Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Eyes of the Tiger for the 2017 Combine

It's combine time.  Draft boards of draftniks everywhere are settling in just in time to be thrown into total disarray as workout warriors from all over the country prepare to descend upon Indianapolis next week.

It's time to start sizing up this draft class to see who the orange and black might end up with in the first round.  While I would have liked to have seen the 2016 season go better than it did, I have to say it is fun having the Bengals picking in the top 10 again. I miss the days when they stunk every year and the early moments of the draft were that much more riveting.  Not really, but still it's kind of nice.  Alright, here's a Bengals big board of the top 8 candidates for Cincy to select in round 1 (Yes, I realize the Bengals pick 9th, but let's be honest they have no shot at Myles Garrett.  We'll just take him right off the board (..unless they trade up! hmmm, yeah, not hapenning).  The quarterbacks will kind of be the x factor in the top ten.  As of right now we still aren't sure any will get taken ahead of the Bengals pick so we are left with pondering the top 8 guys in consideration.  Here are the names you should pay closest attention to at this week's combine.

1. Solomon Thomas  DE Stanford
Athletic enough to develop into a difference maker at DE, but big enough to move inside on passing downs.  Most popular comparison I've seen thrown around has been Michael Bennett.  The default analysis from "Big Draft" has been the Bengals need pass rush.  Don't mistake this ranking as an endorsement of that analysis.  The Bengals defense needs another all-pro caliber player.  I don't care what position.  As of right now, I'm saying Thomas is the top candidate to fit that bill.  

2. Jamal Adams S LSU
Safety??  Well yes.  Shawn Williams wasn't terrible last year, but if you can keep him as your backup and you can bring in a player like Adams that can make plays against the run and pass and bring high-end football character to the unit then that's what you have to do.

3. Marshon Lattimore CB OSU
Hear me out on this one.  Yes, another corner in the first round would be slightly annoying and it might be a little ill advised considering the depth of this years CB class (I expect guys that can develop into starting-caliber players to potentially last deep into day 2).  Yet, Adam Jones could be in jail by the time the season starts, Dre Kirkpatrick could be wearing a different uniform via free agency, who knows what they have with William Jackson, and Lattimore is the consensus top corner on the board.  If the Bengals front office believes Lattimore is worthy of that kind of evaluation, I say go for it.

4. Malik Hooker S OSU
In fairness, if it weren't for a few injury concerns, Lattimore would be a few spots lower on this list.  Hooker has had multiple surgical repairs since the college season ended including one on his labrum (the one in the hip).  Hyperbole has Hooker as the next Ed Reed.  While I'm not penciling him into the Hall of Fame, he is the kind of center field type safety prospect that would fit perfectly next to George Iolka.  If he were healthy he'd probably bump up to number 2 on the NFL Tinted Orange Bengals big board (trademark pending).  Instead, he'll be a bit of an enigma heading into draft day as no one will likely see him work out before training camps start.  Hooker won't be flashing across your screen this weekend, but don't forget about him come April.

5.  Jonathan Allen DE Alabama
Allen draws a lot of hype for his standout senior season with the Crimson Tide.  I think he's solid, but I'm not sure he upgrades the pass rush as much as you'd expect considering the pedigree.

6. Reuben Foster LB Alabama
Another guy that could be higher if not for medical issues.  Alabama defenders always scare me because they tend to make each other look better than they are and they come into the league beat up.  Shoulder surgery is a little problematic for a linebacker whose calling card has been laying hard hits on opposing ball carriers .  Still, the Cincy linebacking corps needs an athleticism shot in the arm.  If the medicals check out and the DB's and DE's are gone, let it rip.  This is the kind of prospect they  hoped they were getting when they drafted Keith Rivers ninth overall.

7.  O.J. Howard TE Alabama
Here's where things heat up a little bit as the beaten path quickly turns into a jungle.  I'm sure not all teams have the next 20 players graded neck and neck, but I bet if you polled multiple teams you'd get a pretty wide variety on the pecking order.  Howard is an athletic receiving target that can block better than most college TE's.  If they want to restock their receiving options and they don't manage to pull a free agency rabbit out of their rear next week when it comes to regrouping at O-line, loading up on tight ends for a heavy dose of two TE sets might be the way to go.

8.  Mike Williams WR Clemson
I don't think Williams has quite the WR1 potential that a lot people are talking about, but I'm pretty sure he will be a good WR2.  His speed numbers this weekend could decide how far down he slides.

Dark Horse Candidates for the 9th Pick:

Leonard Fournette RB LSU
I don't really like the idea of taking an RB either, but if they think he is talented enough to set the league on fire, it might be a luxury they can afford.

Tim Williams DE/OLB Alabama
Williams specialized as a pass rusher at Alabama.  I go back and forth as to whether that's a positive or a negative.  He has some red flags in his background. I see him mocked anywhere from top 15 to the 3rd round.  They'd be taking a home run swing with this one.

Corey Davis WR Western Michigan
Davis has a lower floor than Williams, but a higher ceiling.  He looks like Terrell Owens.  He tore up the MAC, but he also put up decent numbers against better competition.  Another player with injury issues.  Unfortunately, you won't see him this weekend either.

Other Names to keep an eye on this weekend that will likely only come into play in the event of a trade-down:

Derek Barnett DE Tennessee
High-end college production without the athleticism you'd hope for high in the first round.  We'll see how he looks this weekend.  He could be a candidate to move up this list if he surprises people.  
 
David Njoku TE Miami
He won't be quite as good of a two-way player out of the gate as Howard.  Not sure if he fits what Cincy would be interested in, but watch how much buzz he generates in Indianapolis.

Forrest Lamp OT/G Western Kentucky
Depending how free agency goes, they might have a big hole to fill at guard.

Takkarist McKinley OLB/DE UCLA
How big is he going to measure?  Does he move well enough to transition to LB? Greasy athlete that can attack the quarterback from the edge.

Taco Charlton DE Michigan
I haven't watched him yet, but the ESPN guys have elevated him into their top 15.

That's it for now.  Enjoy the fireworks in Indy!