FOXNews.com: Cincinnati Bengals 2012 NFL Draft Review

FOXNews.com FOX News Network - We Report. You Decide. // via fulltextrssfeed.com

Cincinnati Bengals 2012 NFL Draft Review Apr 29th 2012, 16:15 1 - Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama (6-2, 186); 1 - Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin (6-4, 314); 2 - Devon Still, DT, Penn State (6-5, 303); 3 - Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers (6-2, 211); 3 - Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson (6-2, 314); 4 - Orson Charles, TE, Georgia (6-3, 251); 5 - Shaun Prater, CB, Iowa (5-10, 190); 5 - Marvin Jones, WR, California (6-2, 199); 5 - George Iloka, S, Boise State (6-4, 225); 6 - Dan Herron, RB, Ohio State (5-10, 213) Top Pick Analysis: The Bengals were able to bring in some more competition to a crowded cornerback corps by using their choice acquired in last fall's Carson Palmer trade on Kirkpatrick, a tall and very physical cover man capable of pushing veterans Nate Clements and Jason Allen for a place on the first- team defense. Zeitler, a three-year starter at Wisconsin, is expected to be an instant regular at right guard whose power and readiness should help boost a running game that was generally mediocre a year ago. Cincinnati traded down in the first round to land the former Badger, picking up an extra third that was spent on Thompson, a thick-bodied run-stopper with tremendous natural strength that will join the team's defensive tackle rotation along with Still, who offers more pass-rush potential than his new teammate as a three-technique candidate. The 2011 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year had once been considered a first-day lock, but slipped to the No. 53 spot mainly due to motivational concerns. Sanu had a very productive three-year career at Rutgers and is physical and an accomplished route-runner who could develop into a consistent chain-moving No. 2 receiver. Best Value Pick: Jones has experience in a West Coast offense like the Bengals employ and showed better-than-expected speed at the combine. He'll give Sanu a strong run in camp for to right to replace the outgoing Jerome Simpson in the starting lineup. Questionable Calls: All three current starters at linebacker and two of the top three defensive ends are scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency next season, but the Bengals didn't take a player at any of those positions. Summary: Cincinnati was able to successfully build on its talent base with an excellent overall haul. All five of the Bengals' selections over the first three rounds have a chance to contribute immediately in some form, and there are also possible sleepers in Jones and Iloka, a tall and rangy safety with starting potential. FINAL GRADE: A-

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions