The 2012 mock drafts are rolling in and for the most part, they've all been the same when it comes to who the Bengals are taking with their two first-round picks. Most mock drafts have the Bengals shoring up their secondary in the first round along with drafting a running back. Lately, mock drafts have the Bengals grabbing Alabama running back Trent Richardson in the first round, especially the last two mock drafts from SB Nation.
Well SB Nation has released another mock draft now that all draft spots are locked other than the top two teams. SB Nation's Ryan Van Bibber's latest mock is similar to the last one in which he had the Bengals grabbing Richardson at No. 17 and Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard at No. 21.
This time, he doesn't have the Bengals drafting a running back, but a wide receiver instead.
With the No. 17 overall pick, Van Bibber has the Bengals selecting Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright.
I honestly think Wright could end up getting picked higher than this. Already, there's talk that he might be as good of a pick as Justin Blackmon, but measuring under six feet hurts him. The Bengals' offense with Wright in the slot and A.J. Green lined up outside, to me, makes them a real contender in the AFC North next year.
Van Bibber is definitely right that the Bengals need help at the wide receiver position. Jerome Simpson is extremely unreliable and now that he's been indicted on the marijuana charges from earlier in the season, he may not be back even if the Bengals wanted him. However, when it comes to the biggest holes on the roster, wide receiver doesn't quite match up to cornerback, safety, linebacker, offensive line or running back. I couldn't see them grabbing a receiver in the first round two years in a row.
Then with the No. 21 overall pick, he has the Bengals selecting Nebraska cornerback Dennard again.
Cincinnati really missed Johnathan Joseph this season. They have a very good defense, but the back of it leaks, which lessens the effectiveness of the talent they have up front. After drafting Wright with their earlier pick, they should be able to score points in bunches. Adding Dennard gives their defense a better backstop to help those points stand.
This pick I can get behind. The Bengals need a new cornerback to replace Joseph to play opposite of Leon Hall. I would be shocked if the Bengals went through the first round without drafting a cornerback or safety.
So, compared with the other mock drafts in which the Bengals grabbed a running back and cornerback, how do you like this one with the Bengals grabbing a wide receiver in the first round of the second year in a row?
0 recs | 63 comments
We don't need a stinkin' slot receiver
Oregonbengalsfan - January 23, 2012
+1
The slot is more than covered with Shipley and Hawkins. Go get Brandon Lloyd and call it done. Use the picks elsewhere.
DrainBamage - January 23, 2012
+1
njbengalstat - January 23, 2012
+1
Exactly…no stinkin’ slot for us…lol
laibach - January 23, 2012
He's not so much a slot receiver as he is a burner with sub 4.4 speed.
Animal_Like_Football - January 23, 2012
who's Jordan Simpson?
“Jordan Simpson is extremely unreliable and now that he’s been indicted on the marijuana charges from earlier in the season, he may not be back even if the Bengals wanted him”.
Why wouldn’t we want him seems like a good mix of Jordan Shipley’s route running with all of Jerome Simpson’s athletic ability an awesome #2 WR
ashunte23 - January 23, 2012
Absolutely
Everyone would freak out over the mad football skills of the mulato boy from Texolina :)
rorschach1979 - January 23, 2012
Jordan Simpson
i was wondering the same thing…
Apparently this Van Bibber (whatever kind of car that is) doesn’t know anything about the Bengals….
ephram - January 23, 2012
We got Shiply !!!!!
Let him impress a year or two before drafting his replacement!!
Toasted_Orange_Monster - January 23, 2012
shipley
Toasted_Orange_Monster - January 23, 2012
I would be very disappointed!!!!!
I like Wright a lot and I don’t think he is strictly a slot reciever but unless we get a corner and a guard in free agency then I say no to reciever in the first round.
EPK1979 - January 23, 2012
If they pick Wright over DeCastro/Richardson/Jenkins/Dennard/Gilmore/ Kirkpatrick/Miller/Wilson/ or any other quality OL, CB, RB I’m going to be pissed.
