With pressing needs defensively, the Bengals moved quickly to take linebacker
Keith Rivers in the first round, and found value in underrated defensive tackle
Pat Sims in the third.
Round 1, Pick 9 (9) Keith Rivers LB 6'3" 235 Southern Cal
The Bengals had a need at linebacker and Rivers should be able to make an
immediate impact as a rookie. He's a versatile player with good instincts and
great character.
Round 2, Pick 15 (46) Jerome Simpson WR 6'2" 190 Coastal Carolina
Simpson has big hands and long arms which is great for a wideout. He set school
records with 157 receptions for 2,636 yards and 41 touchdowns. He will be given
a chance to play meaningful snaps as a rookie.
Round 3, Pick 14 (77) Pat Sims DT 6'2" 310 Auburn
Sims only started this last year at Auburn after quitting school in 2005. But
it's very seldom they let a guy quit and come back unless he's that good. He has
similar burst off the ball to Glenn Dorsey and overcame some tough off-field
issues in school.
Round 3, Pick 34 (97) (Compensatory selection) Andre Caldwell WR 6'1" 200 Florida
The 6-foot tall Caldwell recorded 185 receptions in college. The Bengals get
great value in the third round - a guy who knows the ropes of how the NFL works
with his brother, Reche, having played in the league for a number of years.
Round 4, Pick 13 (112) Anthony Collins OT 6'5" 317 Kansas
Collins has long arms and some left tackle skills, but he's raw and only played
one year of high school football. In time, he could potentially project out to
be a guard at the pro level.
Round 5, Pick 10 (145) Jason Shirley DT 6'5" 329 Fresno State
Shirley is reminiscent of Tony Siragusa but with better speed and not quite as
much strength. Marvin Lewis may want to go back to his old Ravens 4-3 defensive
scheme with the Bengals and this pick fits.
Round 6, Pick 11 (177) Corey Lynch FS 6'0" 205 Appalachian State
A special teams ace who can block kicks, Lynch has size at 6-3 and is able to
fill in at safety. He ran an extremely impressive cone drill and the rest of his
measurables were outstanding. He is a fantastic athlete.
Round 6, Pick 41 (207) (Compensatory selection) Matt Sherry TE 6'4" 255 Villanova
Sherry had an excellent Pro Day workout at Villanova that helped his draft stock
rise. He did not play great competition at Villanova but has solid measurables
and can compete in Cincinnati at the unsettled tight end position.
Round 7, Pick 37 (244) (Compensatory selection) Angelo Craig DE 6'5" 235 Cincinnati
Craig played defensive end in college, but projects to be more of a linebacker
in the pros because of his slim frame. Having played at the University of
Cincinnati, he's a hometown favorite for the Bengals.
Round 7, Pick 39 (246) (Compensatory selection) Mario Urrutia WR 6'6" 232 Louisville
A very tall receiver, Urrutia flashed big-play ability with Louisville. Urrutia
would have been well-served to stay in school an extra year but will have a
chance to carve out a role as a goal-line receiver.
Cincinnati Bengals 2008 NFL Preview
There’s enough talent for a playoff run, but that doesn't really ever matter
in Cincy. The draft was very good for the Bengals as they got the defensive help
they so badly
needed, but it is
going to take some
time for that
defense to gel.
Offense:
Carson Palmer is one
of the best
quarterbacks out
there, and with Chad
Johnson and T.J.
Houshmandzadeh to
throw to along with
rookie Andre
Caldwell or Jerome
Simpson he has an
amazing receiving
corps. What the
Bengals need is for
Rudi Johnson to have
a comeback year to
take some of the
pressure off the
offense and to
control the ball
some to keep the
defense off the
field.
Defense: The
good news is there
is hardly any chance
that the Bengals
lose so many players
to injury for a
second year in a
row. They have a
potential game
changer now in Keith
Rivers, although
that is a lot of
pressure for any
rookie. He will have
to perform well to
keep pressure off of
the still developing
corners in Jonathan
Joseph and Leon
Hall.
Overall: The
Bengals tease us
over and over, but
they are headed in
the right direction.
If they can stay
away from injuries,
and the courthouse,
they have a chance
to compete for a
division title.
