The final draft picks are complete and teams are now putting together their lists of free agents.  Let’s look at the nine draft picks selected by the Cincinnati Bengals over the past three days to see how they might help the team succeed in 2010.

First Round: TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma

This is no surprise.  Gresham is the number one consensus tight end from this year’s draft.  The Bengals desperately needed one.  Gresham as a pass catcher is dynamic and in college was extremely productive.  He is also solid as an in-line blocker, which is something that the Bob Bratkowski offense needs.  The right choice was Gresham, although some people might have preferred to have Dez Bryant in this position.

Position Draft Publication Rankings:

Lindy Pro Football Draft: 1st
Pro Football’s Draft Guide: 1st
Sporting News Draft: 3rd

Second Round: DE Carlos Dunlap, Florida

Although there are concerns due to Dunlap’s inconsistent motor and off-field issues, his talent and athleticism were a great second round value.  Many had projected Dunlap as a pick late in the first round.  He has been compared to Javon Kearse as well as Michael Johnson, the third round pick from last year.  In Gainesville Dunlap had four blocked kicks and 19.5 sacks.  On downs that are obvious passing situations he can slide inside.  Dunlap overall is considered to be a prospect that is boom or bust.  However he was worth selecting towards the ending of the second round.

Position Draft Publication Rankings:

Lindy Pro Football Draft: 2nd
Pro Football’s Draft Guide: 3rd
Sporting News Draft: 8th

Third Round (a): WR Jordan Shipley, Texas

Shipley is a friend of Quan Cosby, former Texas WR and current Bengal.  He may end up taking his roster spot.  Shipley is quite a polished player, has outstanding hands, runs excellent routes and compared to Cosby, is accomplished as a punt returner.  In 2009 Shipley posted huge numbers with the undefeated Texas Longhorns.  Shipley could very well have an immediate impact from the slot and on special teams.  In the slot he has the potential of surpassingg Andre Caldwell as Carson Palmer’s reliable check down field option something Palmer has been search for since the departure of TJ Houshmandzadeh.

Position Draft Publication Rankings:

Lindy Pro Football Draft: 8th
Pro Football’s Draft Guide: 12th
Sporting News Draft: 14th

Third Round (b): DB Brandon Ghee, Wake Forest

The misery of Glee’s was ended by the Bengals when they selected him towards the end of the third round, which allowed the last prospect in attendance at the draft to come onto the stage.  Although he had just one interception in his Demon Deacon career, Ghee does have the speed and size to be one of the NFL’s elite cornerbacks.  Ghee is a sure tackler and some view him to be an NFL level safety.  However Kevin Coyle, defensive backs coach, says he will be starting out primarily as Morgan Trent’s competition for the nickel corner position.

Position Draft Publication Rankings:

Lindy Pro Football Draft: 11th
Pro Football’s Draft Guide: 12th
Sporting News Draft: 17th

Fourth Round (a) DT Geno Atkins, Georgia

The Georgia Bulldog’s are obviously one of the favorite college programs of the Bengals.  Atkins out of Georgia is small for a defensive tackle, however he makes up for that being highly productive and has exceptional quickness.  Atkins should compete for time with Pat Sims for the tackle rotation.

Position Draft Publication Rankings:

Lindy Pro Football Draft: 14th
Pro Football’s Draft Guide: 13th
Sporting News Draft: 5th

Fourth Round (b): LB Roddrick Muckelroy, Texas

This pick leaves me scratching my head a bit.  The team appears to have lots of good linebackers, especially with Will in the projected spot for Muckelroy.  However, the ex Longhorn will get the opportunity for earning a special teams spot and also given the opportunity for challenging for a defensive spot in the pre-season.  This may be part of the post Dhani Jones linebacker corps era preparations.

Position Draft Publication Rankings:

Lindy Pro Football Draft: 12th
Pro Football’s Draft Guide: 11th
Sporting News Draft: 15th

Fifth Round: OG Otis Hudson, Eastern Illinois

Definitely the Bengals needed to add youth and depth to their interior offensive line.  The Hudson selection was one of two additions.  Paul Alexander, offensive line coach for the Bengals, love the work ethic and size of Hudson.  He could be Bobbie Williams’ heir apparent at right guard.  Based on the pre-draft publication ranks, Hudson may be a stretch.

Position Draft Publication Rankings:

Lindy Pro Football Draft: Not Ranked
Pro Football’s Draft Guide: Not Ranked
Sporting News Draft: Not Ranked

Sixth Round: WR Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas

Cincinnati was surprised that Briscoe was still available during the sixth round.  They selected him despite the fact that it crowds their wide-out squad even more than it already was.  Under Mike Mangino Briscoe was very productive.  His slip in the draft was due to off-field behavior and slow forty time.  According to Marvin Lewis, Mangino and the team have a great relationship and have better insight as far the transgressions of the young man go than other teams do.  One thing about Briscoe is certain: his 6-3, 200 pounds is a size that the team desires.  Even if Briscoe turns out to be a wash out, getting him here was an exceptional value.