Tampa_Bengal - January 23, 2012
pead might go in late 1st
Dennard is not going in 1st
pray4gm11 - January 23, 2012 via mobile
Pead is killing it at the senior bowl practices
Dennard getting beat like he stole something, and Polk is looking 1 dimensional, D. Martin looks fast
joeb69 - January 23, 2012
lol thats what im watching
Pead look like best player on feild. Dennard look like he doesn’t belong. No way he goes in 1st or before Jenkins. Dude look worse than Crocker and Clements combined.
pray4gm11 - January 23, 2012 via mobile
Dennard
had the grab the guy to keep him from streaking by him
joeb69 - January 23, 2012
Dennard sounds like...
a Zimmer corner who will fall in the draft. Corner is deep in this draft. If he looks like he’d be available in Rd2 (a HUGE piece of speculation three months out on my part, granted), that would work out well.
Pardon_My_French - January 23, 2012
Yea
Pead is looking pretty darn good.
EPK1979 - January 23, 2012
did you see
his change of direction…amazing
joeb69 - January 23, 2012
when it comes to these practices
It’s usually the players that improve through out the week that improve their stock so lets see where Dennard is at the end of the week.
EPK1979 - January 23, 2012
it doesn't help
if you don’t even try
joeb69 - January 23, 2012
where are you seeing the coverage of pead?
or coverage of the practices in general? i’d love to read some reports and watch some videos of the prospects
dqniel - January 23, 2012
senior bowl practice on nfl network
pray4gm11 - January 23, 2012 via mobile
yeah, NFL Network
joeb69 - January 23, 2012
thanks
i think i missed the coverage though
dqniel - January 23, 2012
4 round mock on
Mocking the Draft
They have us taking:
1a. T. Richardson RB AL
1b. A. Dennard CB NE
2. S. Hill WR GT
3. R. Miller OG CO
4. K. Reyes DE/DT CT
Oregonbengalsfan - January 23, 2012
OG way more important than WR
Why do all of these people insist on receivers? O-line! O-line! O-line!
DrainBamage - January 23, 2012
They see the incident with Jerome
and panic
Oregonbengalsfan - January 23, 2012
lol i know right and it looks like he wont spend one day in jail either...
AMAS85 - January 23, 2012
Me too,
but I think FA is a way better option for WR, even if we get a cheaper one.
Pardon_My_French - January 23, 2012
I hate
How they keep saying Wright is just a slot guy. Baylor moved him all around the field and was mainly on the outside. I love how he works the middle of the field and he is the best deep threat in the draft. Would rather have him than Jefferies or Floyd.
EPK1979 - January 23, 2012
its because he's short i reckon
keithster - January 23, 2012
rec'd
Wright is a burner. He’s no more a slot guy than DeSean Jackson is.
Animal_Like_Football - January 23, 2012
Wr in 3rd round. We need oline and dbs and take a rb in the second
njbengalstat - January 23, 2012
I trust the Bengals Draft
If they take a wide in the 1st they must have a plane. The Bengals have done very well the last two years with there 1st and 2nd round picks. We still havnt seen what they might do in FA. They may fix the OL and CB in FA. Then thats leave them open for the draft. But Wright is a play maker i believe. He can make things happen. Everyone thought DeSean Jackson was small for a WR. If it can help the O be better then go for it.
i am will - January 23, 2012
He is a very comparable player to Jackson I think.
EPK1979 - January 23, 2012 via mobile
why draft Jackson
when you can simply sign him, use the 1st round picks to fill our needs
joeb69 - January 23, 2012
Wow
This guy is way off. I seriously doubt the first pick is gonna be for wr. I REALLY hope we don’t pick dennard either. I’m not impressed with him or his attitude.
SCbengalsfan - January 23, 2012 via mobile
lol no way we draft a WR on the first day, maybe by round five we might but no way this early
AMAS85 - January 23, 2012
we still need a SS, CB, RB, and OG to think about before WR
AMAS85 - January 23, 2012
The freaking draft is in 3 months!
Why is everyone jerkin’ themselves off over mock drafts prior to the combine(s) and free agency?
A year ago today Andy Dalton was on NOBODY’s radar around here.
This time last year everyone was clamoring to take D-Line instead of AJ Green! Worked out okay huh?
-Chill
Evil Monkey - January 23, 2012
because
it’s fun and enjoyable, yep it’s pointless, but it’s still fun
joeb69 - January 23, 2012
Agree
Just trying to figure out why I love it too.
