Overall Grade: B+

1) Aaron Curry- Wake Forest, OLB 4^th pick- the Hawks got the best defensive player in the draft as well as the safest pick. Aaron Curry will be a big help to the defence which struggled last year. He will come in and contribute right away.  (Grade: A)

2) Max Unger- Oregon, C/G 49^th pick- Seattle traded away their 4^th round pick to get Unger. The offense line was a big need and Max Unger will provide the Seahawks with a lot of versatility. He can play both guard and centre. (Grade: A)

3) Deon Butler- Penn State, WR 91^st pick-Butler has blazing speed with a 40 time of 4.38 at the combine. I believe that Matt Hasselbeck could use a taller target to throw to. And Butler is only 5- 10, but he is very tough and will be a home run threat every time he touches the ball. (Grade: B+)

4) Mike Teel- Rutgers, QB 178^th pick- The Seahawks were looking for a future QB believe it is Mike Teel. This pick should have been used on a RB, CB or a safety. The Hawks will be able to get a much more talented QB next draft. (Grade: C+)

5) Courtney Greene- Rutgers, S 245^th pick- The Seahawks needed help in the secondary.  Green dropped a bit and is a physical player with good size.  The Seahawks could use anyone to replace Brian Russell. (Grade: A)

6) Nick Reed- Oregon, DE 247^th pick- This was a disappointing selection. Reed is a very small DE, but he was the Pac-10 defensive player of the year.  I thought that the Hawks would use this pick to select RB Rashad Jennings. He had slipped from being a 4^th round potential pick into the 7^th round. He would have been a perfect fit for Seattle’s new zone blocking scheme. (Grade: C)

7) Cameron Morrah- California, TE, 248^th pick- Morrah is a very athletic TE that would have been a possible 2^nd or 3^rd round pick if he had stayed in school. Morrah was the best player available.  (Grade: A)

In 2010, the Big 12 is going to be one stop shopping for your mock draft. No less than six of the top ten prospects in the 2010 draft will be playing their senior seasons in the Big 12.

The state of Oklahoma alone has three such players that will be the topics of discussions on message boards across the NFL landscape.

Offensive tackles Russell Okung of Oklahoma State and Trent Williams of Oklahoma are looking like top 10 locks. In fact, there is a real possibility of both getting a lot of attention as the possible number one overall selection. Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham could be a top 10 pick as well. The 6′6″, 262 pound prospect could see his stock rise with a productive senior year and a good combine showing.

As usual, Mack Brown has a couple of his guys on the NFL radar. The Texas Longhorns have a Heisman hopeful in quarterback Colt McCoy and a guy who could be the Aaron Curry of the 2010 draft in outside linebacker Sergio Kindle.

The Blackshirts of Nebraska are anchored by Ndamukong Suh, a 6′4″, 305 pound defensive tackle who looks to be the best defensive lineman in the 2010.

Combine the above mentioned names with Missouri OLB Sean Weatherspoon, Texas OT Adam Ulatoski, Oklahoma RB Chris Brown and Texas WR Jordan Shipley and you’re sure to see an onslaught of Big 12 talent selected on the first day of the 2010 NFL draft.

Of course, these are just the seniors. Oklahoma junior Sam Bradford could very well be the top pick in the draft should he forgo his final year of eligibility. Many pegged Bradford as the top pick in 2009 had he declared, instead the Oklahoma City native opted to return to school and make a run at adding a second Hesiman trophy to his case.

If you’re a fan of Big 12 football, expect to catch Todd McShay and Mel Kiper exchanging heated banter on the sideline of the Red River Shootout this year. In fact, you can safely bet on seeing the two draft wizards making their rounds as they try to stay on top of all the prospects that fill the Big 12 rosters.

I’m pretty sure that throughout his USC career the one thing Sanchez did have more than anything was confidence. In the Rose Bowl against USC it showed as his precision passes and pinpoint accuracy helped his NFL stock sky rocket into a potential top ten player.

When he announced he was leaving Southern California, even at the dislike of his head coach Pete Carroll, he sat at the podium with tons of confidence. Carroll told Sanchez he was making a mistake and that NFL teams needed more time to evaluate him before he went pro.

His young quarterback smiled and claimed he was ready.

