Bengals1181
04-25-2012, 01:31 PM
Tomorrow's the draft. I know many of you out there have been tinkering with mock drafts for your team.
Here's mine. What's yours?
Round 1. CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama
Wavered on this briefly, but there’s too many signs that they want to go corner in the first round. I think Coples, Floyd, Gilmore or DeCastro could be the pick if they fall to this spot, but in the end I think it will be Kirkpatrick.
Round 1. WR Rueben Randle, LSU
IMO the #3 WR in the draft and a very good complement to AJ Green. It’s pretty clear they want another deep threat and also someone who can keep double teams off of Green. Randle can do both, and with Simpson now in Minnesota they probably can’t gamble too much with taking a WR later and relying on Binns and Simpson to get them by until a rookie is ready. They need to take a guy who can come in and play right away. Randle is a solid route runner, has deep threat speed, and can win jump balls. And he runs like a deer. I do think they will try to trade down a few spots before grabbing him.
Round 2. DE Jared Crick, Nebraska
Prior to being injured early in 2011, Crick was a borderline first rounder. Some may think this is slightly high for him, but he’s a great fit for the Bengals system. He was primarily a DT in college, but also offers you some pass rush. He doesn’t have the weight to stay at DT in the pros, but can fill a DE/DT tweener role. Has enough of a speed/power combo to challenge OT’s on the outside, and get push on guards in the middle. Relentless motor, which Marvin has cited as a must for his dlinemen.
Round 3. RB Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati
Make no mistake about it, longterm Pead needs to add bulk to his frame, particularly in his lower body if he wants to be a complete back in the NFL. In the meantime, he can have a limited role on offense while also contributing on special teams during his rookie year. He's a dual threat back if he can get his weight up (also needs to improve as a blocker). Have to be weary of Pittsburgh, who really likes him, trading up.
Round 4. OL Ryan Miller, Colorado
A versatile OL who has a good deal of experience at both RG and RT. Can come in and compete for the RG job while also being able to provide depth on the OL. Mammoth size at 6’7” 321 and could probably add another 10lbs.
Round 5. TE Brian Linthicum, Michigan State
A solid pass catching TE that needs to improve his strength to become a better blocker. A guy who likely can stick on the Practice Squad for a year and eventually replace Donald Lee on the roster.
Round 5. S Philip Thomas, Syracuse
A safety prospect that would probably go higher but was kicked off of the Syracuse team for breaking athletic department rules (haven’t seen what). I don’t know if there’s room on the team for another safety, but he could pay his dues on the practice squad for a year and prove he’s not a troublemaker.
Round 5. DE/DT Trevor Guyton, California
Reminds me of Clinton McDonald as a big man with good agility and quickness. Played mostly DE at Cal, but is likely a 4-3 DT at the next level IMO. I don’t know that the team will keep a 4th DT this year, but if they don’t he could be groomed ala McDonald on the practice squad and eventually be a backup to Geno Atkins.
Round 6. CB Conroy Black, UTEP
Don’t know a lot about the guy but he has good size (6’ 182lbs), and if he’d been invited to the combine he’d had been in the top 10 in both 40time (3rd) and 3-cone drill (6th) for cornerbacks.
Here's mine. What's yours?
Round 1. CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama
Wavered on this briefly, but there’s too many signs that they want to go corner in the first round. I think Coples, Floyd, Gilmore or DeCastro could be the pick if they fall to this spot, but in the end I think it will be Kirkpatrick.
Round 1. WR Rueben Randle, LSU
IMO the #3 WR in the draft and a very good complement to AJ Green. It’s pretty clear they want another deep threat and also someone who can keep double teams off of Green. Randle can do both, and with Simpson now in Minnesota they probably can’t gamble too much with taking a WR later and relying on Binns and Simpson to get them by until a rookie is ready. They need to take a guy who can come in and play right away. Randle is a solid route runner, has deep threat speed, and can win jump balls. And he runs like a deer. I do think they will try to trade down a few spots before grabbing him.
Round 2. DE Jared Crick, Nebraska
Prior to being injured early in 2011, Crick was a borderline first rounder. Some may think this is slightly high for him, but he’s a great fit for the Bengals system. He was primarily a DT in college, but also offers you some pass rush. He doesn’t have the weight to stay at DT in the pros, but can fill a DE/DT tweener role. Has enough of a speed/power combo to challenge OT’s on the outside, and get push on guards in the middle. Relentless motor, which Marvin has cited as a must for his dlinemen.
Round 3. RB Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati
Make no mistake about it, longterm Pead needs to add bulk to his frame, particularly in his lower body if he wants to be a complete back in the NFL. In the meantime, he can have a limited role on offense while also contributing on special teams during his rookie year. He's a dual threat back if he can get his weight up (also needs to improve as a blocker). Have to be weary of Pittsburgh, who really likes him, trading up.
Round 4. OL Ryan Miller, Colorado
A versatile OL who has a good deal of experience at both RG and RT. Can come in and compete for the RG job while also being able to provide depth on the OL. Mammoth size at 6’7” 321 and could probably add another 10lbs.
Round 5. TE Brian Linthicum, Michigan State
A solid pass catching TE that needs to improve his strength to become a better blocker. A guy who likely can stick on the Practice Squad for a year and eventually replace Donald Lee on the roster.
Round 5. S Philip Thomas, Syracuse
A safety prospect that would probably go higher but was kicked off of the Syracuse team for breaking athletic department rules (haven’t seen what). I don’t know if there’s room on the team for another safety, but he could pay his dues on the practice squad for a year and prove he’s not a troublemaker.
Round 5. DE/DT Trevor Guyton, California
Reminds me of Clinton McDonald as a big man with good agility and quickness. Played mostly DE at Cal, but is likely a 4-3 DT at the next level IMO. I don’t know that the team will keep a 4th DT this year, but if they don’t he could be groomed ala McDonald on the practice squad and eventually be a backup to Geno Atkins.
Round 6. CB Conroy Black, UTEP
Don’t know a lot about the guy but he has good size (6’ 182lbs), and if he’d been invited to the combine he’d had been in the top 10 in both 40time (3rd) and 3-cone drill (6th) for cornerbacks.