17. CB Dre Kirkpatrick B
I liked Kirkpatrick a little better at 21 for the Bengals (26th on my board) and I’m not sure any team from 18-20 would have taken him and if they had, that’s not too bad because this was a very, very deep cornerback class. This isn’t a terrible pick, however, because it at least fills a need.
27. G Kevin Zeitler C-
I really don’t like this pick. There’s nothing wrong with Zeitler, a borderline 1st/2nd round prospect in my book. He also fills a major need. However, why didn’t they just take DeCastro at 21? Was the difference between DeCastro (one of the top interior line prospects of the decade) and Zeitler (there’s a Zeitler pretty much every year) worth a late 3rd round pick? The Bengals picked a bad time to make their first day trade since 2004. If they hadn’t passed on DeCastro, this would have been a B.
53. DT Devon Still A
They love rotation on the defensive line and Still is an excellent value in the middle of the 2nd round. Defensive tackle wasn’t a major need, but they could definitely use something like Still.
83. WR Mohamed Sanu A
I had a mid 2nd round grade on Sanu and actually compared him to TJ Houshmanzadeh. He fits perfectly as a starter opposite AJ Green, a deep threat. He’ll play off of Green the way Houshmanzadeh played off of Ochocinco when they were in their prime. Andy Dalton has to be thrilled. Also, congrats to Sanu on actually getting drafted by the Bengals one day after he was prank called and told the Bengals took him at 27.
93. DT Brandon Thompson B
Another defensive tackle? Brandon Thompson is an incredible value in the late 3rd round, but Thompson could have a tough time seeing the field behind Domata Peko, Geno Atkins, Pat Sims, and Devon Still.
116. TE Orson Charles B+
They don’t have a capable tight end behind Jermaine Gresham so while this isn’t their biggest need, I get this pick. Charles is a good value at this point too.
156. CB Shaun Prater B-
I guess they could use another cornerback and Prater is a solid value, they’ll have to clear a veteran for him to make the roster (Nate Clements, Terence Newman, Pacman Jones, Jason Allen). They have a ton of cornerbacks under partially or fully guaranteed contracts in 2012.
166. WR Marvin Jones A
Another wide receiver? Well they lost two in free agency (Andre Caldwell, Jerome Simpson) and Jones is a fantastic value here in the 5th round.
167. S George Iloka A
Iloka fell and rightfully so because he’s pretty stiff, but he’s the type of safety the Bengals like. He’s an excellent fit for Mike Zimmer’s scheme and a great value here. He could end up as a starter for them in 2012 as they have absolutely nothing at safety opposite Reggie Nelson. Iloka could definitely beat Taylor Mays out in camp.
191. RB Dan Herron A
Both Bernard Scott and BenJarvus Green-Ellis averaged less than 4 yards per carry last season so they needed another running back. I don’t know if Herron is that back (this should have been address earlier), but this is a good pick in the 6th round.
The Bengals had a really good draft. Dre Kirkpatrick was a reach at 17, but not a major one and at least he filled a need. Devon Still and Mohamed Sanu were phenomenal values in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, especially the Sanu pick. He fits perfectly opposite AJ Green. George Iloka could be a starter for them as a 5th round pick and Dan Herron made a lot of sense in the 7th round.
I had a few issues. I think instead of adding another cornerback or a tight end, they should have addressed the running back position a little earlier. The Kevin Zeitler selection was the worst, especially since they gave up David DeCastro to do so. I know they got a late 3rd round pick by trading down, but they used that pick on Brandon Thompson, who will probably be the 5th DT on their depth chart. He was a great value, but unnecessary. I would have much, much rather had DeCastro than Zeitler and Thompson if I were the Bengals.
If they had taken DeCastro at 21, this would be an A. In fact, if they had done that, it would have made the Kirkpatrick pick a little better because Kirkpatrick and DeCastro would have been a good haul out of the first. In fact, if they had taken DeCastro at 17 and gotten Kirkpatrick at 21 (my major issue with him was that he was a 9 spot reach by my board), those might have both been A’s. I also factor the Carson Palmer trade into this grade. They basically got a free first round pick for someone they weren’t using. They have set themselves up very, very nicely for the future, but I can’t give them an A because of the Zeitler/Thompson over DeCastro decision along with the other minor knocks I mentioned earlier.
Grade: A-
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