for a slot guy, do you pass on Braxton Miller in Rd 2? Miller is only going to get better. Like I said, teams may regret it. One of the problems that i have with drafting a WR in round one is that most of them are rated higher this year then they normally would be because of the overall weakness at the position. However, there has been weaker WR classes such as the 2008 class. That year, not one WR went in round one and the Bengals wound up really, really reaching by selecting WR Jerome Simpson in round two which proved to be a terrible pick. Simpson never lived up to his athleticism and he's now playing for his third or fourth team. I just don't want the Bengals to make the same mistake twice by overvaluing a prospect. The other problem I have with the drafting of a WR in round one is that a teams offensive and defensive lines come first and the Bengals need an upgrade at C, DT and DE. And next year they may need to add a G if they aren't able to retain Kevin Zeitler. Another words, one could make the case that the Bengals would be better served by taking DE/OLB Noah Spence in round one; C Nick Martin in round two; DT Chris Jones in round three and a G prospect in round four. It's not the draft I would put forward but it does make some sense. I agree. We really need a good pass rusher. If Ogbuh is there you gotta get him. They could still get a guy like Fuller, Braxton possibly even Michael Thomas in rd 2. But really when you think about it there will still be some really good pass rushers around in rd 2 as well. But they definitely need to address those two areas 1-2 |
|
|
|
Post by 77bengal on Apr 1, 2016 10:42:36 GMT -5
I think Spence and Ogbah are the two best edge rushers in this draft. Ogbah is slightly underrated in my opinion and is a better pass rusher than a couple of DEs rated above him.
The Bengals are one of just a few teams that may be looking to draft a WR in round one. So if they pass on a WR in round one, it's gonna push a better WR down to them in round two. Taking DT Andrew Billings or DE Noah Spence in round one is looking better and better.
|
|
|
|
Post by lostwou on Apr 17, 2016 6:48:06 GMT -5
The Bengals have several holes to fill and some depth to add if they're going to remain at the top of the AFC North. At least two of their draft picks need to come in and be ready to contribute from the get go. That's why I've included a trade in this mock draft. Some of my picks may be considered by some to be rather optimistic, but keep in mind that players fall in every round of every draft and this draft will be no different. Nobody thought that OT Jake Fisher would be available to the Bengals in round two, but he was. Nobody thought LB Paul Dawson would be available to them at the end of round three nor CB Josh Shaw in round four, but they were. This draft also represents one of many drafts that I've concocted that would go a long way in helping this team get over the hump. Here goes nothing. Trade down with Kansas City. The Chiefs and the Cardinals were both trying to trade up to the Bengals spot at 24 and a bidding war ensued which is good news for the Bengals. The Chiefs outbid the Cardinals by trading away their first and second round selections in order to move up and grab the player they wanted all along. It's a deal the Bengals couldn't refuse. Round One: WR Josh Doctson, TCU. I really wanted the Bengals to go defense here with a player like DT Andrew Billings or DE/OLB Noah Spence, but there's no getting around the fact that the Bengals lost their number two and number three WR's to free agency so grabbing a WR in round one is a must. Doctson has great hands, confidence, speed and extraordinary leaping ability that he uses to out jump defenders and pluck the ball cleanly out of the air. His 6'4" frame gives him a big size advantage over most DB's. Round Two A: DT Vernon Butler, Louisiana Tech University. The most glaring weakness on either side of the ball for the Bengals last season, other than Jeremy Hill's inability to run the ball like he did the previous season, was the Bengals inconsistency at stopping the run. Undrafted free agent Thomas Rawls of the Seahawks ran all over the Bengals for 169 yards on 23 carries for a whopping 7.3 yard average. The Bengals can't allow this to keep happening or they're going no where. Enter Vernon Butler. A massive hulk of a player that weighs around 325 pounds and is a noted run stopper. Butler is also light on his feet and thus he's able to get up field and make plays. Teaming him up with all-world Geno Atkins could really turn into something special. Round Two B: WR Tyler Boyd, Pittsburgh. The Bengals have filled both Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu's shoes with arguably better players with this pick and their first