The Bengals Draft Day 2

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With the fourth pick in the draft the Cincinnati Bengals select AJ Green, Wide Receiver, Georgia. It's probably the correct pick with Chad likely on his way out. I would've been happy with him or Patrick Peterson, the Cornerback from LSU. I now believe the Bengals have the best young group of receivers in the NFL with Green, Simpson, Shipley, and Gresham. They have lots of weapons and should be an attractive job for a veteran free agent QB.

Hopefully the Bengals can get Andy Dalton with their pick in the 2nd round tonight. He was my 2nd favorite QB going into this draft behind Locker. I thought Locker may slip into the late first round and the Bengals maybe could trade up to get him. After the Titans took him at 8 and the Vikings took Ponder at 12, I thought Dalton wouldn't be far behind and there was no way the Bengals would get him. Now though he is still sitting on the board and the Bengals have the 3rd pick tonight. If they want him though they aren't going to be able to sit on that pick. Someone is going to trade up with New England to get him so that is what the Bengals should do. It shouldn't cost them much to move up two spots, so hopefully the atriots have someone they like a lot and don't want to move back too far.

Dalton is the 2nd most winning QB all time in college football, there's something to be said for someone who is a winner. The Bengals need more players like that, that know how to win, are used to winning, and expect to win. That's how I want my football players to be, especially the leaders and the person who is going to be the future at QB. It's time to build this team with character guys. I'm tired of me first players that run their mouth all the time and don't really care about the team.

Going forward in the draft there are some other positions that need to be filled. If they do get Dalton they need to add some talent to that offensive line. Who know's if Andre Smith is going to pan out. I didn't like it when they made that pick. There were a ton of red flags, the weight, the combine fiasco, the whole agent swap thing. That really showed his character when he hired Rick Smith to boost his draft stock and then fired him right after he was drafted for Alvin Keels. Speaking of Keels, he got crushed by Mike and Katie in negotiations so that didn't really work too well for Andre. Now he's been hurt the entire time and is fat and out of shape. He hasn't produced at all in two years. I'm willing to give him one more season to see what he has.

They do need to improve at Guard though. Bobbie Williams is old and on the decline and Mathis and Livings aren't very good. I wouldn't mind at all if they went Guard/Guard in the 3rd and 4th round if there are players there that they like. If they do get Dalton they need to have a good line before he ever plays a down. Even if they do draft Dalton I hope they go out and get a veteran on a one or two year deal and let Dalton sit for a little while and learn. He seems like a bright guy and it shouldn't take him long to learn the offense, but the statistics show when a QB sits his chances for success are a lot higher.

Also the Bengals need a Safety. Now they aren't going to be able to fill every hole they have with impact players right away. Winning football starts up front so I'd like to see them adress the lines earlier in the draft, but they should be able to find someone who can back up and can contribute on special teams right away. Quinton Carter is a Safety I really like and he could be had in the 4th or 5th round. He has Safety size but has fluid hips like a CB. Carter could end up being a real steal in this draft.

Honestly I think this team is a couple years away from being a real contender, but there are now some peices in place and if they can land Dalton I'll be really excited about the future of this team.