12oz Dream Draught for the Cincinnati Bengals (first 4 rounds)

There is a big difference of who the Bengals will draft, and who we would like them to draft. The Bengals have 4 picks in the first 84 picks (Rds 1-3), and in a draft as deep as this one, they should be able to get some difference makers. If I could draw up the draft the way I would like it to fall for the Bengals (reasonably), here is who I would like to see holding up stripes after the first 4 rounds.

Round 1 (21) – Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas

The Bengals are in a good spot right now, they do not have any glaring holes. The biggest need they have is Safety, and, lucky for the Bengals, this draft is deep with quality Safeties. The best Safety available is Kenny Vaccaro. In my mock draft, I have him falling to the Bengals at 21. Depending on who you listen to, this is 50-50 at best. If he is not there, I would not be one bit upset with Matt Elam of Florida, in fact, Elam may have more playmaking potential than Vaccaro. Either way, either Safety would be a huge upgrade for the Bengals.

 

Round 2 (37 – thank you Oakland) – Tank Carradine, DE, Florida State

Why a DE at the top of round 2 when the Bengals have MJ and Dunlap? Because MJ is on a 1 year franchise tag deal and Dunlap is a FA next year. I am not convinced the Bengals will sign both. 1) I am not sure they want to, and 2) I am not sure they can afford to with extensions coming for Atkins, Green, and likely Dalton. In the off chance that both Dunlap and MJ resign, can you have too many pass rushers? Not in a pass happy league. Also, Carradine is coming off knee surgery. If not for that surgery, he would be a top 15 pick. So you get a top 15 pick at #37. Plus, with MJ and Dunlap signed for 1 more year each, you have the luxury that most teams do not have, and that is not needing to rush Carradine back from injury (almost like a red shirt year). If one or both MJ and Dunlap leave after 2013, you already have your replacement on your roster.

 

Round 2 (53) – Giovanni Bernard, RB, North Carolina

The second biggest need for the Bengals is RB, and as luck would have it (like the Safety position), this draft is extremely deep with quality RBs. I would like to see a RB with decent size and speed and the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Bernard fits that bill and should be available when the Bengals pick at 53. Another RB I really like at this spot is Johnathan Franklin of UCLA. I don’t think Bengals fans would be disappointed by either RB. As deep as this draft is at RB, I would like to see the Bengals pick a second RB later in the draft as well – either a gamble like Marcus Lattimore (somewhere in the round 4-6 range), or a small playmaker like Kenjon Barner of Oregon (in the round 5-6 range).

 

Round 3 (84) – Barrett Jones, C, Alabama

Kyle Cook sucks. Trevor Robinson is still a TBD. Nick Saban compared Barrett Jones to Bruce Matthews. Not sure I need to say much more….but I will. Jones is a 4 year starter from Alabama who has played every OL position. Versatility with your backup OL is key. While being groomed as an NFL center, he could be your backup G, C, and OT. Ideally he would be the starting C at some point this year.

 

Round 4 (118) – Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU

Is it a risk? Sure. But risks in the 4^th round are worth it. I am not sure he has the skills to be a starting CB in the NFL, but he could definitely have a role on a team either strictly on Special Teams, or maybe as a nickel corner or even possibly a safety. If available in round 4, which is a possibility, Mathieu would be worth a flyer, and the Bengals have never been shy about picking guys with “character issues” (see Corey Dillon, Chad Johnson, Chris Henry, Odell Thurman, etc, etc).