Position Draft Publication Rankings:

Lindy Pro Football Draft: 13th
Pro Football’s Draft Guide: 15th
Sporting News Draft: 11th

Seventh Round: G-C Reggie Stephens, Iowa State

Stephens adds more depth to the interior offensive line, and brings a lot of experience and flexibility.  He was a starter since his freshman year and played all three of the spots on the interior.  Part of the reason Stephens slid in the draft was due to Iowa State’s lackluster offense.  However his size should enable him in July to make the team’s practice squad at least.  Stephens was another pick with great value.

Position Draft Publication Rankings:

Lindy Pro Football Draft: Ranked as Worth Watching
Pro Football’s Draft Guide: 18th
Sporting News Draft: Not Ranked

Analysis

Solid play makers were added to the Bengals offense: Gresham will help Palmer by opening things up and provide Bob Bratkowski with additional flexibility for his play calling.  Briscoe and Shipley may provide quality snaps as well as push Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell.

More Beef: Stephens and Hudson add depth behind Nate Livings, Evan Mathis, Kyle Cook and Bobbie Williams.  Stephens could end up replacing Jonathan Luig as back up for Cook.

Zim got more horses: Mike Zimmer receiver additions on all three defensive levels.  The gem from the bunch is Dunlap.  For a while, Zimmer has been attempting for more pass rush.  Atkins and Dunlap will should both be able to help in that department.

No safeties added: The Bengals may add a safety or two out of the undrafted pool.  However, it is somewhat surprising that the team didn’t draft any, especially considering that some viewed the safety position as one of the top 3 needs.  Ghee may have potential as a safety.

No fullbacks drafted: the team also didn’t draft any fullbacks, and Jeremi Johnson hasn’t been re-signed.  It will be interesting during the weeks ahead seeing who is brought in to compete against Fui Vakapuna.

Players who should get month-to-month leases in Cincinnati: Dan Stantucci Dan coats and Jerome Simpson.  With all the new options, their futures in Cincinnati are doubtful.

Be prepared for the holdout that could very well spill over into the regular season.

On Sunday Alvin Keels came and left Cincinnati without sealing a deal for Andre Smith, first round draft pick.

Keels met with Mike Brown and Katie Blackburn for four hours without making any progress. Judging by Keels posts on Twitter, it sounds as though both sides are still entrenched in their respective positions. He wrote leaving Cinci and not any closer on an Andre Smith deal.

Sunday was the 24th day that Andre Smith, Cincinnati’s number 6 pick, has been unsigned. He along with San Francisco’s 10th pick Michael Crabtree are the two first rounders who still are unsigned.

Cincinnati’s last offer to Andre Smith was a base of $28 million for five years and a $33 million maximum. That amount is lower than a contract that was offered to Vernon Gholston of the Jets, last year’s sixth pick, who had a base of $32.5 million as well as the seventh pick this year, Darrius Heyward-Bey with Oakland with a base of $38.25 million.

Cincinnati’s 2001 first round pick, Justin Smith, went unsigned for 51 days and in 1984 Ricky Hunley went unsigned until his rights got traded mid season to Denver.

The Cincinnati Bengals football team have been notorious in recent years for their players’ off the field problems. In fact, character issues have plagued the team for the entire Marv Lewis coaching tenure. Every time you hear of an NFL player getting arrested, you almost assume it was a Bengal. The 13 arrests of Bengal players from June 2006 to June 2007 were actually ranked by Larry Brown. The Bengals have become the laughing stock of the entire league. Many have questioned whether or not coach Lewis has the ability to keep the Bengals team under control.

With all their recent problems, during the 2009 draft the Bengals inexplicably drafted more players with questionable characters. In spots where there were talented players with good characters, the Bengals selected players with off the field issues that had lowered their status in the draft.

In terms of sheer talent Andre Smith, the overall 6th pick in the draft, was a great pick. It had been predicted by many experts that he would be in the top five for several months. However, due to a poor performance at the draft combine, where he appeared out of shape and left inexplicably during the middle of workouts, his stock fell. It was believed that Smith could still excell, but would have a better chance of succeeding if he ended up on a team that had plenty of discipline and structure. The Bengals team are practically the opposite of this.

The Bengals picked up Rey Maualuga in the second round which represents a great steal. Maualuga is a player with first round talent, and the Bengals were able to pick him up much later in the second round. However, he is another player with a troubled past, which includes a battery charge from 2005 stemming from a Halloween party.

The Bengals next pick, Georgia Tech defensive end Michael Johnson, was yet another big steal. However the knock on Johnson is that he never played to his fullest potential. He is known to slack off at times. Here is another player who it seems would do better in a strict and structured environment, but it is the Bengals who picked him.

If it was any team besides the Bengals making these selections, it would appear to be savvy moves made by a team maximizing their draft picks and getting the most talent out of their selections. However, with a team like the Bengals with all of their off the field problems, bringing in more players with question marks doesn’t seem like very smart decisions.

The Bengals newest draft picks might just end up catapulting the Bengals into a new era of success. However, in order for that to happen the whole team’s demeanor and attitude will need to change, and management and the coaching staff will need to make sure that players’ off the field issues don’t get carried into the locker room. It seems unlikely that this will happen, but the Bengals will be an interesting team to watch over the next few years to see if the team turns around or continues on its troubled path.