2007 DRAFT NEEDS:

CINCINNATI BENGALS

presented by

by PFT Editor Mike Florio, with Matt Miller of NewEraScouting.com

Now that the Bengals finally have a dynamic offense, their defense has become anemic.  It's ironic, given that Marvin Lewis got the gig as head coach based on his specialty of using the X's to keep the O's off of the scoreboard.

With most of the offense intact, the challenge for the Bengals in the 2007 draft is to get some guys who can play at a high level . . . without getting arrested.

Indeed, four of the team's eight 2006 draft picks were busted at some point in the past year.  That's 50 percent of the entire draft class, and that's not good enough now that the NFL is focusing on player conduct more than it ever has before.

So the team's primary need, on both sides of the ball, is a need to avoid drafting more guys with a propensity to engage in bad behavior.  With teams having less power than ever to take action against turds, the best course of action is to never allow guys who might do bad things into the organization.

One specific area of need on defense is a cornerback, given that Deltha O'Neal currently is on the trading block.  Some league insiders are convinced that the team will pounce on Pitt cornerback Darrelle Revis, if he's available when the Bengals use the No. 18 overall pick in the draft.  If he's not there, look for the Bengals to strongly consider the next best available corner.  The real question will be whether they would pull the trigger on Eric Wright of UNLV, whose reputation for possible off-field antics has prompted at least one AFC team to yank his name off of its board, we're told.

One player who might get the Bengals to consider passing on a cornerback in round one would be defensive tackle Amobi Okoye.  If he slides to No. 18, the Bengals might be inclined to add him to a rotation that presently includes Sam Adams, John Thornton, and Domata Peko.  A first-day pick at this position could be bad news for one of the two incumbent veterans, Adams and Thornton, even though we're convinced that either would find work elsewhere.  (And we've got a soft spot for Thornton, a former WVU Mountaineer and all-around good guy.)

A round-two possibility at defensive tackle is N.C. State's Tank Tyler.  But, again, some red flags might force the Bengals to go in a different direction.

There's also a need at the safety position, given the departure of Kevin K. (we're really not in the mood to look up the proper spelling of his last name).  If Florida's Reggie Nelson falls to No. 18, they'll have a tough decision to make.

The Bengals also might want want to add some depth at the defensive end position, in the event that the team can't work out a long-term deal with Justin Smith.  In fact, we wouldn't be surprised to see the team rescind the franchise tag later in the offseason, thereby saving more than $8.6 million in cap space and, more importantly for penny-squeezing owner Mike Brown, in real dollars.

Linebacker is also a potential area of need, given the injury to David Pollack and the uncertain (at best) status of Odell Thurman. 

On offense, a pass-catching tight end would be a plus, since Reggie Kelly is primarily a blocker.  Maybe a guy like Kevin Boss or Scott Chandler could be snared in round three.  [Editor's note:  The Bengals don't have a pick in this year's third round -- or, for the Bengals, the "turd round," given that they have used the pick on guys like Chris Henry and Frostee Rucker.  Cincy used their third-round pick in the supplemental draft on another reformed (perhaps) turd, linebacker Ahmad Brooks.]

Finally, the Bengals could use a guy who can get field position when returning punts.  They have struggled at this position for a couple of years, and it would be nice to see them address this area before Pacman Jones ever becomes available as a free agent.  We have a feeling that Marvin Lewis is one of the few guys in the NFL who thinks he can somehow change him.

Hey, Marvin hasn't been able to change any of the other problem children he has added to the team.  So maybe he's due.