2011 NFL Draft: Who Will the Cincinnati Bengals Take First?
The 2010 Cincinnati Bengals have plenty of holes to fill for next season.
After losing 10 in a row the rejuvenated squad has somehow won their last two games.
Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell have given the franchise a ray of hope. But then again it's only been two games.
Going into the off-season, the team needs to draft a safety, linebacker and D-lineman on defense.
The offense needs another running back (assuming Cedric Benson is gone), a receiver, O-Lineman and a QB if one falls into the Bengals laps.
But fans are always on edge with major draft decisions when owner Mike Brown is at the helm.
The Bengals have the least amount of scouts in the NFL.
The 73 year-old Brown is the guy that is some how capable of tracking hundreds of prospects and evaluating if they can fit with the Bengals. He only has a handful of people to help him.
So with that painful fact in mind, let's take a look at who the Bengals could draft with their 2011 first round pick.
Andrew Luck—Stanford QB
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It's almost guaranteed that the first pick in the draft will be Andrew Luck if he decides to declare for the draft. Expect the Panthers to snag him without blinking.
But if he is on the board when the Bengals are on the clock...they better pounce on him. He is going to be a franchise QB and the Carson Palmer era is in shambles.
Patrick Peterson—LSU CB
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The status of Jonathan Joseph is up in the air. He has been quoted as saying he would love to be franchised tagged for '11.
Are the Bengals willing to shell out the multi-year dough?
Highly unlikely. So if a team like the Cowboys flashes a huge mega deal in his face, say goodbye to Joseph.
In this situation the Bengals could use a unique talent in the secondary.
Patrick Peterson is that sort of talent that doesn't come around very often. He is extremely athletic and has the ability to cover any size receiver in the NFL with his 6'2 225 pound frame.
Peterson has the ability to not only start in the NFL right away, but to make an immediate impact.
He is a shut down corner that a defense can build around.
DaQuan Bowers—Clemson DE
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The pass rush for the Bengals has been awful except for the emergence of rookie Carlos Dunlap. You can make the argument that the atrocious play of the defensive-line was the main reason the team struggled so badly in September and October.
They were hovering around last in the NFL in sacks for a large chunk of the season.
Antwan Odom and Johnathan Fanene were rarely seen in 2010. They were the two biggest disappointments of the Bengals defense this season. No way can they be trusted in 2011.
After underachieving for a couple of seasons at Clemson, DaQuan Bowers was the best player in the country at sacking the QB in 2010.
The 6-4, 275 pound athletic end has 24 tackles for loss and 15 sacks this year.
He is a huge play-maker off the edge and could solidify the Bengals front four for the next 10 years.
Bowers is ready to contribute in the NFL right now.
Assuming the Bengals draft in the three to eight range...Bowers is a very realistic possibility.
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Robert Quinn—UNC OLB
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As MLB Dhani Jones ages before our eyes, many expect second-year OLB Rey Maualuga to shift to the position he played in college as the Bengals say goodbye to Jones.
Keith Rives was the ninth overall pick in the 2008 draft and hasn't been the player many expected him to be. He's not a bust, merely an underachiever. His status as a starter in 2011 is questionable.
Say hello to Robert Quinn.
Quinn, who projects well as a 3-4 rush linebacker, would fill a huge need for the Bengals. Allowing runs of 20 yards or more happened way too often this season.
It certainly is a risky pick as Quinn was ruled ineligible for the entire 2010 season after receiving payment from an agent. But he did record 11 sacks as a junior and has the potential to be one of the top sack leaders in the NFL at the linebacker position.
Quinn was projected as the top pick going into the season and his body has had a whole year of rest for next season. A pick that could be a huge bust or a franchise changer.
A guy with a ton of talent but character issues...sounds like a Bengal to me!
Ryan Mallett—Arkansas QB
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The second best QB prospect in the draft is certainly worth of a look.
Carson Palmer may have been sensational against the Chargers, but he has proven to be a declining QB in every aspect. It's obvious the Bengals need to address this issue sooner rather than later.
Ryan Mallett is expected to be available in the Bengals pick range.
Mallett has the size of an NFL quarterback and a cannon for an arm. He had a great season for the Arkansas Razorbacks in the gauntlet that is the brutal SEC.
He has sustained incredible accuracy (66.5 percent) and averaged a shade under 10 yards per pass attempt in the SEC.
Mallett may not be as polished as Luck, but there is no doubt about the skills that Mallett brings to the table. He has the potential to be a QB you can build a team around.
A.J. Green—Georgia WR
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Let me preface this slide by saying I think drafting a receiver this high is ludicrous. But remember who we are dealing with...
It's become pretty obvious that both Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco won't be back with in 2011, so drafting A.J. Green from Georgia fills a hole. No, Jerome Simpson having one good game doesn't mean he is now a Pro Bowl caliber player.
Green is the best play-maker available in the draft, and his ability to spread the field will really open up the rest of the offense.
He missed the first four games of the season yet was still able to haul in nine touchdowns and 771 yards.
The best receiver in the draft will go to the team that will be in desperate need of one.
Nick Fairley—Auburn DT
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As previously stated, the Bengals need some major help up front on the defense.
Nick Fairley of Auburn has been unstoppable over the last quarter of the college season.
He physically dominated the Alabama's offensive line on Thanksgiving weekend. His stock has been rising by the week and he could go even higher if he plays well in the BCS National Championship game.
The 6'5, 300 pound junior could clog the middle of the line and shore up the issues with run defense. Stopping the run in the AFC North is essential for success.
Marcell Dareus—Alabama DT
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Marcell Dareus is another option for the Bengals to improve their D-Line.
He is a hard worker on and off the field and well-respected by teammates and coaches. At 6'2 and 300 pounds, he is the prototypical size for a defensive tackle in the NFL.
He is a top 10 talent that could drop due to off the field issues.
In September, the NCAA declared him ineligible for the first two games of the year after he accepted about $2,000 while on a trip to Miami.
Sounds like the Bengals will be intrested.
Cam Newton—Auburn QB
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This is a stretch but don't be shocked if the Bengals give Cam Newton a long look.
Newton has been the most talked about college football player in 2010—for his performance on and off the field. But his stats are eye popping: 2,589 passing yards and 28 TDs in 13 games for Auburn.
His ability to run the ball (1409 yards in '10) will really intrigue the Bengals.
Is he the next Mike Vick? Or is he the next Akili Smith? This would be a very risky pick.
And The Bengals Select....
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DaQuan Bowers
If he is still on the board the Bengals can't pass up on the best DE in the draft. Odom is as good as gone and Bowers is the perfect replacement. If the Bengals can pressure the QB in 2011, the rest of the defense will look much better.
He is a sure fire pro that doesn't have the conditioning issues of a fellow SEC lineman that has rotted away on the Bengals for two years.
Pick Bowers and hope it will be the beginning of a new era in Cincinnati, an era where the opposing QB doesn't feel comfortable.
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