College Football Players to Watch

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The 2011 NFL Draft is over but there is still draft fever due to the Bengals having one of the best drafts in the NFL. It has taken this organization that looked to be going down the toilet with it's franchise player refusing to play for them ever again. Now they have drafted what most think is sure to be a star WR in the NFL and a QB that was great value and seems to be a perfect fit for Jay Gruden's West Coast Offense. Oh by the way he's the 2nd winningest QB in college football history and did this at TCU, not Texas, Ohio State, Florida, Oklahoma, or USC.

Everyone's heard enough about this draft so here's some players to watch that could be of interest for the Bengals for next year's draft. Cedric Benson is a free agent right now and there's a possibility he might not be back in 2011, much less 2012. Runningback is almost certainly going to be a need heading into the 2012 draft and may be the biggest need. That said it's not the most valuable position on the football field anymore. Only someone they believe will be a star should be taken with a first round pick. Usually the line is more important than the back. Speaking of offensive line I say give Andre Smith one more year to prove himself. It's possible a move to Guard may be needed for him to be successful, he may be better when not in space. If that's the case that's fine, he may end up being an elite Guard if he run blocks like he did at Alabama. Either way Guard or Tackle will likely be a need, big time in 2012 and I never have a problem with the Bengals using a 1st round pick on either line. Also the rush defense wasn't up to par last year and they didn't do much to improve that area so far. A big stud DT could be in order early in the 2012 draft. So likely the Bengals biggest areas of need in 2012 will be RB, Offensive Line, and DT next year and here's some players who could be the newest Bengals come April 2012.

Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama: Richardson could be the next Adrian Peterson with his rare blend of power, size, and speed. I believe the Bengals will be picking in the middle of the round if they don't make a trade. This could be a prime area to get Richardson and have their star RB of the future. If they get him they could have their own version of the big 3, Dalton, Green, and Richardson. That would be similiar to Aikman, Emmit, and Irvin and hopefully bring championships like those 3 did for Dallas.

Knile Davis, RB, Arkansas: Davis is a huge back that projects to go mid to late 1st round as of right now. He could raise his stock or lower it depending on how he does at Arkansas without Mallett this year. A bit of a down year from the Razorbacks could cause him to slip to the 2nd. I doubt it though this guy is too talented and looks to be the bell cow back every team in the NFL needs except Green Bay apparantly.

Daniel Herron, RB, Ohio State: Boom Herron could be a 2nd round guy, especially since he's suspended the first five games of the season next year. He doesn't have great size, but would be good enough with split carries from Bernard Scott and he does run tough inside with good burst to get outside and break one.

Matt Kalil, OT, USC: If the Bengals are in position to get Kalil that means they are picking early again and the offensive line struggled. If this is the case Kalil has NFL bloodlines and is an elite prospect to play LT, the most important position besides QB. I know the Bengals have Whit, but Kalil will be better and Whit has the versatility to play about anywhere. They could move Whit to LG, have Boling at RG, and if Andre Smith shows up to play have the best offensive line in the NFL. If the Bengals are picking early enough to get him they should definitely pull the trigger on this one. You don't pass on a guy who had the athletic Tyron Smith playing RT because Kalil is so good. By the way Smith was the 9th pick in this year's draft that shows how good Kalil is.

Jonathon Martin, OT, Stanford: It seems like all the top OT prospects play out west this year. Martin is a big, tall, athletic OT with the long arms and good mobility required to play LT in the NFL. Martin protects the blind side of the top prospect in college football in about a decade, Andrew Luck. Talk about pressure, could you imagine if he let someone get by and do some big time damage to Luck. If he can perform under that pressure this year he will be a top 15 pick and worthy of being taken by the Bengals as someone I'd feel good about protecting Dalton.

Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa: Reiff is an excellent pass blocker with unlimited upside. He has the frame to bulk up more and become a more effective run blocker as well. As far as his pass blocking goes he's probably NFL ready to play OT right now. He projects to be a middle first round pick.

There could be as many as six OT's taken in the first round next year as of today's projections. That number could increase or decrease. Also when one position is that loaded teams sometimes wait thinking they can fill another position and still come back and get a quality player at that position in the next round. With so many good O line prospects here's the names of some others that will go day one or early day two in next year's draft. Nate Potter, Boise State; Mike Adams, Ohio State; Micheal Brewster, Ohio State; Cordy Glenn, Georgia; Matt Reynolds, BYU; Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State; That's six more names to go with the other three for a total of 9. Not all will play OT in the NFL, but anymore every position on that line is important. It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for all 9 to go in the 1st round. At minimum all 9 getting first round grades, but i doubt a third of the round goes to O line. Either way there will be plenty of good players to pick from on the O line next year so it's a good year for it to be a need.

On the defensive side of the ball DT will likely the biggest need area with Safety following and you can also never have too many good CB's. Especially with J Jo being injured as often as he is injured. DT is the thinnest and if the run defense is exposed again that could be the biggest need and with not as many good DT's on the board for now as OT's that may be the way to go in the first next year, then come back and still get a quality offensive lineman in the 2nd. Also the Bengals very well could have two first round picks if they deal Carson Palmer this offseason. Also they deal Chad and I bet they have five picks in the first three rounds two firsts and either two seconds or two third round picks. That would be excellent. Could you imagine if they pulled that off and had made the Atlanta trade. They could be looking at 3 first round picks, 2 second round picks, and two third round picks. That would've been amazing, but I'm glad they stuck at 4 and got AJ Green, I don't think the players they would've gotten with Atlanta's picks are difference makers like Green is. They still would've needed a WR and that WR would've been someone like Titus Young or Hankerson, not bad but no AJ Green and they would've taken Dalton with the first round pick at 27. So it would've been Dalton and Young/Hankerson/Cobb one of those 3 instead of Dalton and Green. Yeah they would've had Atlanta's first next year but that will likely be late and I think they'll get Arizona's first next year for Carson Palmer which will be a top 15 pick I bet.

Anyways here's the defensive players to watch, sorry for the rant.

Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State: Worthy is the best DT in this draft class and will be a difference maker in rushing the passer immediately. He is very good at getting after the passer and would provide the Bengals with something they've been missing for years, an interior pass rush. He is a bit undersized though and the Bengals need a run stuffer.

Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska: Most give Crick a first round grade, his exposure has come from playing next to Ndamukong Suh. Crick is a good player, but a bit overrated in my opinion and I wouldn't take him in the first.

Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson: Thompson could be a guy had in the 2nd that is a one gap penetrator. He would be a perfect fit in the Bengals defensive scheme and does a great job at stopping the run in the backfield. This is a guy to keep an eye on if the Bengals struggle against the run.

Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina: As of now this is the top pass rusher in this draft. Many mocks that have the Bengals picking 4th again have them taking Coples. An elite pass rusher across from Carlos Dunlap would be a good thing, lets just hope they're not picking high enough to get him. If they are Andrew Luck may be someone needed.

Devin Taylor, DT/DE, South Carolina: Taylor is a good pass rusher and run defender an all around player. He could end up being the most versatile D lineman in this draft, tho most think his best fit is a DE in a 3-4. I think he's going to be a better version of Cameron Heyward who could play DT in a 4-3.

Kenny Tate, FS, Maryland: The best Safety in this draft. I think the Bengals still need a Safety that is good in coverage. We'll see about Reggie Nelson. If they struggle in that area you could see them take Tate next year.