Now I think Sanchez is hearing Carroll’s thoughts over and over as nightmares of a Aaron Rodgers type drop through the first round spirals through his head. On Monday he declined on the chance to go to New York for the draft. I have a feeling that his decision has a lot to do with his fear of falling out of the top ten and having to wait in the green room for hours while waiting to be selected.

He has publicly stated through his brother that he has elected to spend the day with friends and family. This may be the complete truth, but I know that if I was in Sanchez’s shoes I’d be worried about taking a free fall.

Nine players are going to New York, including Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman. Most mock drafts have Freeman going in round two, which makes his invite a little surprising. Brian Cushing, Brian Orakpo, Matthew Stafford, Aaron Curry, Jason Smith, Michael Oher, Eugene Monroe, and Michael Crabtree all are also going.

2. WR Michael Crabtree: I’ve been higher on Crabtree than most since he entered college. I feel like he can be a star at the NFL level but a lot depends on how teams believe he is recovering. His route running needs to be more precise.

3. OT Jason Smith: Smith launched up draft boards as other lineman fell down them. He looks like the best overall lineman available in the draft, ahead of Eugene Monroe. It’s not very often a Baylor player goes this early in the draft.

4. OT Eugene Monroe: A few teams still feel like he is the best player in this draft (outside of Curry). He looks like a sure top seven pick unless something crazy happens between now and draft day.

5. QB Matthew Stafford: I’ve had Stafford as my top quarterback for a year now. He can be successful at the NFL level but he’s got to end up in the right situation (like all drafted players). Detroit  isn’t the place you think of what you think of success.

6. DT B. J. Raji: Did he fail a drug test at the NFL combine? No he did not and now it will not affect his draft stock. Raji is easily the best defensive lineman available in this draft and a clear top ten pick.

7. WR Jeremy Maclin: I’m not as high as everyone else is on Maclin, but he is one of the few players in this draft that you know will be able to fit in in a lot of different ways if you select him. He can return kicks or catch passes. Either way he’s going to get the football in the open field, and that’s scary.

8. QB Mark Sanchez: Sanchez left USC too early but he’s still going to get a very nice paycheck for it. Expect Sanchez to go in the top 15 and get a starting position right away in most situations. Will he actually develop into a NFL QB? That remains to be seen but after studying him it’s clear he has all the talent he needs to make it.

9. OT Andre Smith: If you forget that he talked to a NFL agent too early and was suspended from the Sugar Bowl and his NFL combine issues then Smith is probably a top five player in this draft. The problem is that you can’t just push those potential character issues to the side.

10. CB Malcolm Jenkins: There is only one cornerback in this draft that can be counted on as a rookie to shut down NFL wide receivers next year. That one guy is Jenkins. Expect him to start right away, no matter where he ends up.

The main questions dealing with the NFL Draft at this moment are these:

• Will the Lions take Matthew Stafford #1 overall?
• If the Lions don’t take Stafford what happens to Stafford & Sanchez?
• In what order will Michael Crabtree & Jeremy Maclin go?
• Where will X-factor Andre Smith end up?

Here’s my best guess:

1. Detroit Lions: QB Matthew Stafford (Georgia)
The Lions need their franchise quarterback and Stafford (on paper at least) appears to be the guy that fit that profile. Aaron Curry is another option here, but in the past the Lions seem to always go for the flashy, best player on the board type player and they usually get burned.

2. St. Louis Rams: OT Jason Smith (Baylor)
Last year the Rams got Chris Long, the defensive end from Virginia, instead of Jake Long to fortify their offensive line. Now they can get their offensive tackle as well. Smith has passed both Eugene Monroe, Michael Oher, and the other offensive tackles on most draft boards.

3. Kansas City Chiefs: LB Aaron Curry (Wake Forest)
How many times does the team with the third pick get the best player in the draft? Not very often. The Chiefs could also take Crabtree but this might be too good to pass up. Curry is going to be very good for years to come.

4. Seattle Seahawks: WR Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech)
This pick scares me because it makes too much sense to be true. Why wouldn’t the Seahawks get arguably the best player in the draft (aside from injuries) and their go to receiver?

5. Cleveland Browns: LB/DE Brian Orakpo (Texas)
This one also looks to make sense.  Everyone thinks Orakpo should go to the Browns. The Texas defensive end would certainly give the Browns a pass rush, something that was completely missing in 2008.

