Are you sick of all of the mock drafts yet? We're not. It's the offseason and the speculation as to where the Bengals will be going in free agency and the draft is just underway. The staff was in attendance for the Senior Bowl last Saturday and got an up-close view of some college prospects on their radar. For a team that went 9-7 last year, there's a lot of holes to be filled for 2012.
Wes Bunting of The National Football Post is their well-respected draft analyst and he has posted his latest mock draft. With their two first round picks, Bunting has the Bengals taking two talented prospects at skill positions, which is becoming an increasingly popular opinion.
At No.17 (the pick acquired from the Oakland Raiders), Bunting has the Bengals taking Alabama running back, Trent Richardson.
Running backs always seem to fall on draft day and the Bengals get a steal at 17. Richardson has the ability to be the workhorse back in Cincinnati for the next 5-7 years and gives the Bengals another talented young skill position player.
Something tells me that Richardson won't be available to the Bengals at either pick in the first round, but we'll have to see how it all shakes out. If the Bengals were to land the consensus top running back prospect in this year's draft at No. 17, it would be a great value.
For the No. 21 pick, Bunting has the Bengals taking the controversial cornerback out of North Alabama, Janoris Jenkins.
Jenkins is a bit undersized and he does have some character concerns. However, he’s a fluid kid with a "plus" initial burst and when motivated he’s about as tough as any corner in the draft to separate from.
There's no doubting Jenkins' talent. Had he not had any off-field issues, he'd likely be a top-ten pick in this year's draft. Even though he had a solid Senior Bowl week, his stock will fall on draft day and he will most likely be available to the Bengals at this pick. The position is definitely a need, so I could see this scenario playing out--after all, Mike Brown does like to draft skill players in the high rounds of the draft. It just depends on if the Bengals want to stay away from the players with character questions or not. They've done so recently, but with an extra first round pick in their arsenal they could decide to take a gamble.
0 recs | 47 comments
I could see this
with the guards available in round 2.
Oregonbengalsfan - January 30, 2012
Note:
He has Stephon Gilmore going the pick before us at 20.
Joe Goodberry - January 30, 2012 via Android app
RE:
You love that kid, don’t ya, Joe?
Anthony Cosenza - January 30, 2012
Yes. After Claiborne, Gilmore has the most potential to be an all-around shut down type CB with play-making skills.
Joe Goodberry - January 30, 2012 via Android app
How is his man to man skills?
pray4gm11 - January 30, 2012 via mobile
Good. Has the physical tools to be good in man & zone. Could be more fluid and transition can get sloppy. He’s raw still. But right now, he’s only behind Claiborne and Jenkins in man coverage skills.
Joe Goodberry - January 30, 2012 via Android app
Gilmore is an animal.
Didn’t get to see Jenkins since he left FL, but he is a hell of a cover corner as well. I just think that once Gilmore gets the ball in his hands, he’s electric. He has good return skills too. Potential to be a big time playmaker.
whodeycommish14 - January 30, 2012 via mobile
I love his toughness. He’s not afraid to tackle and really lays the hit stick. Good blitzer also.
Joe Goodberry - January 30, 2012 via Android app
I noticed that about him.
Lorenzo Ward blitzed the hell out of him throughout his career (or at least the last two seasons). Especially in the Alabama game.
whodeycommish14 - January 30, 2012 via mobile
Love his toughness and athleticism.
Pretty much sums him up right there.
whodeycommish14 - January 30, 2012 via mobile
lol there is just no way Richardson falls that far... no way
Its like saying, Oh we have Jon kitna, we don’t need carson palmer. You always take the upgrade at skilled positions even if you have a reliable starter.
AMAS85 - January 30, 2012
You over value RBs though..
Ingram was considered can’t miss and he would have fell out of the first round altogether if the Saints hadn’t traded up to snag him.
Cry - January 30, 2012
Ingram was considered can't miss?
Hmmm….
All I heard was late first round or early-to-middle second round pick. I think TRich is on a whole other level than Mark Ingram.
whodeycommish14 - January 30, 2012 via mobile
you’re right. Ingram had knee issues, wasn’t as agile & elusive, or have the receiving ability Richardson has.
Joe Goodberry - January 30, 2012 via Android app
People were calling Richardson a better prospect NFL than Ingram when Ingram was having a Heisman year and Richardson was his freshman backup.
sexsalad - January 30, 2012
right
Joe Goodberry - January 30, 2012 via Android app
Ingram was still considered the cream of the crop last year.
And he would have been a second rounder if not for the Saints. Now all the sudden people think that 3 or 4 RBs will go in the first and that TRich will go top 10, I don’t get it.
Cry - January 30, 2012
Different talent at a position leads to that position being drafted differently.
This year, there will probably be two first round RBs (TR and Miller) and that’s because both of those guys are simply worth first rounders. It’s the same reason there could be more receivers come off the board early this year than normally; Blackmon, Jeffery, Floyd and Wright could all be seen as first round talents while Sanu looks like a lock to at least go in the second.
sexsalad - January 30, 2012
id be willing to bet that richardson is a top 15 productive back this coming year
he is fresh out of college, coming out of the best conference. Richardson will be pro ready. Game preperation, size, and speed. Not to mention his hands. I think if your drafting in the top 15, it be safe to say that most teams will be looking at him as an upgrade.
