Post by 77bengal on Mar 28, 2018 0:05:32 GMT -5
There are a lot of great players that could come in and help this team immediately, which makes this mock draft the trickiest I have ever done. As usual, there are many, many directions the Bengals can take to upgrade the team, but what direction should they go? The first thing the team should avoid would be to overthink this draft and get too clever. It's fairly obvious where the teams weaknesses lie, so drafting players to upgrade those areas make the most sense. It's not rocket science.
Basically, there are two areas of need that are screaming for an upgrade. One area of need is obviously the offensive line and the other is the middle of the defense. So, should the Bengals focus on the middle of their defense and draft DT Vita Vea if he happens to fall to them? Or should they stay focused on building the o-line? For me, it comes down to numbers. The Bengals could surely use Vea, but that's only one player and/or position plus they have a young Andrew Billings and Ryan Glasgow waiting in the wings. But the o-line is a completely different and troubling story. Starting at C and moving right, the Bengals basically have no one. That's a total of three positions that need an immediate upgrade. In my opinion, it would be wise to focus on building a great offensive line right out of the gate and then adding some middle defenders later on. So.....
Round 1: Will Hernandez, G, UTEP. The Bengals fill one of three huge holes on their offensive line right off the bat. Hernandez is a huge G with lots of strength, quick feet and a nasty attitude. Hernandez uses his size and strength to basically engulf his opponent by mauling them relentlessly. A day one starter that should stick around Cincy for the next ten years.
Round 2: Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas. There are three to four great C's in this years draft and the Bengals MUST come away with one of them even if that means taking one in round one instead of Hernandez. Several years can pass without one C being chosen and/or worthy of round one consideration, but that's not the case this year and the Bengals timing couldn't be better. Ragnow has dominated at Arkansas since his arrival against some of the best competitors in all of college football. Ragnow has over forty starts in his career as a Razorback and he NEVER GAVE UP A SACK! Dalton will now be able to step up in the pocket and deliver the ball. Something he hasn't been able to do since the arrival of Russell Bodine. *I just found this article on Cincy Jungle. It backs up what I've been posting for months now. Frank Ragnow is a monster, so drafting him in round one isn't out of the question. www.cincyjungle.com/2018/3/28/17172624/bengals-arkansas-razorbacks-pro-day
Round 3A: Darius Leonard, ILB/OLB, South Carolina State. Darius Leonard may not be as widely known as other 'backers in this draft, but he's a big time tackler and player maker. He may also possess the best coverage skills of any LB in this draft class. He fits the Bengals 'D' to a 'T'.
Round 3B: Brian O'Neill, OT, Pittsburgh. O'Neill has the size, athleticism and production teams look for in an OT. O'Neill tested very well at the combine, but he needs to get a bit stronger. The Bengals are in desperate need of a RT and O'Neill looks like a good fit. O'Neill is the last piece in solidifying the o-line.
Round 4: Nathan Shepherd, DT, Fort Hays State. The next Geno Atkins? Okay, that might be going a bit too far, but Shepherd's size, strength and relentless pursuit coupled with a non-stop motor are reminiscent of Mr. Atkins.
Round 5A: Chavarius Ward, CB, MTSU. Getting rid of Adam Jones was a no-brainer, but his departure does cause depth issues. And Dre Kirkpatrick has been under-whelming for the last few years. Chavarius Ward is another player that tested well and he has ideal size and speed. WJIII will make a great mentor.
Round 5B: B.J. Hill, DT, North Carolina State. The Bengals desperately need someone in the middle of their d-line that can stuff the run and that's exactly what Hill specializes in. Hill won't flash much as a pass rusher, thus his fall to the fifth round, but that's not the type of DT the team needs right now. Hill fits the bill!
Round 5C: Mike Love, DE, South Florida. Drafting DE Jordan Willis last year was a good move by the Bengals, but help is still needed at this position now that Chris Smith has moved on. Mike Love has nice size and a penchant for getting after the QB. Good speed off the edge.
Round 7A: Godwin Igwebuike, S, Northwestern. Safety is another position that needs both an upgrade and depth, so selecting Igwebuike at this juncture would be another smart move. Igwebuike is a bit small for the position, but he had a solid career as a Wildcat and he too tested well at the combine.
Round 7B: Tony Brown, CB, Alabama. More DB help is never a bad thing. Tony Brown has ideal size and his speed is off the charts having been clocked in the forty at 4.35 seconds. Theses intangibles, coupled with playing at a big school under a good coach makes Brown worth the pick.
Round 7C: Tanner Lee, QB, Nebraska. As I've posted in the past, teams should select a QB every two to three years. After all, it is the most important position in all of sports, so a continual upgrade at this position is just smart football. Tanner Lee is a traditional drop back QB with almost no running ability, but what he's shown with his arm makes him definitely worth the pick. Lee also has good size for the position, nice mechanics and he interviewed well. He's a talented QB that had some bad luck of playing in a system that wasn't tailored to his strengths. Losing A.J. McCarron is another reason to add Lee.
There you have it. A draft that addresses the teams two biggest areas of need and adds depth at postions that were 'thinned out' ala free agency. After going back and looking at my selections, I realized that I had inadvertently added six linemen. Three linemen were added to both sides of the ball which does make sense when considering the teams weaknesses. Once again, the Bengals shouldn't overthink this draft. It's obvious what the team needs and they're fortunate that this draft is strong in all the right positions to strengthen those areas of need. So, what do you guys think? Who would you like to see the Bengals add via the draft?
