I have learned that my redrafting isn’t any better than the Bengals normal drafting, nor really worse. Since I’m picking folks near the same universe (or the same players), my track record has been about the same. So the proof in drafting will be in several years to see who is better.
Round one, fourth overall: Bengals select A.J. Green, WR, Georgia. I would have taken Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU, who was selected No. 5 overall by the Arizona Cardinals. I am not a huge fan of taking wide receivers really high in the draft (or, apparently, at all). And, if you do draft one this high, I would hope that the WR is the whole package, including speed. I worry that Green may be a step slower than elite status; he also doesn’t have the bulk at 210 to be a Larry Fitzgerald type. But I am in the minority opinion on this. I think he will be a plus player. Peterson, on the other hand, it the whole deal. He is big, very fast, quick, and productive. I think he will be a shutdown corner from day one. I do understand that there were those who thought his cover skills were not that great, but I never saw that when I watched him. The image is from kellymlambert.blogspot.com.
Round two, 35th overall: Bengals select Andy Dalton, QB, TCU. I would have taken Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson who was selected 51st overall by the Buccaneers. Dalton was a need pick, and there seemed to be several folks who right before the draft commenced thought that Dalton might go as high as 12 overall to the Vikings. His selection by the Bengals has been widely lauded. It was a need pick because Carson Palmer gave the Bengals an ultimatum to trade him or he will retire. I hope that Dalton is as good as advertised. When I look at Dalton, I see a average athlete who is a hard worker and pretty good college quarterback, and about a fifth-round pick or so. I sincerely hope I’m wrong. He does look like a good fit for a West Coast offense that the Bengals will install this year. Bowers slipped because of a knee injury that may require microfracture surgery. And, yet, I would take him. I think he was a Top-5 talent, and I would even give him a redshirt year should he need it to get healthy. And, if not, I think he is at least a pass-rush guy from day one. One of the best values in the draft, if healthy.
Round three, 66th overall: Bengals select Dontay Moch, OLB, Nevada. I would have taken Ryan Mallet, QB, Arkansas, who was taken 74th overall by the Patriots. I really like Moch’s measurables, and I think the Bengals may have a nice pass-rusher from the outside. He also has the speed to be a three-down outside linebacker, though out of the gate I think he will be just a pass rusher. But Mallet is a rare talent who has a lot of questions. He has a cannon, and he produced as a freshman at Michigan and also at Arkansas for two seasons in the SEC. During the season, he was looked at as one of the top three quarterback prospects, and he fell during the postseason, predraft process. He is not fast (he is in fact slow), but he was athletic enough to be a great college QB. I would draft him, sit him, and work with him to become an NFL quarterback.
Round four, 101st overall: Bengals select Clint Boling, OT-OG, Georgia. I also would have selected Boling. I think He can play left tackle in the NFL. But I think he will start off as a guard. He is athletic and very productive as a player. He should be a starter in the NFL in the next two or three years, and he should be a plus player as an NFLer.
Round five, 134th overall: Bengals select Robert Sands, S, West Virginia. I would have selected Ahmad Black, S, Florida, who was selected 151st overall by the Buccaneers. Here is the classic choice between a size-speed candidate (Sands) against a production candidate (Black). Sands would have been my second choice if Black wasn’t on the board (I also really liked Lawrence Wilson, the undersized OLB from U Conn who wasn’t selected until round six, 166 overall). Sands was a very good player in the Big East for the Mountaineers, but Black was one of the best players in college football. Sands is 6-3, 6-4, 215 or so, while Black is 5-9, 185 or 190. Sands ran about a 4.51 40, while Black ran a 4.7 40 at the combine, and a 4.85 at his pro day. So even more than the height issue, Black is not fast. (Of course, there are those who think Sands is too tall to be a DB in the pros.) It will be interesting to see if taking the college productivity guy versus the size-speed guy.
Round six, 167th overall: Bengals select Ryan Whalen, WR, Stanford. I would have taken, oh, most of the other draftees in the sixth round, but specifically, I would have taken Greg Jones, ILB, Michigan State, who was drafted 185th overall by the Giants, barely over Quan Sturdivant, ILB, North Carolina, who was drafted 171st overall by the Cardinals, and Allen Bradford, who was drafted 187th overall by the Buccaneers. Good underneath receivers are fine and dandy, but I of course would have gone for a super productive linebacker like Jones. He was more highly ranked as a junior than as a senior, but he should be a big plus as a special teamer, and he could be a real good linebacker. I see Whalen as a third-down slot receiver. Sturdivant was less productive in college, because of injury, but he may have more upside than Jones. Bradford is a size-speed candidate (240 pounds, 4.6 40). Some of the other folks I would have taken instead of Whalen, more or less in order, are: Jerell Powe, NT, Mississippi, drafted by the Chiefs; Caleb Schlauderaff, G, Utah, drafted by the Packers; Brian Rolle, LB, Ohio State, drafted by the Eagles; Tyrod Taylor, QB, Va Tech, drafted by the Ravens; Charles Clay, FB-TE-TB-HB, Tulsa, drafted by the Dolphins; Ross Homan, LB, Ohio State, drafted by the Vikings; Mike Mohamad, ILB, Cal, drafted by the Broncos; and JT Thomas, OLB, West Virginia, drafted by da Bears.
Round seven, 207th overall: Bengals draft Korey Lindsay, CB, Illinois State. I would have taken Lee Ziemba, OT, Auburn, who was drafted 244th overall by the Carolina Panthers. I admit it, I am a sucker for 6-8, 300-plus pound tackles from the SEC who had a lot of college production and started for several years. From what admittedly little I know about Lindsay, it looks like he has the ability to play nickel corner in the NFL, as well as help on special teams. I liked Brandyn Thompson, the little corner from Boise State. I am intrigued by Stanley Havili, the athletic FB from USC who only weighs about 230 but who may be a great West Coast-type fullback.
Round seven, 246th overall: Bengals draft Jay Finley, RB, Baylor. I would have drafted Terrence Tolliver, WR, LSU, who was undrafted. Finally, OldCleat drafts a wideout. Four years, one wideout. Finley does NOT excite me. I think there are better undrafted running back prospects … guys who were bigger, faster, etc. (I like John Clay of Wisconsin, who is bigger and slower.) I do like Tolliver, who is 6-4, 210, and who is athletic. Not a whole lot of production in college, but Tolliver seems to be maybe one of those guys who may sneak onto a roster.
Cincy
1 4 overall A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
2 35 overall Andy Dalton, QB, TCU
3 66 overall Dontay Moch, OLB, Nevada
4 101 overall Clint Boling, OT-OG, Georgia
5 134 overall Robert Sands, S, West Virginia
6 167 overall Ryan Whalen, WR, Stanford
7 207 overall Korey Lindsay, CB, Illinois State
7 246 overall: Jay Finley, RB, Baylor
OldCleat
1 5 overall Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
2 51 overall Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
3 74 overall Ryan Mallet, QB, Arkansas
4 101 overall Clint Boling, OT-OG, Georgia
5 151 overall Ahmad Black, S, Florida
6 195 overall Greg Jones, ILB, Michigan State
7 244 overall Lee Ziemba, OT, Auburn
7 UDFA Terrence Tolliver, WR, LSU
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