The Perfect Draft: Cincinnati Bengals

With the draft approaching, we ignore projections and identify the dream scenario for each team in a series we call The Perfect Draft.

Any potential turnaround in Cincinnati is going to be keyed by a healthy Carson Palmer. The quarterback missed most of last season with a bad elbow, and both he and replacement Ryan Fitzpatrick took too many hits to be truly effective. In order for the Bengals to improve, they have to find a way to shore up the leaky offensive line, while also continuing to build the groundwork for an effective, consistent defense.


Eugene Monroe. The big tackle from Virginia solves a huge part of the Bengals' pass-protection puzzle. No, it wasn't that long ago that the Bengals jumped on Levi Jones as a first-rounder. No, it's not fair to blame Jones for Palmer's injury problems in recent years. However, Cincinnati can't afford to let Palmer suffer another potentially serious injury.

While Monroe has some faults, including his run-blocking and lower-body strength, he has tremendous footwork and is a very good athlete for his size. He should have no problems being a blindside protector at the NFL level.

The Bengals could also look for defensive help with their first-round pick. They may take a shot at one of the top pass-rushers, such as Brian Orakpo from Texas or Penn State's Aaron Maybin.


The Bengals have to get better with their pass rush, and they sure could use a few character guys. If they don't go defense in the first round (they shouldn't, especially since they have done that the last four drafts), they should look for a pass-rusher in the early part of the draft.

A guy like Connor Barwin of Cincinnati could be a great pick for the Bengals. Not only did he go to college in Cincinnati, but he's flashed some skills in just one year as a full-time defensive player.

Don't be surprised to see the Bengals look for a wide receiver in the draft. Chad Johnson is on his way out, no matter how you slice it, and Laveranues Coles is not the answer long-term. If the Bengals don't see fit on taking a chance on a guy like Patrick White, perhaps a tough, polished player like Jarett Dillard would be seen as a good fit.