So, here's my review of the 2004 Bengals draft:
#1 (26) RB Chris Perry, Michigan - I think the Bengals should have taken a corner or d-lineman in the first round instead of a running back. Perhaps Perry could be used as a third-down runner for Rudi Johnson. He is best as burrowing through the defensive line, so maybe being a third-down guy would be best. I don't think a two-RB system would work for the Bengals just yet.
#2 (49) CB Keiwan Ratliff, Florida - This guy could be a second-string player. The highest I could see him on the chart is 3rd behind James and O'Neal, but he could be a good fit for the team. Fast for a CB, and very agile too. He could be the new punt/kick returner as well. The best pick of the draft for the Bengals!
#3 (56) SS Madieu Williams, Maryland - Sounds like someone who would add depth to the safety spots behind Kim Herring and Rogers Beckett and Kevin Kaesviharn, but he has experience in Maryland and is strong.
#4 (80) LB Caleb Miller, Arkansas - A quick guy who can manuever around offensive lines easily. He could be a star in the future.
#5 (96) LB Landon Johnson, Purdue - I think the Bengals have enough LBs as it is, after they had gotten Miller. Maybe Johnson would be a special teams player for now. Reports say that he's aggressive.
#6 (114) DT Matthais Askew, Michigan State - The Bengals should have picked a d-lineman earlier, but better late than never I guess. He could be someone who plays next to Justin Smith real soon depending on how long the team wants to keep Tony Williams. And Smith has been beaten up on the line lately, not to mention he's taken a large sum of the work. Askew could take the load off, maybe.
#7 (117) DE Robert Geathers, Georgia - Now they're trying to build up depth. Reports say he is reckless but has strength. Nothing Marvin Lewis can't fix, right?
#8 (123) OT Stacy Andrews, Mississippi - Now they take a o-lineman, but for now he would be someone who comes in when Levi Jones or Willie Anderson become fatigued in a game. He is pretty fast for someone of his size and position. A good steal, maybe? He could make a difference when he has to come in for a play or two.
#9 (149) WR Maurice Mann, Nevada-Reno - Don't the Bengals have enough WRs as it is already? The best he can do is be a practice squad guy, but he could be involved in special teams here and there. However, according to his physical size he may need to gain some muscle.
#10 (183) CB Greg Brooks, Southern Miss - Now this guy also appears to be lightweight, but his speed in the 40, according to press reports, is very good in my book. I'd make him a practice squad guy now, but hold onto him because he could be in handy.
#11 (218) QB Casey Bramlet, Wyoming - This pick makes some sense, as he could be a #3 QB behind Palmer and Kitna, and when Kitna leaves after 2005 like I think he will (unless Carson bombs, which I think is unlikely) Bramley could be the QB in waiting in case Carson or Kitna (whoever starts at the time) goes down. And with the team having little interest in keeping Shane Matthews, this could help but not for a very long time. There's one problem though - the teams in the NFL would destroy the teams in the Mountain West, and Wyoming had the worst record in the conference in 2003. However, Bramlet had the best performance in the coference in 2003. Could some long bench time help him learn how to make a name for himself in the NFL?
Overall, this draft gets a B-. The Bengals built up some strength in several positions that they can use help in, but they responded too late when it came to some positions that they really needed help in, especially on the defensive line. Extra credit comes for the Bengals being able to make some quality trades for additional picks, including anothe pick from the Rams and one from the Patriots. (The Bengals didn't really have Corey Dillon in their future anyway!)
#1 (26) RB Chris Perry, Michigan - I think the Bengals should have taken a corner or d-lineman in the first round instead of a running back. Perhaps Perry could be used as a third-down runner for Rudi Johnson. He is best as burrowing through the defensive line, so maybe being a third-down guy would be best. I don't think a two-RB system would work for the Bengals just yet.
#2 (49) CB Keiwan Ratliff, Florida - This guy could be a second-string player. The highest I could see him on the chart is 3rd behind James and O'Neal, but he could be a good fit for the team. Fast for a CB, and very agile too. He could be the new punt/kick returner as well. The best pick of the draft for the Bengals!
#3 (56) SS Madieu Williams, Maryland - Sounds like someone who would add depth to the safety spots behind Kim Herring and Rogers Beckett and Kevin Kaesviharn, but he has experience in Maryland and is strong.
#4 (80) LB Caleb Miller, Arkansas - A quick guy who can manuever around offensive lines easily. He could be a star in the future.
#5 (96) LB Landon Johnson, Purdue - I think the Bengals have enough LBs as it is, after they had gotten Miller. Maybe Johnson would be a special teams player for now. Reports say that he's aggressive.
#6 (114) DT Matthais Askew, Michigan State - The Bengals should have picked a d-lineman earlier, but better late than never I guess. He could be someone who plays next to Justin Smith real soon depending on how long the team wants to keep Tony Williams. And Smith has been beaten up on the line lately, not to mention he's taken a large sum of the work. Askew could take the load off, maybe.
#7 (117) DE Robert Geathers, Georgia - Now they're trying to build up depth. Reports say he is reckless but has strength. Nothing Marvin Lewis can't fix, right?
#8 (123) OT Stacy Andrews, Mississippi - Now they take a o-lineman, but for now he would be someone who comes in when Levi Jones or Willie Anderson become fatigued in a game. He is pretty fast for someone of his size and position. A good steal, maybe? He could make a difference when he has to come in for a play or two.
#9 (149) WR Maurice Mann, Nevada-Reno - Don't the Bengals have enough WRs as it is already? The best he can do is be a practice squad guy, but he could be involved in special teams here and there. However, according to his physical size he may need to gain some muscle.
#10 (183) CB Greg Brooks, Southern Miss - Now this guy also appears to be lightweight, but his speed in the 40, according to press reports, is very good in my book. I'd make him a practice squad guy now, but hold onto him because he could be in handy.
#11 (218) QB Casey Bramlet, Wyoming - This pick makes some sense, as he could be a #3 QB behind Palmer and Kitna, and when Kitna leaves after 2005 like I think he will (unless Carson bombs, which I think is unlikely) Bramley could be the QB in waiting in case Carson or Kitna (whoever starts at the time) goes down. And with the team having little interest in keeping Shane Matthews, this could help but not for a very long time. There's one problem though - the teams in the NFL would destroy the teams in the Mountain West, and Wyoming had the worst record in the conference in 2003. However, Bramlet had the best performance in the coference in 2003. Could some long bench time help him learn how to make a name for himself in the NFL?
Overall, this draft gets a B-. The Bengals built up some strength in several positions that they can use help in, but they responded too late when it came to some positions that they really needed help in, especially on the defensive line. Extra credit comes for the Bengals being able to make some quality trades for additional picks, including anothe pick from the Rams and one from the Patriots. (The Bengals didn't really have Corey Dillon in their future anyway!)
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