To continue our own mock draft, the Cincinnati Bengals are on the clock with the 6th Pick in the draft.
The Bengals have so many areas to address that not all of them will not be resolved even through the draft. The player they may have coveted the most on our mock draft is now gone. Monroe (OT) would have been the ideal fit. He's the most NFL game ready OT and doesn't have any character related issues on a team that desperately needs quality individuals and talent. An OT would have helped the running game and in the protection of Palmer. Andre Smith (OT) seems like too much of a risk for a team that has had player character issues. Selecting Oher (OT) is too much of a reach this early in the draft.
Michael Crabtree (WR) would be able to supply the Bengals with another receiving threat opposite Ocho Cinco. Drafting a receiver only replaces the loss of Houshmandzadeh, but doesn't improve the roster from where it was a year ago. It only swaps a receiver for a receiver and rookies at this position generally take two or three years to develop. Taking a receiver doesn't change the problems that still persist from last season.
6th Pick: B.J. Raji, DT Boston College
Marvin Lewis came to Cincinnati as a defensive genius. The defense has been woeful. Palmer has shown the ability to make third and fourth receivers look good when he has time to throw, but it may be nice to not force him into a shootout and actually stop someone for a change. Having run stuffing DT that can also apply pressure should help the Bengals win more third downs and change the battle for field position. Drafting the top DT certainly couldn't hurt. It's not every draft that you get an opportunity to draft the best at their relative position. The Bengals will need to address the offensive line later in the draft.
The Oakland Raiders are now on the clock with the 7th Pick in the draft.
Podcast RSS Feed