AMAS85 - January 30, 2012
Completely agree
That’s why I laugh when people say the Bucs, or somebody like that, would be stupid to draft Richardson because they have Blount or they “already have their back of the future.” Come on…. Really?!
whodeycommish14 - January 30, 2012 via mobile
id take tr
id take trent if he is available and grab barron b4 the pats steelers or ravens try barron will start 4 the nest ten years
QBG - January 30, 2012
IMO, there are over 20 teams that Richardson could start on Day 1.
the question owners must ask themselves is which guy will provides the biggest upgrade overall. sure, Richardson would be an upgrade over Blount, but Claireborn would be an even bigger upgrade over the 15 year vet Ronde Barber.
Jason Blanton - January 30, 2012
very true, but if he is in most teams top 3
gives him a greater chance to be selected sooner than later.
AMAS85 - January 30, 2012
lol and even then, to have a two headed monster with Richardson and Blount would be crazy too
AMAS85 - January 30, 2012
Blount can’t hold Richardson’s jock.
Joe Goodberry - January 31, 2012 via Android app
Zing...Nice One Joe !
Also nice job on all your mock analysis.
laibach - January 31, 2012
Thanks
Joe Goodberry - January 31, 2012 via Android app
and ingram gets less touches with the emergence of sproles
saints had no idea he would be that good with them
AMAS85 - January 30, 2012
wow
he has barron going to the pats late in the 1st. i dont like that move at all. it would actually be a helpful move for the pats. hadn’t considered that happening. guess if barron falls that far in the 1st round, the pats could move on him.
(provided the pats dont trade out of the 1st all together)
palewook - January 30, 2012
IF.....
The bengals getting both richardson AND jenkins is my dream draft.
AceRockefellar - January 30, 2012
right!
AMAS85 - January 30, 2012
With no line help?
I feel we need a first round talent just to make our line serviceable… Need decastro Glenn or Knoz we have to get one of the three… I would be worries that if we drafted this way to start all three will be gone by our 2nd round pick
Toasted_Orange_Monster - January 30, 2012 via mobile
There’s more than just those 3… hold on
Joe Goodberry - January 30, 2012 via Android app
There will be some good interior linemen there in the second and even the third.
I’m as big of a David DeCastro fan as there is and I want him if he falls to us somehow (almost no matter who else is there), but if he’s not there we don’t need Glenn or Konz.
sexsalad - January 30, 2012
+100
Joe Goodberry - January 30, 2012 via Android app
i agree
agree
QBG - January 30, 2012
One big problem with RB in round 1
You have Javid Best possible done with the NFL due to concussion and Adrian Peterson, torn ACL with just 4 or 5 years in the league.
This concussion business will have a very negative impact on RBs given the high rate of injury that RB s have always had.
BENGALS69 - January 30, 2012
TRich
Can take punishment.
whodeycommish14 - January 30, 2012 via mobile
Yes he can.
I have watched him quite a bit, and the guy is a bruiser, and tough as hell to bring down. IF he is there, its a no brainer.
Ben-GAL - January 31, 2012
Best
He had the concussion problem at CAL. The Lions and knew that and it came back to bite them in the ass! Besides Peterson and Charles, I don’t think ACL injuries been that dramatic to make teams not want to select RB high. It’s more or less the wear and tear that their bodies take. You can’t predict injuries and running backs aren’t more prone to ACL injuries than other positions. It could happen to any player, at any position, at any given time.
EPK1979 - January 31, 2012
More Mocks.....Less Venom
People really get worked up over these mocks. So you disagree, a little more civility would be nice.
laibach - January 30, 2012
Draft
We need to get the best guard on the board first (17)DeCastro or Glenn hopefully.
I think Jenkins will be there at (21) because off his off field problems.If not,get Barron the safety from Bama.They say he has Ed Reed like skills.That fills our need at G,CB OR SS in round one. There will be very good backs left in second round. Doug Martin is really starting to win me over. Fast in and out of cut -Quick when changing direction ,has power and a motor that won’t quit. This guy looks like he could handle the pounding of the AFC North.Built like Rice,but looks faster. Can’t wait for the draft!!
BengalDude - January 30, 2012
What if Glenn is your 33rd best player on your board? You taking him at 17 with DeCastro gone? And don’t say trade down.
Joe Goodberry - January 30, 2012 via Android app
agreed
they wont trade either, worst case scenerio in the first, is we get a stud LB that fell because teams took a gamble on OL, CBs and RBs early
AMAS85 - January 30, 2012
Stud LB ie. Luke Kuechly
I’m hoping Martin falls to our 2nd round pick, but at the rate his draft stock is rising, he’ll be taken late 1st early 2nd
DTFCPDX - January 30, 2012
Surprises will be what we get
This team has entered the area of best player available. That is where only well managed teams go. At 17 and 21 they have many options but should always get the best player…. Not a QB.
BENGALS69 - January 30, 2012
The problem with RBs
Is they have to run into guys weighing 300 or more pounds all the time. The average career for an NFL RB is about 2.5 years shortest for all positions. Now due to the litigation over all the untreated concussions in the past, the NFL is hyper cautious with players after a big hit. They get pulled from the game for tests. It will be interesting if RBs continue to slide and Trents draft number will be interesting as a result. Don’t get me wrong, I would like to see Trent in stripes, they need a guy like him.
Look at full backs, almost never drafted anymore. RBs could see the same in the years to come.
BENGALS69 - January 31, 2012
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