04-15-2012, 08:06 AM
Going into his 10th draft as the Bengals coach, Marvin Lewis wouldnât dispute the armchair view that this might be the most wide open the teamâs draft board has been. The last time he thought it was this open might not be a harbinger of good things, though.
âI thought our board was wide open in 2005 when we drafted David Pollack,â Lewis said. âWe never thought he would get to us (at 17). Maybe there were other times. I think you try every year to go into the draft and not be locked into one position. Last year was a different circumstance.â
⢠Joe Reedy's Bengals blog
Seven years later, the 2005 draft will go down as one of the most frustrating in team history. Pollack suffered a career-ending neck injury in a 2006 Week 2 game against Cleveland, Odell Thurman battled drug issues that derailed his career and Chris Henry had lots of talent but a litany of off-field problems his first three seasons.
No one is hoping for that encore with this yearâs class. With the Keith Rivers trade to the Giants, the Bengals have nine picks. Only seven teams, led by 13 by Cleveland, have more.
Busy in free agency
Friday marked the one-month mark in free agency. The Bengals didnât make any moves the first four days, but they have been busy since then, re-signing seven of their 19 unrestricted free agents and signing seven from other teams. Five who were on the roster last season have signed with other teams . Seven who were on the roster last season remain unsigned.
âWeâre going to continue to improve the team in a number of ways,â Lewis said. âWeâve hit our offseason goals so far and continue to be just as productive in anything that weâre doing.â
The signings of guards Travelle Wharton and Jacob Bell give the Bengals a pair of players with a combined 199 starts, but Bell is on a one-year deal. Even though the Bengals have never selected a guard in the first round, if Stanfordâs David DeCastro is still on the board at 17, he would be difficult to pass up.
Among other targets on offense in the first round, a running back at 17 or 21 would be a bit of a stretch. With the Bengals still looking for someone to line up with A.J. Green, Notre Dameâs Michael Floyd would be a great pick if he falls to 17 or Baylorâs Kendall Wright could be available at 21.
On defense, there will be plenty of competition for spots at cornerback during training camp but Adam Jones and Terence Newman are on one-year deals, and Nate Clements is in the final season of a two-year contract.
With the need to add a young, shutdown corner with one of the two first-round picks, many expect either Alabamaâs Dre Kirkpatrick or South Carolinaâs Stephon Gilmore to be available.
It also would not be surprising if Alabama linebackers Courtney Upshaw and Dontâa Hightower got a look.
History lessons
In trying to read trends into the Bengals draft history since Lewis has been coach, things have been relatively even.
Of the 80 picks, 41 have been on offense, 38 on defense and one on special teams.
The most frequently drafted position since 2003 has been wide receiver with 14. The Bengals hit the jackpot with Green last year but the rest of the results have been mixed. Linebacker has the most picks on defense with 10.
Of the previous nine drafts, the one that has had the most consistent production was the 2006 class, when cornerback Johnathan Joseph, offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth, defensive end Frostee Rucker and defensive tackle Domata Peko were selected in the first four rounds.
http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/201...y=nav|head
âI thought our board was wide open in 2005 when we drafted David Pollack,â Lewis said. âWe never thought he would get to us (at 17). Maybe there were other times. I think you try every year to go into the draft and not be locked into one position. Last year was a different circumstance.â
⢠Joe Reedy's Bengals blog
Seven years later, the 2005 draft will go down as one of the most frustrating in team history. Pollack suffered a career-ending neck injury in a 2006 Week 2 game against Cleveland, Odell Thurman battled drug issues that derailed his career and Chris Henry had lots of talent but a litany of off-field problems his first three seasons.
No one is hoping for that encore with this yearâs class. With the Keith Rivers trade to the Giants, the Bengals have nine picks. Only seven teams, led by 13 by Cleveland, have more.
Busy in free agency
Friday marked the one-month mark in free agency. The Bengals didnât make any moves the first four days, but they have been busy since then, re-signing seven of their 19 unrestricted free agents and signing seven from other teams. Five who were on the roster last season have signed with other teams . Seven who were on the roster last season remain unsigned.
âWeâre going to continue to improve the team in a number of ways,â Lewis said. âWeâve hit our offseason goals so far and continue to be just as productive in anything that weâre doing.â
The signings of guards Travelle Wharton and Jacob Bell give the Bengals a pair of players with a combined 199 starts, but Bell is on a one-year deal. Even though the Bengals have never selected a guard in the first round, if Stanfordâs David DeCastro is still on the board at 17, he would be difficult to pass up.
Among other targets on offense in the first round, a running back at 17 or 21 would be a bit of a stretch. With the Bengals still looking for someone to line up with A.J. Green, Notre Dameâs Michael Floyd would be a great pick if he falls to 17 or Baylorâs Kendall Wright could be available at 21.
On defense, there will be plenty of competition for spots at cornerback during training camp but Adam Jones and Terence Newman are on one-year deals, and Nate Clements is in the final season of a two-year contract.
With the need to add a young, shutdown corner with one of the two first-round picks, many expect either Alabamaâs Dre Kirkpatrick or South Carolinaâs Stephon Gilmore to be available.
It also would not be surprising if Alabama linebackers Courtney Upshaw and Dontâa Hightower got a look.
History lessons
In trying to read trends into the Bengals draft history since Lewis has been coach, things have been relatively even.
Of the 80 picks, 41 have been on offense, 38 on defense and one on special teams.
The most frequently drafted position since 2003 has been wide receiver with 14. The Bengals hit the jackpot with Green last year but the rest of the results have been mixed. Linebacker has the most picks on defense with 10.
Of the previous nine drafts, the one that has had the most consistent production was the 2006 class, when cornerback Johnathan Joseph, offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth, defensive end Frostee Rucker and defensive tackle Domata Peko were selected in the first four rounds.
http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/201...y=nav|head