My Mid-Season Mock

[Jasonew6]

Assumptions/"Rules":

Based on current draft order, including round to round rotation and estimated comp picks.
Using CBS Sportsline prospect rankings.
Stuck with players projected close to the projected draft positions.
I am estimating we get a 6th round comp pick.

Assuming we re-sign our own key free agents, including Andre and MJ.

1-12: Manti Te'o SLB, ND
2-41: Jordan Poyer CB Oregon State
2-50: Ezekiel Ansah DE BYU
3-81: Kenny Vaccaro SS Texas
4-115: Kenjon Barner RB Oregon
5-151: Rodney Smith WR FSU
6-189: Travis Bond G, UNC
6-201: Kyle Long OT Oregon
6-210: Anthony McCloud DT FSU

[JungleRock85]

Vaccaro and Barner are my favorites in this mock. The thing with those two guys are they both could end up where you have them or they could go a full round ahead of where they are at now.

My current picks with your system would be:
Round 1 - Barrett Jones - Versatile O-Lineman that can start at Center or Guard from Day 1.
Round 2 - Giovani Bernard - Explosive RB we have lacked for a long long time.
Round 2 - T.J. McDonald - What the coaches hoped Taylor Mays would be. Good hitter and athlete that can play the run and pass. Wouldn't be upset with Vaccaro in this spot either especially if they see too much of Taylor Mays lack of coverage skills in McDonald.
Round 3 - Sean Porter - Athletic OLB with speed. Exactly the type of guy that can cover and rush the passer we need in that spot.
Round 4 - Shayne Skov - Has looked good coming off injury and provides options on where to play Burfict next season. Good value if he lasts til this round.

That is my first four projected rounds and how I would like to see our team needs addressed using the current CBS rankings. A lot will change between now and draft time but I would love to add this type of talent at these key positions.

[OchoCincos]

Originally Posted by Jasonew6

Assumptions/"Rules":

Based on current draft order, including round to round rotation and estimated comp picks.
Using CBS Sportsline prospect rankings.
Stuck with players projected close to the projected draft positions.
I am estimating we get a 6th round comp pick.

Assuming we re-sign our own key free agents, including Andre and MJ.

1-12: Manti Te'o SLB, ND
2-41: Jordan Poyer CB Oregon State
2-50: Ezekiel Ansah DE BYU
3-81: Kenny Vaccaro SS Texas
4-115: Kenjon Barner RB Oregon
5-151: Rodney Smith WR FSU
6-189: Travis Bond G, UNC
6-201: Kyle Long OT Oregon
6-210: Anthony McCloud DT FSU

Te'o put in as SAM...intriguing. You aren't considering him to start at SAM, then shift to MIKE at some point like we did Maualuga, are you? Te'o may be able to play SAM, but I've just never seen him do it. I'd be for trying it if he's there when we pick, assuming Jones is gone. Te'o, IMO, is the second best overall LB in the draft.

I love the Ansah, Vaccaro, and Barner picks. Barner could definitely boost himself into the third, or even possibly second round by the end of the year, especially if Oregon makes and wins the national championship and he dominates it. Has Vaccaro's stock dropped down into the third round? I know there are a lot of safeties to choose from this year, but I did not think he had moved down.

[Jasonew6]

Originally Posted by OchoCincos

Te'o put in as SAM...intriguing. You aren't considering him to start at SAM, then shift to MIKE at some point like we did Maualuga, are you? Te'o may be able to play SAM, but I've just never seen him do it. I'd be for trying it if he's there when we pick, assuming Jones is gone. Te'o, IMO, is the second best overall LB in the draft.

I love the Ansah, Vaccaro, and Barner picks. Barner could definitely boost himself into the third, or even possibly second round by the end of the year, especially if Oregon makes and wins the national championship and he dominates it. Has Vaccaro's stock dropped down into the third round? I know there are a lot of safeties to choose from this year, but I did not think he had moved down.

My intent is that either Maualuga keeps playing the way he has the past couple weeks, or Burfict moves to MLB. Te'o will be the SLB. I have a good friend who is a huge Dame fan and he thinks Te'o could play any LB position well.

[bfine32]

Originally Posted by Jasonew6

Assumptions/"Rules":

Based on current draft order, including round to round rotation and estimated comp picks.
Using CBS Sportsline prospect rankings.
Stuck with players projected close to the projected draft positions.
I am estimating we get a 6th round comp pick.

Assuming we re-sign our own key free agents, including Andre and MJ.

1-12: Manti Te'o SLB, ND
2-41: Jordan Poyer CB Oregon State
2-50: Ezekiel Ansah DE BYU
3-81: Kenny Vaccaro SS Texas
4-115: Kenjon Barner RB Oregon
5-151: Rodney Smith WR FSU
6-189: Travis Bond G, UNC
6-201: Kyle Long OT Oregon
6-210: Anthony McCloud DT FSU

Nice; Poyer and Barner are a couple personal favs.

