2015 BENGALS OFFSEASON PREVIEW
The Bengals have been consistent in the AFC North for a few seasons, and 2015 was no different. Led by veteran Head Coach Marvin Lewis they posted a regular season record of 10-5-1, good enough for a Wild Card berth, which was followed up by an early exist to the Indianapolis Colts in the opening round of the playoffs. Cincinnati will look to build on a good season by adding to an already impressive roster. Many fans hate the idea of Andy Dalton still being under center, but the success of the team can't be denied since his arrival. They have seen some players walk in free agency, and should look to the draft to address some key needs.
Key Departures- WR Greg Little (Free-Agent); TE Jermaine Gresham (Free-Agent); T Marshall Newhouse (Free-Agent).
Key Additions- DE Michael Johnson; WR Denarius Moore; LB A.J. Hawk; WR Brandon Tate (re-signed); T Eric Winston (re-signed); G Clint Boling (re-signed); DL Devon Still (re-signed).Bengals On Draft Day
The Bengals made some much needed moves during free-agency. They re-signed offensive linemen Clint Boling long term and also brought back tackle Eric Winston. This assures they can keep the same smash-mouth type attack they had last season, led by the surprising performance of rookie Jeremy Hill. There aren't many positions on the roster that need immediate addressing, so the Bengals can and should sit back and let the draft come to them.
With the current roster in Cincinnati, taking the best available player is a sensible option ion the first round (they own the 21st overall pick). If you reference my most recent mock draft, I believe the Bengals will look to add a pass-rusher to solidify an already scary defense. Bud Dupree will more than likely be the best available at 21, although due to off-field issues from Randy Gregory, there could be a little mix-up. Teams may see Gregory as a liability and pass up on him for Dupree, leaving Gregory still available when the Bengals are on the clock. As many already know, coach Marvin Lewis isn't shy about taking players with personal issues and helping them work through it. Dupree would be a great pick, but if Gregory is available the Bengals will salivate at the idea of taking potentially the best pass-rusher in this years class.
If the Bengals choose not to take a pass-rusher in the first round, there could be some players they target after day one. Eli Harold (Virginia) and Lorenzo Mauldin are both prospects that will be available on day two, and could produce for a team right out of the gate. Digging deeper into the draft, Junior Sylvestre (Toledo), could develop into a nice starter with proper coaching. Mike Hull (Penn St) and J.R. Tavai (USC) could be late round or free agent signings to keep an eye on. While they won't be ready to play week one, they could wind up working their way onto a roster and produce as a backup.
Outside of Andy Dalton, Cincy doesn't have a viable quarterback. If Dalton were to go down, there would be a world of trouble if they had to rely on A.J. McCarron or Josh Johnson had to go under center. Adding a quarterback would not only give the team a reliable backup, but it could potentially light a fire under Dalton to take the next step towards joining the ranks of "above average." I don't think the Bengals would address quarterback until later in the draft, but could snag a player they could tailor to fit the offensive scheme. A player like Sean Mannion could be taken on day 3 (5th-7th round) and work with coaches while not having the pressure to produce and learn on the fly. After Manion, there aren't any quarterbacks who I believe are worth drafting, but could be nice rookie free-agent signings. Anthony Boone (Duke) and Taylor Kelly (Arizona State) would likely come into the league competing for a roster spot as a 3rd or 4th quarterback.
Looking at the defensive depth chart the only spot that seems like it could use an immediate upgrade is at safety. George Iloka is a great talent, but Reggie Nelson is a below average starter and is replaceable. Safety is a weak in this draft class, and it wouldn't pay off to take any safety until at least the fourth round. Kurtis Drummond (Michigan State) is a big body safety who could compliment Iloka nicely, and is worth the risk in the fourth round. Detrick Bonner (Virginia Tech) is another potential late round target. He has great coverage skills and has the size required to play safety.
The Bengals have an already talented roster, and the NFL Draft should help position them to take another step forward to making a deep run in the playoffs. Marvin Lewis needs to find a way to keep his team atop the AFC North, and that should start with a ground-and-pound led offensive attack. The bottom line for Cincy is they need to relieve pressure from Andy Daltons shoulders in order to take the leap in 2015.
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