Bengals Midseason Draft Review: Boom Or Bust?

John Sommers II/Getty Images

With the Cincinnati Bengals off to a 6-2 start (their best since 2005) and two games away from possibly sweeping the AFC North, I felt the need to go over the Bengals' draftees to see how well they've done this year.

We've seen five rookies: OLB Rey Maualuga (USC), DE Michael Johnson (Georgia Tech), P Kevin Huber (Cincinnati), CB Morgan Trent (Michigan), and RB Bernard Scott (Abilene Christian).

No. 71 Andre Smith - OT, 6'4'' 335lbs (Round 1, Pick 6 - Alabama)

Thus far this season we've not seen from Cincinnati's first round pick.

After holding out until Aug. 30, Smith was almost immediately injured in practice. And despite having recovered from that injury Smith has yet to make it onto the field.

I'm not sure if this is a testament to Cincinnati's offensive line, or if it reaffirms my personal belief that the Bengals should have drafted someone else with the sixth overall pick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84-MwAbj7uw&feature=related

No. 58 Rey Maualuga - OLB, 6'2'' 249lbs (Round 2, Pick 38 - Southern California)

Rey Maualuga has been a huge contributor to what has become a very good Cincinnati linebacking corps. It has to make it easier to transition from college to the pros when you can play alongside a former teammate (#55 Keith Rivers - OLB) and a veteran (#57 Dhani Jones - MLB). Maualuga has played lights out and has already amassed 30 tackles (18 solo, 12 assists), one sack, and two forced fumbles in eight games.

With injuries on the defensive line, the linebacking corps has been asked to do even more, especially in the run game, and they've delivered. Maualuga had a great day in week 5 at Baltimore, with 10 total tackles. Rey Maualuga has cemented himself as a great linebacker, and certainly will be one for years to come.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owXgLCbw5YU&feature=fvst

No. 93 Michael Johnson - DE, 6'7'' 266lbs (Round 3, Pick 70 - Georgia Tech)

Michael Johnson hasn't been seen much this season, with players like Jonathan Fanene and Robert Geathers ahead of him in the depth chart (Antwan Odom, the Bengals' outstanding DE is out for the season with a torn achilles).

However when he has played, he's played well. Thus far he has 13 tackles and one sack this season—not bad for a third string DE. The future looks bright in Cincinnati, and Johnson is one of the reasons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odnW1Jj4GSQ

No. 80 Chase Coffman - TE, 6'6'' 244lbs (Round 3, Pick 98 - Missouri)

Being third string behind J.P. Foschi and Daniel Coats, Chase Coffman hasn't seen the field this season. But if his play at Missouri is any indication of how he'll play in the pros, I'd expect to see him break onto the top of the depth chart within a few years.

At Missouri he had 247 receptions for 2,659 yards and 30 touchdowns. He could end up being a great NFL TE.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQjTvtHHg9E

No. 50 Jonathan Luigs - C, 6'4'' 301lbs (Round 4, Pick 106 - Arkansas)

Luigs hasn't seen much playing time this season either. He made his NFL debut on special teams in week 3 at home against the Steelers. He didn't appear on offense until week 7 at home against Chicago, when he played in the second half after the game was pretty much already decided.

It will be interesting to see how he develops as a player, but having seen so little of him thus far, it's hard to judge how he'll turn out.

No. 10 Kevin Huber - P, 6'1'' 221lbs (Round 5, Pick 142 - Cincinnati)

When a team drafts a punter rather than picking one up in free agency after the draft it means they need one, which translates into playing time.

Huber has come in and shown why he was drafted, with 42 punts averaging 43.7 yards, a long of 61 yards, and 13 punts inside the 20 yard line. Huber has played fairly well thus far, especially for a rookie.

No. 25 Morgan Trent - CB, 6'1'' 195lbs (Round 6, Pick 179 - Michigan)

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?