[Draftdruggie]

Nice draft!
I'm just not sure Vaccaro is there in the 3rd. Poyer may be which I'd love to see in stripes because he's the 2nd best corner in this draft in my opinion because of his overall game. He has some off the field stuff but nothing to make him drop too far.

[BengalRugby]

I like the mock, and pretty into the idea of drafting a CB early, even though I would prefer a second RB but not neccessarily in the 2nd.

I do question drafting a DE that early, as the Bengals have a decent stable already, even if Dunlap does have an injury history. Overall though, I would be happy with the draft, and like seeing the trenches addressed late for depth.

[mulligan]

Originally Posted by BengalRugby

I like the mock, and pretty into the idea of drafting a CB early, even though I would prefer a second RB but not neccessarily in the 2nd.

I do question drafting a DE that early, as the Bengals have a decent stable already, even if Dunlap does have an injury history. Overall though, I would be happy with the draft, and like seeing the trenches addressed late for depth.

Here is the oline without drafting any late round depth (assuming we extend Andre Smith).

Oline: Whit/Collins, Boling/Wharton, Cook/Robinson, Zeitler, Smith/TBD

I get drafting a RT2, because there will be a vacancy with Roland's "departure".

But, are you envisioning that Travis Bond becomes the back up guard and Wharton gets cut?

[CincyGuy344]

CB in the second is so early we have other needs, bigger needs
Vaccaro will be long gone
Barner is a gadget player we need a 3 down back

[Jasonew6]

Originally Posted by CincyGuy344

CB in the second is so early we have other needs, bigger needs
Vaccaro will be long gone
Barner is a gadget player we need a 3 down back

I disagree. When we don't get pressure our pass D is bad.
As I said, picks were based on current rankings and that is where he is ranked.
Barner will be part of the committee. And he is more than just a gadget player.

[mulligan]

Originally Posted by Jasonew6

Assumptions/"Rules":

Based on current draft order, including round to round rotation and estimated comp picks.
Using CBS Sportsline prospect rankings.
Stuck with players projected close to the projected draft positions.
I am estimating we get a 6th round comp pick.

Assuming we re-sign our own key free agents, including Andre and MJ.

1-12: Manti Te'o SLB, ND
2-41: Jordan Poyer CB Oregon State
2-50: Ezekiel Ansah DE BYU
3-81: Kenny Vaccaro SS Texas
4-115: Kenjon Barner RB Oregon
5-151: Rodney Smith WR FSU
6-189: Travis Bond G, UNC
6-201: Kyle Long OT Oregon
6-210: Anthony McCloud DT FSU

Originally Posted by Jasonew6

I disagree. When we don't get pressure our pass D is bad.
As I said, picks were based on current rankings and that is where he is ranked.
Barner will be part of the committee. And he is more than just a gadget player.

Quick Question: If you give the Bengals the 12th overall pick in the first, why do you give the Bengals the 18th overall pick in the 2nd?
I would solve the issue with getting better/more pass rushers.

I suspect that the Raiders' 2nd round pick will be a top 5 pick (or 37th overall).

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings

Robert Woods is ranked 37th and Cordarrelle Patterson is ranked 43rd by CBS Sports. I would say that a WR2 is a greater need than drafting a 2nd round CB. (Though, it isn't my preference.) Imagine defenses having to play cover 2 all of the time. Gresham can rip it up in the middle of the field. While Sanu/Hawkins get one-on-one coverage all day long. All the while, Marvin Jones can develop and possibly be great depth or an option for a 4 WR set.

Giovani Bernard is ranked 46th by CBS Sports. I would say that a 3 down RB is a greater need than drafting a 2nd round CB. Imagine the Bengals actually having some speed and ability at RB. Where BJGE gets 4 yards, a younger faster runner would get 8 - 10. BJGE could still focus on 3rd and short.

Chase Thomas is ranked 38th by CBS Sports. I would say that a SAM LB is a greater need than drafting a 2nd round CB. Imagine if the Bengal got 2 excellent LBs!?! Ability to pass rush and pass cover. The weakest positional group could become one of our best. Very, very exciting.

Cornellius Carradine is ranked 45th. Greater need than a CB. Imagine rotating MJ, Dunlap, & Carradine. They stay fresh all game long and keep the pressure up all game. Heck, the Bengals could play the 2 "hottest hands" on passing downs.

Conversely, if the Bengals drafted another CB, what are they going to do on a 2 WR set? Hall/Pacman/Dre Kirk/Poyer? It just seems like over-kill.