6. Cincinnati Bengals: OT Eugene Monroe (Virginia)
The Bengals would be ecstatic if this scenario played out. Without having to move up at all they could get arguably the best offensive lineman in this entire draft. Monroe would solidify an offensive line needing a lot of help.

7. Oakland Raiders: WR Jeremy Maclin (Missouri)
Do I think Maclin is this good? No, I really don’t but we all know how Al Davis is. Maclin would be an all around playmaker for the Raiders and his selection would give Oakland a young QB, young RB, and a young WR all drafted in the last three years.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars: DT B. J. Raji (Boston College)
We’ve all heard about Raji’s drug test (which he didn’t fail) and his up and down draft stock. Some believe he can go as high as #4 to Seattle, while others seem him going towards the bottom of the top ten.

9. Green Bay Packers: DE Everett Brown (Florida State)
This is the first really hard position to choose in the mock draft. Brown is one of the most athletic players in this draft out of Florida State and he gets the nod over Maybin and Tyson Jackson.

10. San Francisco 49ers: QB Mark Sanchez (USC)
This looks like the landing spot for Sanchez unless a team jumps ahead of the 49ers. Sanchez isn’t as experienced as most teams like their franchise quarterback to be but at this point San Francisco has to take a chance.

11. Buffalo Bills: DE Aaron Maybin (Penn State)
All these defensive ends are really a toss up. In my estimation Maybin is the third best available behind both Orakpo and Brown.

12. Denver Broncos: DE Tyson Jackson (LSU)
Jackson has been harassing SEC quarterbacks for years and now he moves onto the NFL. The Broncos (like the Browns) can use any defensive help they can get. Adding Jackson would help by getting some pressure on the opposing quarterback, something Denver has lacked recently.

13. Washington Redskins: DE Robert Ayers (Tennessee)
Defensive ends and offensive tackles are always the most picked players in the first round of the NFL Draft. I still don’t know if I’ve ever seen five defensive ends go this fast in a draft. Washington has multiple options here but in my opinion they elect to take Ayers, who is flying up draft boards quicker than any other player.

14. New Orleans Saints: LB Brian Cushing (USC)
Cushing has actually passed his teammate Ray Mauluaga on most draft boards (rated off overall, not position since OLB & MLBs are completely different positions). Cushing seems to ALWAYS be in the right place at the right time. He tracks the football like a wild animal.

15. Houston Texans: CB Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio State)
Secondary help in the AFC South? Imagine that. There’s probably a good chance this pick has a lot to do with Peyton Manning. Jenkins is the top corner in this draft and has the tools to become a shutdown cornerback in the NFL. That’s exactly what Houston needs.

16. San Diego Chargers: OT Andre Smith (Alabama)
A couple of weeks ago I never would’ve thought Smith could fall this far in the draft. He might not, but at this point he’s the biggest question mark in the draft. San Diego elects to go best available and takes Smith who has all of the talent in the world for an offensive lineman.

17. New York Jets: RB Knowshon Moreno (Georgia)
Moreno is a very versatile running back that can cut on a dime and has an explosive step once he gets into the open field. The Jets already have a running back that can make plays, Leon Washington, but they are lacking a guy who can make big plays every down.

18. Denver Broncos: LB Ray Maualuga (USC)
During college football season I could’ve seen Maualuga going in the top five of the NFL Draft. The teams at the top do not need a middle linebacker and it has affected his draft stock. Even with that there’s no doubt this would be a steal at #18 overall.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Josh Freeman (Kansas State)
I don’t think Freeman is worth a first round pick but the NFL is a copycat league. The Buccaneers need a quarterback and Freeman is the last one available until much later rounds. Tampa Bay takes Freeman here and begins a rebuilding project.

20. Detroit Lions: OT Michael Oher (Mississippi)
There was a point in time where Oher was the top rated draft prospect in this entire draft. Now the Lions could get him at #20 overall. If you are the Lions right here you’ve got to consider what could happen if you don’t take Stafford #1 overall. Is there any way you could get Curry and then trade up for Sanchez? It’s just something to think about. For now I think Detroit gets a big lineman to protect their franchise quarterback, Stafford.

