The Cincinnati Bengals sent a pretty clear message to disgruntled star wide receiver Chad Johnson during the annual NFL Draft, and the week leading up to it: You’re not going anywhere. Either wear our stripes, or sit at home.Over a five day period, the Bengals turned down two confirmed trade proposals from Ocho Cinco suitors and acquired three new wide receivers out of the team’s ten draft picks. All of this while Johnson jumped from microphone to microphone with his never ending “trade me” rants.
Probably one of the most surprising picks of the draft, the Bengals passed up three projected late first, early second round wide receivers in Cal’s DeSean Jackson, Texas’ Limas Sweed, and Oklahoma’s Malcom Kelly, in order to get Jerome Simpson out of Coastal Carolina with the 46th overall pick in the second round. Simpson was the face of the football program at Coastal Carolina all four of his playing years, and has set just about every school and Big South Conference record possible. At 6-foot-2, 190-pounds, Simpson started 38 games for Coastal Carolina and set school records with 157 receptions which totaled 2,636 yards and 41 touchdowns. Simpson averaged 16.8 yards per catch and scored 246 points.
Simpson is most touted for his large hands, long arms, and his fearless over-the-middle presence. He has made numerous acrobatic catches over his career at Coastal Carolina, including one where he leaped over a defender who was standing straight up. Simpson has gathered early comparisons to Bengals’ wide out T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Reggie Wayne of the Indianapolis Colts.
The Bengals gave quarterback Carson Palmer another nice target in Florida speedster, Andre Caldwell, with a third round pick. Caldwell, whose older brother Reche plays for the St. Louis Rams, was tied for second in the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine amongst wide receivers with a time of 4.37. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Caldwell started 35 games over his career at Florida and caught a school-record 185 passes for 2,349 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Bengals also gave Palmer another viable goal-line option in 6-foot-6, 232-pound, seventh round pick, Mario Urrutia out of Louisville.
The Bengals’ biggest steal of the draft came, while addressing their biggest need, in the third round with the 77th overall selection of Auburn defensive tackle Pat Sims. The 6-foot-2, 310-pound Sims’ stock fell in the draft largely in part due to his off-the-field issues. After quitting the team in 2005, Sims returned to Auburn to start in 13 games. Over his on again-off again stint at Auburn, Sims finished with 56 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and 17.5 tackles, for losses totalling 105 yards. He also caused five fumbles, and returned another for a touchdown.
Sims can easily clog up the middle with his size to stop the run, while taking up multiple blockers on the defensive line. This will allow Bengals’ defensive ends Antwan Odom and Robert Geathers to bring pressure in passing situations around the corners, while also allowing the team’s speedy linebackers to shoot the offensive line gaps and bring it up the middle.
Sims can be just as good as, if not better than the Bengals’ first round target, Sedrick Ellis of Southern California, because he’s smaller and quicker.
The Bengals also selected another large defensive tackle in the second day of the draft with the 145th pick in the tenth round. Jason Shirley from Fresno State has given the Bengals the ability to develop a ferocious tandem in the middle of their defensive line if he can develop as a player and get his act together off the field. The 6-foot-5, 329-pound Shirley was suspended twice before being kicked off Fresno State’s football team in November for numerous law infractions, including driving under the influence with an expired license, and being involved in a hit-and-run.
If Bengals’ head coach Marvin Lewis wants to visit his old defensive 4-3 scheme he used when he won a Super Bowl as the Ravens defense coordinator, Sims and Shirley will play a key factor.
Overall, the Bengals receive a draft grade of B-. They addressed their most pressing needs, especially with their first round draft pick, Keith Rivers. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound linebacker out of USC should make an immediate impact as a rookie on a team that was depleted by injuries at the linebacker position all last season. Had the Bengals found a way to address a developing offensive need at running back, their grade only would’ve moved up to around the B+ area, due to a couple of questionable late round picks.
Other Draft News
The Bengals selected UC’s own defensive end Angelo Craig with a seventh round compensatory selection. Another UC student also saw his name selected in the second day of the draft. Free safety Haruki Nakamura was selected in the sixth round by the Baltimore Ravens. Four University of Kentucky players were selected, including quarterback Andre’ Woodson in the sixth round by the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants. Three players were selected out of Ohio State, including defensive end Vernon Gholston, the sixth overall pick, by the New York Jets.