Surprised this thread wasn't already started in Week 6 
Here is my perceived list of needs in order for the Bengals next year by position:
1. Runningback: Looks like Scott and potentially Leonard are both gone. Leave BJGE, Peerman, and Boom. We definitely need at least one RB in the first three picks and something to get this offense more explosive.
2. Linebacker: Mauluga is gone (good riddance, he was our starting defender) and Howard is still a FA.
3. Safety: Only starting safety we have is Nelson...Mays, Sands, and Iloka are nothing but potential, plus it looks like Clements and Crocker won't be back there.
4. Wide Receiver: We have no #2 WR after Caldwell and Simpson left. Marvin Jones might make that step and I think Sanu showed some nice things, but we need to bring some competition in for sure. Lots of decent players behind Green, but nobody solid-good.
5. Center: Cook is decent but who else do we have? Need to bring in a guy later on in rounds 3-5.
According to need and what is out there, here is what I am hoping for for each of our picks:
1st Round (21st overall): Safety. I could see a linebacker here if Mingo or Jarvis Jones slip to 21, but I don't think that is likely. However, I do think there will be some high caliber safeties here at 21 and we need to quit kicking the can on safety and having piss-poor play at the position. Hopefully Vaccaro will be available but I really like Matt Elam or Eric Reid but they could slip to us in the 2nd. I love Tavon Austin but we have our slot guy in Hawkins. As for RB, I don't think there is one to merit the 21st.
2nd Round (37th overall): Runningback. I think a potential starter/star will be here for us with our early 2nd round pick. I expect Lacy to be off the board, but I would LOVE to see us get LeVeon Bell...think he is going to be a hammer in the NFL and has great athleticism for his size. I also like Montee Ball...kid is a player, screw the results at the combine. Love Jonathan Franklin from UCLA as well. Basically I would like to see a bigger back here to split carries with BJGE since we have a somewhat proven 3rd down type in Peerman. Plus we could be grooming this pick to be our starter and soon. I say we get high value for a RB somewhere in the first three picks since they all performed "poorly" at the combine. I also love Stepfan Taylor if we can wait until round 3 to get him.
2nd round (52 overall): LB or WR. I think there are a lot of good receivers here that could develop into a great #2 compliment. Highly doubt Woods or Keenan Allen fall this far, but I really like DeAndre Hopkins, Justin Hunter, or Markus Wheaton here. I'm good with waiting for the 3rd to get Swope if we can too. If we go LB, I prefer an OLB as I think Burfict is best suited inside. That being said, it would be a sweet deal if we could get Ogletree with the above pick but that isn't likely. However, I think if either of Arthur Brown or Kasheem Greene are available you take them over a WR.
3rd round (84th overall): LB or WR (depending on the last pick). If we go LB, I like Jelani Jenkins or Brandon Jenkins from Florida. Holloman from South Carolina would be a great pick here too. If we go WR, it would be sick if Swopes was available although he may be a slot. I also like Stills from Oklahoma, Da'Rick Rogers, Bailey of WVA, or King from UGA.
4th round: Runningback or Center. We have a change of pace guy in Peerman but he isn't yet proven. Perhaps we gamble on Lattimore...he would be a star if he recovers. I like a Kenjon Barner, Andre Ellington, or Robert Rouse here as burners that can fulfill lots of roles and are very versatile. Plus you get a legit returner with any of them on top of a 3rd down back. At center, Barrett Jones and Tyler Frederick are off the board by now and I only want a center here if it is Schwenke or Holmes.
5th round: Runningback or Center. Maybe Braxston Cave or Stankiewitch at center but we can likely get one of those two the next round. If we hang around here for a runningback, we could still get a diamond in the rough with Cierre Wood/Theo Riddick, Ray Graham, or my personal blackhorse favorite in Knile Davis.
6th round: QB. This could happen sooner (possibly round 4-5) but Gradowski is leaving and we need to get a backup for Dalton. I would not be surprised (and would love to see it) if we take Dysert here and keep him in SW Ohio. Great pro prospect, local kid, and an excellent guy to groom as the backup. Other possibilities are Tyler Bray, Collin Klein, or Landry Jones.
7th round: FB. We don't have a real FB to speak of...let's get Boren! (hey it is the 7th round, take a fan favorite) But seriously, he could be a really good fullback for us here and take over Leonard's role. I would love to see him here but this spot just goes to whoever is available. Possibly Stoneburner is available here and we could maybe use another receiving TE.
- In summary, I want to see 2 RBs, 1-2 LBs, 1-2 WRs, 1 quality Safety (we have depth, we need a starter), 1 Center, a backup QB, Zach Boren, and with the first three picks I want to see a runningback, safety, and linebacker (perhaps WR). Hopefully we address one of these positions with a FA and it clears everything up some. The positions we absolutely do not need (in order) are DL, CB, OT, OG, and maybe TE (I want to see Charles and Gresham for one more year).