21. Philadelphia Eagles: RB Chris Wells (Ohio State)
This is just a gut feeling. If you’re Philadelphia you’ve got a great running back in Brian Westbrook that makes more plays in the passing game (due to Andy Reid’s play calling) than in the running game. Wells would give Philadelphia a third down back and a great goaline back at least. If he developed into more (like he should) it would be a fantastic pick.

22. Minnesota Vikings: WR Derrius Heyward Bey (Maryland)
Everyone keeps leaving out Heyward Bey when they discuss this year’s best receivers. He’s extremely talent and will be a great NFL wide receiver. The Vikings should take him over Percy Harvin (who I love) so it’s hard for me to say that.

23. New England Patriots: LB Clay Matthews (USC)
How about three USC linebackers going in the top 23 picks in this draft? Is it just me or does Matthews seem like the kind of guy New England always drafts? He’s going to play well and be in the right place at the right time to make plays more times than naught.

24. Atlanta Falcons: TE Brandon Pettigrew (Oklahoma State)
Pettigrew is the only tight end worth a first round pick in this years draft. He’s a dynamic playmaker and would give Matt Ryan another receiver to throw the ball to.

25. Miami Dolphins: WR Percy Harvin (Florida)
Once again this pick just makes too much sense to me. Miami loves running the “Wildcat” offense and Harvin is the ultimate wildcat. Plus you can give Harvin, who played football in the same state, and add Miami fans in the process.

26. Baltimore Ravens: WR Hakeem Nicks (North Carolina)
It seems like Nick’s crazy catch against West Virginia has helped launch him into the first round. There’s no doubt that he can be a very effective wide receiver and Baltimore would be getting great value here. A year after taking Joe Flacco they could add a potential star receiver for him to throw to.

27. Indianapolis Colts: DT Peria Jerry (Mississippi)
It seems like most of us mock draft ‘experts’ agree that this pick will either be Jerry or Evander Hood from Missouri. Jerry would help seal up the middle of the defensive line and plug up a big hole for Indy.

28. Philadelphia Eagles: OT Eben Britton (Arizona)
Britton would be a steal this last in round one and it seems that Philadelphia loves taking lineman in the first round of the draft. After taking Wells earlier it would only make sense (based off of the Eagles past drafts) for them to go back to the line with their second pick.

29. New York Giants: LB James Laurinaitis (Ohio State)
This is another best player available pick. Laurinaitis’ stock has fallen this offseason but he’s what Mel Kiper Jr. would call a “football player”. Basically that means he’s willing to do whatever it takes to win, including sacrificing his body.

30. Tennessee Titans: CB Vontae Davis (Illinois)
A couple of months ago Davis looked like a potential top 15 pick. Now he’s just hoping to be taken at the end of round one. Davis is another corner that has the chance to be a shutdown defensive back in the NFL. The Titans don’t have many holes and adding someone to your secondary is never a bad choice.

31. Arizona Cardinals: RB LeSean McCoy (Pittsburgh)
I’ve had Arizona taking a running back since last offseason. The Cardinals need someone to help open up the passing game. If they could they’d throw it every down, but as we know the passing game starts with the running game.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers: C Alex Mack (California)
Another pick that makes too much sense. He’s already visited with Pittsburgh and this is really the only glaring hole for the defending world champions.

Curry ran a 4.56 40 yard dash and recorded a 37″ vertical leap, which were both tops among linebackers. Curry could even sneak into the #1 overall picture overall and give the Detroit Lions something to think about. If he doesn’t go there then chances are St. Louis and Kansas City aren’t going to let him drop too far.

Curry is taking advantage of what he’s got going for him now, especially after he told this story about what happened to him two years ago:

“I came home from college and my mom was telling me we were being evicted and we didn’t have anywhere to stay,” said Curry. “At that point, we didn’t have the funds to get into another house. Those are the moments you think about in the fourth quarter when there’s a play that needs to be made and you have the opportunity to provide for your family for the rest of their lives.”

Curry was the overall winner of the NFL Draft combine. He steadied his stock and improved it in a lot of ways, assuring himself of a mammoth contract in April.

Matter of fact, in SI.com’s Don Banks latest mock draft Curry is slotted to go #1 overall to the Lions. Before the NFL combine that wasn’t very likely.