pick. Boyd has a ton of ability and he may be the most NFL ready WR in this draft class. Boyd blew up the combine showing good speed and the best pair of hands in this draft. There was a time when he was considered to be a sure round one selection. Great value pick. Round Three: S Karl Joseph, WVU. My favorite player in this draft. Pound for pound, Joseph hits harder than any S I've seen in quite some time which bodes well for any player entering the AFC North. If not for an injury that ended his season early this past year and being considered a bit undersized for the position, he would've been a late round one early round two prospect. His style of play fits the Bengal 'D' to perfection. He's a big play waiting to happen at both picking off passes and at stripping the ball. He reminds me somewhat of Ed Reed. Round Four: DE Matt Judon, Grand Valley State. The reason(s) for selecting Judon in round four is fairly straight forward. DE Michael Johnson isn't the same player he once was and DE's Margus Hunt and Will Clarke haven't shown much. Judon lit up the combine with one of the fastest forties amongst all DL and he has nice measurables standing 6'3" and weighing in at 275 pounds. His production was off the charts registering 20 sacks, 23.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and 81 tackles. His junior year was almost as productive which demonstrates that he's not a 'one year wonder'. Round Five: C Evan Boehm, Missouri. All I know is that at minimum, Russell Bodine needs to be pushed in camp if not replaced. Fundamentally and/or technically, Boehm may already be ahead of Bodine. Depth at the C position is weak. Boehm adds stability. Round Six: CB KeiVarae Russell, Notre Dame. KeiVarae Russell was at one time considered to be one of the best young up and coming CB's in all of college football, but injuries really took their toll. If Russell can stay healthy, the Bengals have a player that has the ability to become a solid starter but it's going to take some work on his part. The ability is there. It's just a matter of getting it out on a consistent basis. Round Seven: QB Nate Sudfeld, Indiana. It won't be long before A.J. McCarron is either made the Bengals starter or he'll ask to be traded. NFL teams should draft a QB every two to three years in order to have a solid back-up on the roster that knows the system and can fill in should injury occur to the teams starter. And you never know when one of these guys prove to be more than just a back-up. Unlike Dalton and McCarron, Sudfeld is a big QB standing at 6'5" and weighing 230 pounds. He has a strong arm and is able to make all the throws the position demands. He needs to work on his accuracy but that should improve with time. Very confident kid with a nice upside. There you have it. Four players for the offense and four players for the defense. Two of those defensive players are linemen with the offense adding one linemen for the middle. Adding linemen in every draft is a must as is selecting a QB every few years. Overall, I think this draft is fairly balanced while also addressing needs but I do plan on posting one or two more mock drafts prior to the draft. Thoughts lost, Rod, guys and gals? If the Bengals want a trade partner to trade down and get an extra pick, the most likely team would be Dallas. They have the 34 pick. They could decide to jump up ahead of the Cards and Denver for Paxton Lynch. Romo has had too many injuries and is up there in age. Time to replace him. Bengals could get early 2nd rd along with their second rd, and possibly a 3rd. But, that being said they are not ones for even trading down unless they feel they can still get the player they want. But this is a feasible trade. |
|
|
|
Post by Rodneck on Apr 17, 2016 11:34:32 GMT -5
Draft is the next big event before the Kentucky Derby. Let's roll!
|
|
|
|
Post by 77bengal on Apr 17, 2016 20:23:20 GMT -5
Safety Karl Joseph is being mentioned as a possible number one draft pick to... the Bengals! Still a bit of a long shot and I'm not sold on the idea, but adding Joseph at some point during the draft would be a great addition. DE Noah Spence, DT Andrew Billings, DT Vernon Butler and LB Darron Lee are my top picks for round one... as of now.
|
|
|
|
Post by lostwou on Apr 18, 2016 5:41:58 GMT -5
I would stay away from Spence. I think they might go CB again. They haven't replaced Hall and Kirkpatrick is in the last year of his contract. Also, they could do another surprise pick. Watch out for another LT.
|
|
|
|
Post by 77bengal on Apr 19, 2016 20:55:41 GMT -5
Another player I really like is coming in for a visit. WR Roger Lewis is meeting with the Bengals. Lewis has big time talent but a controversial past. If he passes the 'trust test', he would make a great late round pick.
|
|