Here is my perceived list of needs in order for the Bengals next year by position:1. Runningback: Looks like Scott and potentially Leonard are both gone. Leave BJGE, Peerman, and Boom. We definitely need at least one RB in the first three picks and something to get this offense more explosive.
2. Linebacker: Mauluga is gone (good riddance, he was our starting defender) and Howard is still a FA.
3. Safety: Only starting safety we have is Nelson...Mays, Sands, and Iloka are nothing but potential, plus it looks like Clements and Crocker won't be back there.
4. Wide Receiver: We have no #2 WR after Caldwell and Simpson left. Marvin Jones might make that step and I think Sanu showed some nice things, but we need to bring some competition in for sure. Lots of decent players behind Green, but nobody solid-good.
5. Center: Cook is decent but who else do we have? Need to bring in a guy later on in rounds 3-5.
According to need and what is out there, here is what I am hoping for for each of our picks:
1st Round (21st overall): Safety. I could see a linebacker here if Mingo or Jarvis Jones slip to 21, but I don't think that is likely. However, I do think there will be some high caliber safeties here at 21 and we need to quit kicking the can on safety and having piss-poor play at the position. Hopefully Vaccaro will be available but I really like Matt Elam or Eric Reid but they could slip to us in the 2nd. I love Tavon Austin but we have our slot guy in Hawkins. As for RB, I don't think there is one to merit the 21st.
2nd Round (37th overall): Runningback. I think a potential starter/star will be here for us with our early 2nd round pick. I expect Lacy to be off the board, but I would LOVE to see us get LeVeon Bell...think he is going to be a hammer in the NFL and has great athleticism for his size. I also like Montee Ball...kid is a player, screw the results at the combine. Love Jonathan Franklin from UCLA as well. Basically I would like to see a bigger back here to split carries with BJGE since we have a somewhat proven 3rd down type in Peerman. Plus we could be grooming this pick to be our starter and soon. I say we get high value for a RB somewhere in the first three picks since they all performed "poorly" at the combine. I also love Stepfan Taylor if we can wait until round 3 to get him.
2nd round (52 overall): LB or WR. I think there are a lot of good receivers here that could develop into a great #2 compliment. Highly doubt Woods or Keenan Allen fall this far, but I really like DeAndre Hopkins, Justin Hunter, or Markus Wheaton here. I'm good with waiting for the 3rd to get Swope if we can too. If we go LB, I prefer an OLB as I think Burfict is best suited inside. That being said, it would be a sweet deal if we could get Ogletree with the above pick but that isn't likely. However, I think if either of Arthur Brown or Kasheem Greene are available you take them over a WR.
3rd round (84th overall): LB or WR (depending on the last pick). If we go LB, I like Jelani Jenkins or Brandon Jenkins from Florida. Holloman from South Carolina would be a great pick here too. If we go WR, it would be sick if Swopes was available although he may be a slot. I also like Stills from Oklahoma, Da'Rick Rogers, Bailey of WVA, or King from UGA.
4th round: Runningback or Center. We have a change of pace guy in Peerman but he isn't yet proven. Perhaps we gamble on Lattimore...he would be a star if he recovers. I like a Kenjon Barner, Andre Ellington, or Robert Rouse here as burners that can fulfill lots of roles and are very versatile. Plus you get a legit returner with any of them on top of a 3rd down back. At center, Barrett Jones and Tyler Frederick are off the board by now and I only want a center here if it is Schwenke or Holmes.
5th round: Runningback or Center. Maybe Braxston Cave or Stankiewitch at center but we can likely get one of those two the next round. If we hang around here for a runningback, we could still get a diamond in the rough with Cierre Wood/Theo Riddick, Ray Graham, or my personal blackhorse favorite in Knile Davis.
6th round: QB. This could happen sooner (possibly round 4-5) but Gradowski is leaving and we need to get a backup for Dalton. I would not be surprised (and would love to see it) if we take Dysert here and keep him in SW Ohio. Great pro prospect, local kid, and an excellent guy to groom as the backup. Other possibilities are Tyler Bray, Collin Klein, or Landry Jones.
7th round: FB. We don't have a real FB to speak of...let's get Boren! (hey it is the 7th round, take a fan favorite) But seriously, he could be a really good fullback for us here and take over Leonard's role. I would love to see him here but this spot just goes to whoever is available. Possibly Stoneburner is available here and we could maybe use another receiving TE.
- In summary, I want to see 2 RBs, 1-2 LBs, 1-2 WRs, 1 quality Safety (we have depth, we need a starter), 1 Center, a backup QB, Zach Boren
, and with the first three picks I want to see a runningback, safety, and linebacker (perhaps WR). Hopefully we address one of these positions with a FA and it clears everything up some. The positions we absolutely do not need (in order) are DL, CB, OT, OG, and maybe TE (I want to see Charles and Gresham for one more year).
