(SportsNetwork.com) – One-and-done playoff appearances are starting to get old
in Cincinnati but Marvin Lewis remains in good standing, recently receiving a
one-year contract extension.
To get the Bengals over the hump, a few tweaks are needed and it all starts
with the 21st overall pick. Cincinnati has two very good tackles in Andrew
Whitworth and Andre Smith but both will be entering the final year of their
contracts and Whitworth will be turning 34 over the summer so it may be time
to look toward the future.
Stanford’s Andrus Peat looks like a natural left tackle, who can play for a
decade if he shows enough functional football strength, something that has
been a major problem for some recent big name Cardinal O-linemen (Jonathan
Martin, David Yankey). Other potential options at tackle include Miami-
Florida’s Ereck Flowers, Florida’s D.J. Humphries and Pitt’s T.J. Clemmings.
If the Bengals look elsewhere, a slot receiver could be an option as well as
defensive help for the front seven.
2014 Record: 10-5-1
Top Needs: OT, DL, WR
First Three Picks: No. 21, No. 53, No. 85
Number of Selections: 9 (1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7)
RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2014 – Darqueze Dennard (CB, Michigan State); 2013
– Tyler Eifert (TE, Notre Dame); 2012 – Dre Kirkpatrick (CB, Alabama), Kevin
Zeitler (OG, Wisconsin); 2011 – A.J. Green (WR, Georgia); 2010 – Jermaine
Gresham, TE (Oklahoma); 2009 – Andre Smith (OT, Alabama); 2008 – Keith Rivers
(LB, USC); 2007 – Leon Hall (CB, Michigan); 2006 – Johnathan Joseph (CB, South
Carolina); 2005 – David Pollack (OLB, Georgia)