]]> http://nflmocks.com/2009/02/27/aaron-curry-a-sure-top-five-pick-after-combine/feed/ 1 http://nflmocks.com/2009/01/30/kansas-city-chiefs-draft-needs/ http://nflmocks.com/2009/01/30/kansas-city-chiefs-draft-needs/#comments Fri, 30 Jan 2009 07:01:39 +0000 nflmocks http://nflmocks.com/?p=872 Keith Halpin, aka Merlin, Contributor at Arrowhead Addict and Draft Tek.

Positional Needs: DE, MLB, C, T, QB, OLB

The Chiefs had a rough two win season that resulted in the departure of long-time President/CEO/King Carl Peterson and Head Coach Herm Edwards. Highly rated GM Scott Pioli was brought in from New England to take over.

To the casual observer, going from a four win season in 2007 to a two win season in 2008 it would appear that the Chiefs are trending downwards. However, the opposite is the case as the 2008 draft brought in several talented youngsters like Branden Albert, Brandon Flowers, Brandon Carr and Glenn Dorsey. The good news is that much of the foundation has been laid. The bad news is that quite a bit more work needs to be done for the Chiefs to be a contender.

As of this writing, the Chiefs do not have a head coach. So, this evaluation is based on more or less a continuation of the current direction. It will be revised should a new regime decide to make major changes like trading Tony Gonzalez, Larry Johnson or changing to a 3-4 defense.

Looking at the Chiefs this year, the Chiefs have no pass rush, a poor right side of the offensive line and a linebacker corps in shambles. Hence, why almost all of the listed needs focus on those areas. Finding an effective pass rusher is the biggest need.

With so many holes to fill, I am hoping Scott Pioli makes a sizable play in the free agency market. Terrell Suggs would top my wish list, should he actually hit free agency. Filling the DE, a LB need and the RT need would be a major shot in the arm. This would also allow the Chiefs to focus their draft board more.

The status of Tyler Thigpen as the starting quarterback is one of the major decisions a new head coach will make. Outside of Matt Stafford, I do not see a quarterback worth taking with the #3 pick. I expect him to go to Detroit with the #1 pick. I can see a quarterback selected in rounds four or five.

Without any free agency signings, I expect the Chiefs to approach the draft with the following strategy. The dream would be for a stud pass rusher to be on the board at #3. However, this draft appears to lack such a player. I can see the Chiefs looking to move into the second half of the top ten of the draft. However, we can not assume such a trade will be made. Trading into the top five is a very expensive proposition both in terms of money and surrendered picks. For example, the Raiders at #7 are very lacking at the WR position. Putting aside the rivalry between the teams, a trade up to #3 to get in front of Seattle in order to take Michael Crabtree makes some sense. However, a fair trade, based on the existing trade chart, would call for a 2nd and 3rd round picks this year in addition to pick #7. Would the Raiders trade that or pick #7, and second round picks this year and next year to move up four spots? With crazy Al, who knows, but it’s a stretch to count on it.

In the first round, the Chiefs can justify going in a number of directions. An impact defensive player like Aaron Curry or Rey Maualuga could be the choice here. Drafting another offensive tackle is another logical area to pursue. The Chiefs could surprise and go QB or for a purely value pick like Michael Crabtree.

When you get to the second round, the options open up even more. I can see any of the listed needs going in round two. When you are near the top of round two, your best strategy is to see what first round talent falls to your pick. One or more first round talent always does, like it did last year with Brandon Flowers. Players I am looking at in round two include centers Alex Mack and Max Unger, defensive ends Michael Johnson and Robert Ayers as well as linebackers Clint Sintim and Brian Cushing.

Timothy Redinger from BuffaLowdown and Fan-Sided Blogs weighs in on who the Bills should be looking at in the upcoming 2009 NFL Draft.

The Bills are selecting 11th overall in this years draft. I don’t see the Bills trading up in this draft, nor do I see them trading down, unless the price was right.

The Bills can do a lot with the 11th pick, and according to *Chris Brown* featured on Two Bills Drive this morning, the Bills would do well to take a pass rusher, because the teams selecting just after them will be looking to improve that area as well.

