Cincinnati Bengals Draft Needs

Like I've said before, I think it will be OT at 6. However, I think there's also a good possibility that A. Smith and Monroe are off the board by the time the Bengals pick -- so do you go for the third-best OT or the top LB, DE, DT etc.? When you ignore BPA you can get in trouble and I have a hard time believing that if A.S. and Monroe are gone, J. Smith or Oher is BPA.

I'm with you all the way on your free agency wish list.

As much as I'd love to get a real stud at DT (Raji), MLB (Maualuga), OLB (Curry), we gotta go OT with the first pick. Best available. This is a need they cannot fill in free agency. My only concern is that it's so obvious that the Bengal "brain trust" talks themselves out of it.

Second priority needs to be center. I'd love Alex Mack, but he will be gone by the time the Bengals pick in the second round. There should be a solid college center available then (Unger?) or they can still get a good one in the third (Wood?). If they wait till third to get the center, they could upgrade the pass rush by taking Barwin in the second, a bargain in that he could also help as a situational tight end.

Let's not forget RB. Assuming they re-sign Benson, how about a change of pace guy to complement him? Someone quick who can run away from some bad blocks and make plays. Devin Moore from Wyoming might be available in the third. As good as Caldwell was on kick returns this year, Moore would be a major upgrade.

Two more things we need -- a punter and a fullback. Huber would be a real asset to the defense. Think about the other team starting their drives 10 yards deeper than they did last year.

Of course, what they do in free agency will affect all of this. So here is my ultimate wish list:

Free agency
1. Re-sign TJ, Benson, Graham
2. Sign a veteran center and fullback
3. Cut Andrews. He wasn't very good when he was healthy.

Trade
1. Dump Ocho Selfish. Probably the best they will get is a third rounder. Take it.

Draft
1. OT (Monroe?)
2. DE/LB (Barwin?)
3. RB (Moore?)
3. C (Wood?)
4. LB
5. Punter (Huber)

This team is closer than a lot of people realize. Who Dey.