Cincinnati Bengals: Complete 2015 NFL Draft Wrap-Up and Analysis

The Cincinnati Bengals hit the 2015 NFL draft free of any one major need, the result being a draft class high in value at most of the nine selections but geared more toward the future. 

Armed with the knowledge major names such as Andrew Whitworth, Andre Smith, A.J. Green, Leon Hall and more head to free agency after next season, coach Marvin Lewis and the front office made a point to shore up future needs and squash minor ones at the same time.

Cincinnati addressed future holes at offensive tackle, grabbed three weapons who can contribute both now and later and made a high-value pick at each level of the defense.

In short, at least right now, the 2015 class looks like those before it—great value at most picks and players ready to have an impact down the road when the time is right.

So it goes when a team drafts so well on a consistent basis. Within, let's look at the best and worst of the class, how the globe feels on the matter and what's next for the team.

The Selections

Talk about a one-two punch in the offensive trenches moving forward for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Cedric Ogbuehi was a great value in the first round as a player many considered a top-10 pick before a torn ACL in January. He might receive what amounts to a redshirt, as might Jake Fisher, a first-round prospect who fell to the team in the second.

Both are long-term options with Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith headed to free agency next offseason, although Fisher's pro-ready and athletic enough to act as the primary backup at all spots.

Tyler Kroft was an interesting choice in the third round, but he's a necessary red-zone target for the offense, and a miserable college offense perhaps masked his tremendous upside. The Paul Dawson pick speaks for itself—an elite value on a first-round player with character concerns.

Josh Shaw is a versatile piece the Bengals love in the backfield, and speaking of versatility, Marcus Hardison is the next Wallace Gilberry for the team. He can rush from the inside in passing situations or play out on the edge. He figures to push others off the roster and make Gilberry expendable when he also hits the market next offseason.

Cincinnati hit on tight end again in the fifth round with another high-upside player who was lost in a collegiate scheme not tailored to his skill set. C.J. Uzomah is a massive target with an endless amount of upside, but he needs work as an in-line blocker and may not see the field much.

Interestingly enough, both Derron Smith and Mario Alford will see the field right away. Smith's a ball-hawking safety who will blow up players on special teams and could take Reggie Nelson's starting gig when he also hits free agency after next season.

Alford was one of college football's most explosive returners last year and perhaps ends the Brandon Tate experience. He's a threat to score every time he touches the ball, so look for the coaching staff to get him involved some in an Andrew Hawkins-esque role.

Based on the above, it's easy to see why this is another positive showing by the Bengals.

Best Pick: Paul Dawson, LB, TCU

It's very, very hard to narrow this one down, but Paul Dawson at the end of the third round with a compensatory selection is the crown jewel of the Cincinnati Bengals' 2015 class.

If there's one thing coach Marvin Lewis knows, it's linebackers. Well, that and troubled players in need of guidance.

It's no coincidence, then, that defensive coordinator Paul Guenther likens Dawson to Vontaze Burfict, per ESPN.com's Coley Harvey:

"

#Bengals DC Paul Guenther says when he turned on the tape to view Paul Dawson, his first thought was: he plays like Vontaze Burfict #CINpick

— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) May 2, 2015"

This applies on the field as well. Observers won't find many who disagree with the notion Dawson was the most instinctive linebacker in the class, a notion reinforced by film and the fact he amassed 136 tackles en route to the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award last year, per NFL.com.

As the NFL.com profile shows, there are character concerns with Dawson, hence his dropping to the third round. The good news is he's in a good situation and can play as a rookie right away, perhaps even by stealing a starting gig at weak-side linebacker or on the interior.

There's a chance Dawson turns out to be the best linebacker from this class, especially because of where he landed.

Worst Pick: Tyler Kroft, TE, Rutgers

Look, Tyler Kroft isn't a bad prospect by any means, and the Cincinnati Bengals needed to address tight end at least once in the 2015 draft.

After all, Jermaine Gresham is gone, and while it's scary to think about, Tyler Eifert suffered a season-ending injury in Week 1 last season.

There's a lot to like with Kroft. He's 6'5" and 246 pounds and a big-play threat who can move around and create mismatches. Even better, lackluster production at Rutgers is the result of miserable quarterback play, not a lack of talent on Kroft's part.

In a great class, it's just hard to fall in love with the pick, though. The team could have gone any number of ways at the pick, such as Carl Davis at defensive tackle or even Ohio State tight end Jeff Heuerman.

To make matters worse, for as great as the Bengals are at drafting as of late, they're miserable when it comes to tight ends outside of the first round. Think Orson Charles and Chase Coffman.

Kroft may very well buck the trend, but it's an obvious weak point in the class with it coming in the top 100.

What the Experts Are Saying

Pete Prisco and Brandon Thorn, CBSSports.com

While the expert duo over at CBSSports.com don't offer an overarching grade for the class, it's not hard to figure out where the Cincinnati Bengals stand considering only the fifth-round selection of C.J. Uzomah earned the team lower than a B-minus, coming in at a C.