Evil Monkey - January 23, 2012
lol you kinda have to start working on mocks now if you wanna get a better idea who will be selected for each team
trial and error will point out which picks make the most sense and figure out different draft sceneros
AMAS85 - January 23, 2012
Next best thing from the actual football season
jimbasa - January 23, 2012
+1
njbengalstat - January 23, 2012
Football all year round
njbengalstat - January 23, 2012
I couldnt disagree more with this mock.
Bengals dont need a slot receiver. With their first two picks, I believe they will choose Safety Barron and then an OG like the kid from georga OR a CB like Denard. Bengals will wait to draft a WR in later rounds and will address RB/DB in rounds 2-3 respectively.
WhoDey14 - January 23, 2012
im calling Pead in the 2nd. I think he is a lot better than what most people realize
AMAS85 - January 23, 2012
he is a lot like chris perry in his college days, hopefully this time it works out
AMAS85 - January 23, 2012
Pead's style is pretty similar to LeSean McCoy
DTFCPDX - January 23, 2012
Pead was getting some love during the Senior Bowl team drills today
Oregonbengalsfan - January 23, 2012
I don't think they'll draft Barron
I think they are going to go with who they are developing at S (Mays, Sands). That’s at least the vibe I get from things I read.
Oregonbengalsfan - January 23, 2012
Or the Bengals could take Markelle Martin from Oklahoma State
DTFCPDX - January 23, 2012
Wright isn't a "slot" receiver.
Throw him more in the Mike Wallace, DeSean Jackson category.
Animal_Like_Football - January 23, 2012
Link
Animal_Like_Football - January 23, 2012
Good to know
still don’t need to use a 1st rounder on a WR… 3rd at the earliest with all our other needs. Or FA
Oregonbengalsfan - January 23, 2012
Yeah, I wholeheartedly agree
But if the Bengals were going to target a receiver, he’d be the guy I’d want them to target.
Animal_Like_Football - January 23, 2012
This mock is baloney we have enough slot wr whalen,hawkins,shipley
bengals&buckeyenation - January 23, 2012 via mobile
Pead is the REAL DEAL!!!
If he can stay healthy gonna be game changer
pray4gm11 - January 23, 2012 via mobile
They'll take best avail... Just not at WR
DB,s Interior line and RB. They have to shore up the defense a little. This is all mute until free agency plays out a little but. I’m thinking at some point even if by accident they have to take a safety. It may not be as deep as the corner spot so that may be the move…. Some form of DB looks obvious.
History says they can’t get away from the Bell cow RB. Maybe Miller is some superstar in the waiting if Richardson isn’t there but physical domination is still the ticket in this division. maybe they can wait till two and get a pounder if one of those guards are there. But I expect a bigger back to compliment Scott who may not have the speed of Miller but brings the perimeter runner skill set.
Myself I shy away from Big East caliber players unless they’re off the board talent. Im not an NFL talent evaluator though either… Are the Pead clan fans related to Gilyards???
A receiver opposite Green is a must but like the rest I think they are happy with Ship in the slot… I bet Dalton will really like him. Make a run at Meachum or a comparable wide
olbuzz - January 24, 2012
I have said it before but here again I will say we should go after Reggie Wayne is at all possible.
He can come in now and play opposite Green. He can also teach AJ and Shipley as well as all of our WRs how to be pros. Sign him to a 2 year deal, save the high WR draft slot for a S or G and go for a WR with one of our three picks in the first two rounds next year. Wayne can then coach him up before he either retires or moves on.
If we go with a rookie WR he will probably not be like Green and be able to step in from the drop. Wayne allows us to be good now and still prepare for the future while keeping the draft pick available in a position of more dire need like S or CB or G. How is this not a good plan?
JUNGLEJOHN - January 24, 2012
Don't reach
We are talented enough that I feel we should take the best available at that time. It is apparent that we need help in the secondary and interior line. We can even look at LB. I would just hate to take someone we need to early. We have two picks, lets use them both and take the two best players. So if Wright is there and he has a great combine then why wouldn’t we want him. Also I think before we get caught up in these mock drafts lets look and see what we do in free agency. If we go out and get grubbs or nicks for OG then maybe we can look at a WR. Is it just me or is anyone else scared of taking a back that high? If Richardson falls he is falling for a reason. I definitely do not want to reach for a RB if most of them are projected to the second round. But again we’ll see what we need after Free Agency
cincybengals - January 25, 2012
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