Cincinnati Bengals 2010 Draft Grade

CINCINNATI

1.21 Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
Gresham is a talented athlete and a productive tight end, but he carries some injury concerns and the Bengals don’t really use the tight end all that much in their offense. I’m assuming that will change, and adding a weapon of this caliber for Carson Palmer can’t be counted as a negative. I’m not as high on Gresham as some, but it’s not a bad pick. GRADE: B

2.54 Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
Dunlap is just a younger Michael Johnson. I don’t really know how that will work. This guy wasn’t there for his team when they needed him most, and while he’ll get his second chance with the Bengals as a HUGE upside player, I wouldn’t be surprised if we never heard from him again. GRADE: C+

3.84 Jordan Shipley, WR, Texas
I like Shipley better than some, but he’s not a real upside guy. Just a solid contributor at best, a Jordy Nelson. He does do one thing well, and that’s catch the ball, so I don’t want to totally count him out (that’s an important trait for a receiver). Maybe he suprises. GRADE: B+

3.96 Brandon Ghee, CB, Wake Forest
Ghee might be the best pick of this class. But he also might be a fourth rounder for good reason. He slipped further than I expected, but he’s all upside as the 96th pick. Hard not to like filling a need late on the second day with a player slated to go in the second. GRADE: B

3ROUND GRADE: C+

4.120 Geno Atkins, DT, Georgia
Another workout warrior for the Bengals. Atkins had an awesome week at the senior bowl, and he’s tested off the charts ever since, but he was a dud on the actual field. Boom or bust Bengals. GRADE: B-

4.131 Roddrick Muckelroy, OLB, Texas
I like this pick. Muckelroy has the ability to play some SAM backer in this league. He’s got good instincts and nice speed, and he’s a great fit for the Bengals scheme. He’ll surprise. GRADE: B+

5.152 Otis Hudson, OG, Eastern Illinois
This is a better pick than it looks at first glance, but it’s still not as great as I’ve heard some say. Hudson is an upside guard who projects as a versatile interior player, but the word is “projects” for a reason. GRADE: C

6.191 Dezmon Briscoe, WR, Kansas
I liked Briscoe a lot heading into the season, and there’s no denying his production, but he really has a lot of work to do. He’s a long strider with a real lack of route-running skills. Still he’s got good size. GRADE: C

7.228 Reggie Stephens, OG, Iowa State
I like this pick better than the Hudson selection. Stephens is an underrated guard with great mobility and nice agility for a guy his size. He’ll be the depth they’re looking for. GRADE: B-

Best Pick: Jordan Shipley
Worst Pick: Otis Hudson
Sleeper Pick: Jermaine Gresham

FINAL ANALYSIS
Yeah, I’m calling Gresham the sleeper pick, because it’ll be a big change if the Bengals make a concerted effort to get him the ball. I think they will, and the best coaches adapt their schemes to their players’ strengths. But he’s an injury risk, and I think they good have gotten better value elsewhere. Dunlap and Atkins will wow you with their measurables, but turn on the tape and they disappear all too often. Ghee is an offseason hero as well, but he at least shows better try in game situations.

Shipley is the exact opposite of most of the Bengals’ picks. He’s an older guy at 25, and has limited upside but incredible consistency. I was down on this pick at first, but I’m now seeing him as a great fit. Then the Bengals took another flyer on Hudson, but at least he and Reggie Stephens fill a need for interior O line depth. Briscoe may never develop, but he’s worth the risk considering the dearth of talent at receiver.

The Bengals put a premium on finding more weapons for Carson Palmer. I can’t fault them for that. Atkins could be a perfect fit in this defense if he’s coached properly, and if Gresham pans out and finds himself fully utilized, he could give them another dimension. But there’s too much risk early on in the way of consistency risks.

GRADE: C

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