Perhaps most interesting is the B-plus assigned to Josh Shaw in Round 4, where the duo writes, "Cincinnati is having an excellent draft value-wise. This is one of the few schemes that will allow Shaw to stay at cornerback."

In short, it's the first of many heaps of praise the Bengals are sure to receive after a strong performance.

Terez A. Paylor, The Kansas City Star

Terez A. Paylor is another expert content with what the Bengals were able to accomplish this week in Chicago despite the fact the team took the double-tackle approach to start.

Paylor seems especially approving of the draft's later rounds:

"

The Bengals were serious about improving their offensive line, as they go with Ogbuehi and Fisher with their first two picks. Ogbuehi is coming off a torn ACL but he has rare movement skills for his size, while Fisher is a well-conditioned tackle with good feet in pass pro. Both have the tools to move inside and play guard, if needed. Kroft is an athletic, high-upside tight end while Dawson has awesome film but fell because of character concerns. He represents good value in the third round. Shaw, Hardison and Smith are intriguing prospects with upside.

"

The middle rounds are where the best teams round out their playoff rosters, and if Paylor's praise is any sign, the Bengals did a great job in this area once again.

Paylor hit the Bengals with a B.

Bryan Fischer, NFL.com

NFL.com's Bryan Fischer echoes many of the same sentiments, but he goes more in-depth as to why Ogbuehi was such a great pick:

"

There are some in the draft community who think Ogbuehi might turn out to be the best tackle in this year's class, and he was billed as such before his senior season. He's got great feet and fits scheme-wise with the Bengals. The team presumably was comfortable with Ogbuehi's medical issues after an ACL tear, and he could be a nice long-term fit. Fisher is super athletic and will solidify the other side of the offensive line. Kroft is a fantastic value, given his skills as a pass-catching tight end. Dawson might be the Bengals' biggest steal, though. He has the best tape of any linebacker and should have a tremendous career in the league if he learns from the other reclamation projects the Bengals have turned around.

"

It's interesting to see an expert call Tyler Kroft a great value, so it speaks to the upside the Bengals found there if offensive coordinator Hue Jackson can incorporate him into the offense well.

Fischer gave the Bengals a B-minus on Day 1, but the back end of the draft seemed to save the day, and he gave them an A-plus.

What's Left to Address?

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Not much.

But in all seriousness, in terms of roster building, the Cincinnati Bengals are set.

Now the hard part is figuring out how in the world to whittle down the roster to meet requirements and still walk the same present-future tightrope they did on draft day.

Positional battles are the name of the game from here on out. With two new offensive tackles, it will be interesting to see what happens with recently re-signed backup swing tackle Eric Winston. There's two new tight ends, too, meaning Kevin Brock goes right on the roster bubble.

Someone's losing a job in the defensive secondary, too, with Brandon Ghee and Onterio McCalebb candidates for the bubble. Ditto at wideout, where Mario Alford might steal Brandon Tate's return job and also push others such as Cobi Hamilton and James Wright off the roster.

There are things to figure out at linebacker, where Paul Dawson puts the jobs of Sean Porter, Vincent Rey and others in jeopardy. Marcus Hardison's addition means there's only so much room in the trenches, too.

In other words, it's going to be a long, long summer in the Queen City.

Final Grade

John Minchillo/Associated Press

It's hard to find fault with any of the Cincinnati Bengals' decisions in the 2015 NFL draft. 

The team needed offensive weapons, so it went out and added Tyler Kroft and C.J. Uzomah at tight end and Mario Alford at wideout. Alford doubles as an explosive kick returner, another area of need.

The team needed more versatility and explosiveness up front, an area in which Marcus Hardison helps. It also wanted more depth and productivity, which Paul Dawson addresses. It was also time to get younger in the secondary so long as versatility and starter potential are there, hence the additions of Josh Shaw and Derron Smith.

Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher speak to the bigger trend—a necessary evil that is preparing to replace departing talent. They account for the potential departures of Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith next offseason.

Leon Hall and Adam Jones will also be free agents in 2016. Shaw helps. Reggie Nelson will be a free agent too—Smith helps. Vincent Rey and Emmanuel Lamur? Dawson. Wallace Gilberry, Brandon Thompson and Devon Still? Hardison. Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones? Alford and the tight ends.

This draft class is the perfect example of what happens when a team hits the proverbial nail on the head every year at the podium. The Bengals are one of the NFL's premier drafting teams, meaning sooner or later things get boring because there are no immediate starter roles to fill.

Was this year boring? Sure. Effective? Time reveals all, but based on everything so far and past trends, it's hard to imagine it won't be a success, helping to keep the team in contention.

Final Grade: A

Stats courtesy of NFL.com and accurate as of May 2. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.