Basically, there are two areas of need that are screaming for an upgrade. One area of need is obviously the offensive line and the other is the middle of the defense. So, should the Bengals focus on the middle of their defense and draft DT Vita Vea if he happens to fall to them? Or should they stay focused on building the o-line? For me, it comes down to numbers. The Bengals could surely use Vea, but that's only one player and/or position plus they have a young Andrew Billings and Ryan Glasgow waiting in the wings. But the o-line is a completely different and troubling story. Starting at C and moving right, the Bengals basically have no one. That's a total of three positions that need an immediate upgrade. In my opinion, it would be wise to focus on building a great offensive line right out of the gate and then adding some middle defenders later on. So.....
Round 1: Will Hernandez, G, UTEP. The Bengals fill one of three huge holes on their offensive line right off the bat. Hernandez is a huge G with lots of strength, quick feet and a nasty attitude. Hernandez uses his size and strength to basically engulf his opponent by mauling them relentlessly. A day one starter that should stick around Cincy for the next ten years.
Round 2: Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas. There are three to four great C's in this years draft and the Bengals MUST come away with one of them even if that means taking one in round one instead of Hernandez. Several years can pass without one C being chosen and/or worthy of round one consideration, but that's not the case this year and the Bengals timing couldn't be better. Ragnow has dominated at Arkansas since his arrival against some of the best competitors in all of college football. Ragnow has over forty starts in his career as a Razorback and he NEVER GAVE UP A SACK! Dalton will now be able to step up in the pocket and deliver the ball. Something he hasn't been able to do since the arrival of Russell Bodine. *I just found this article on Cincy Jungle. It backs up what I've been posting for months now. Frank Ragnow is a monster, so drafting him in round one isn't out of the question. www.cincyjungle.com/2018/3/28/17172624/bengals-arkansas-razorbacks-pro-day
Round 3A: Darius Leonard, ILB/OLB, South Carolina State. Darius Leonard may not be as widely known as other 'backers in this draft, but he's a big time tackler and player maker. He may also possess the best coverage skills of any LB in this draft class. He fits the Bengals 'D' to a 'T'.
Round 3B: Brian O'Neill, OT, Pittsburgh. O'Neill has the size, athleticism and production teams look for in an OT. O'Neill tested very well at the combine, but he needs to get a bit stronger. The Bengals are in desperate need of a RT and O'Neill looks like a good fit. O'Neill is the last piece in solidifying the o-line.
Round 4: Nathan Shepherd, DT, Fort Hays State. The next Geno Atkins? Okay, that might be going a bit too far, but Shepherd's size, strength and relentless pursuit coupled with a non-stop motor are reminiscent of Mr. Atkins.
Round 5A: Chavarius Ward, CB, MTSU. Getting rid of Adam Jones was a no-brainer, but his departure does cause depth issues. And Dre Kirkpatrick has been under-whelming for the last few years. Chavarius Ward is another player that tested well and he has ideal size and speed. WJIII will make a great mentor.
Round 5B: B.J. Hill, DT, North Carolina State. The Bengals desperately need someone in the middle of their d-line that can stuff the run and that's exactly what Hill specializes in. Hill won't flash much as a pass rusher, thus his fall to the fifth round, but that's not the type of DT the team needs right now. Hill fits the bill!
Round 5C: Mike Love, DE, South Florida. Drafting DE Jordan Willis last year was a good move by the Bengals, but help is still needed at this position now that Chris Smith has moved on. Mike Love has nice size and a penchant for getting after the QB. Good speed off the edge.
Round 7A: Godwin Igwebuike, S, Northwestern. Safety is another position that needs both an upgrade and depth, so selecting Igwebuike at this juncture would be another smart move. Igwebuike is a bit small for the position, but he had a solid career as a Wildcat and he too tested well at the combine.
Round 7B: Tony Brown, CB, Alabama. More DB help is never a bad thing. Tony Brown has ideal size and his speed is off the charts having been clocked in the forty at 4.35 seconds. Theses intangibles, coupled with playing at a big school under a good coach makes Brown worth the pick.
Round 7C: Tanner Lee, QB, Nebraska. As I've posted in the past, teams should select a QB every two to three years. After all, it is the most important position in all of sports, so a continual upgrade at this position is just smart football. Tanner Lee is a traditional drop back QB with almost no running ability, but what he's shown with his arm makes him definitely worth the pick. Lee also has good size for the position, nice mechanics and he interviewed well. He's a talented QB that had some bad luck of playing in a system that wasn't tailored to his strengths. Losing A.J. McCarron is another reason to add Lee.
There you have it. A draft that addresses the teams two biggest areas of need and adds depth at postions that were 'thinned out' ala free agency. After going back and looking at my selections, I realized that I had inadvertently added six linemen. Three linemen were added to both sides of the ball which does make sense when considering the teams weaknesses. Once again, the Bengals shouldn't overthink this draft. It's obvious what the team needs and they're fortunate that this draft is strong in all the right positions to strengthen those areas of need. So, what do you guys think? Who would you like to see the Bengals add via the draft?