From the Mocks that I have seen in the past few days, defensive ends are the common theme for the Buffalo pick, with names like Everett Brown (Florida State), Tyson Jackson (LSU), and Brian Orakpo (Texas) being mentioned.

Only one draft I saw had the Bills not taking a DE, and that mock had the Bills selecting OLD Aaron Curry from Wake Forest.

Thinking of the Bills and their frugal ways, I could see the Bills being cautious with this draft, but taking the draft head on when the rookie cap is put into place.

David Wellman from Stripe Hype and Fan-Sided Blogs weighs in on who the Bengals should be looking at in the upcoming 2009 NFL Draft.

As one might expect of a team that finished last season 4-11-1, the Cincinnati Bengals are in need of upgrades pretty much across the board. The only exception is quarterback, where a healthy Carson Palmer is by all reports set to return next fall. Here’s a unit-by-unit look.

Offense: The Bengals’ weakest unit is the offensive line. Left tackle Levi Jones hasn’t been completely healthy since early in the 2006 season, right tackle Stacy Andrews tore his ACL in the second-to-last game of 2008 and is a free agent in March, and center Eric Ghiacuic, who consistently struggled against top-tier defensive linemen, isn’t expected to return. The Bengals do have tackle Anthony Collins, a highly regarded junior they stole in the fourth round of the ‘08 draft, as well as tackle Andrew Whitworth, a second-round pick in 2006 who has been playing at left guard, so there are some tackle options in-house. Nonetheless, OT is a very strong possibility in the first, where the Bengals have the 6th overall selection. At center, Ghaicuic’s backup is converted guard Dan Santucci, a seventh-round pick in 2007, so a center in the second or third round is a strong possibility as well.

A number of mock drafts have projected a running back or wide receiver to the Bengals in the first round, but at this point it’s impossible to tell what those positions will look like come draft day. Cincinnati is very high on RB Cedric Benson and has made re-signing him this offseason a priority. Likewise, the Bengals also want to re-sign WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh and are said to be interested in moving fellow wideout Chad Johnson. Houshmandzadeh is a candidate for the franchise tag if a long-term deal can’t be worked out. Depending on how things play out, running back and/or wide receiver could be addressed as high as the first round, though most Bengals fan would view this as a grave miscalculation. With the Bengals’ abysmal offensive line unable to either run-block or protect the QB, any upgrades at RB or WR would be superfluous. A reincarnated Jim Brown couldn’t make much headway behind the line as currently constituted, and even the best wideout can’t help much when the QB gets gets planted every play.

The Bengals do not look to be in the market for a tight end after having signed Ben Utecht away from the Colts and drafting Villanova project Matt Sherry in the sixth round last year. However, the Bengals are very much in need of a fullback. Starter Jeremi Johnson, a fourth-round pick back in 2003, struggled with weight issues throughout his career, and last August showed up at training camp grossly overweight. He was initially put on the physically unable to perform list, but then proceeded to hurt his knee during camp and was placed on injured reserve. He was subsequently released during the season. Johnson’s absence played a significant role in both the poor run game as well as the poor pass protection, as Cincinnati was forced to rely on converted TE Daniel Coats. If the Bengals don’t sign a free agent FB, that becomes an option as early as the fourth round.

Defense: If fixing the offensive line is job 1 for the Bengals this offseason, fixing the pass rush is job 1a. The Bengals had just 17 sacks last season, tied with the Browns for second-fewest in the league. The team has invested heavily in the defense in the draft over the past four years with four straight first round selections dedicated to that side of the ball. The attention finally began to pay off in 2008, when the Bengals’ defense finished 12th overall. A disruptive defensive tackle like B.J. Raji, whom the team’s coaching staff saw up close at the Senior Bowl or defensive end such as Brian Orapko are both legitimate options in the first round. DT may be the slightly more attractive of the two. The Bengals coveted Sedrick Ellis last year but were outmaneuvered by New Orleans and forced to settle for Pat Sims (who had a solid rookie campaign) in the third. And the team already has about $60 million invested in two current defensive ends, Antwan Odom and Robert Geathers, plus former third-round pick Frostee Rucker in reserve.

Last year, the Bengals took USC linebacker Keith Rivers in the first round and installed him as the starter on the weak side. Rivers was having a very good rookie year until getting knocked out with a busted jaw. Cincinnati will almost certainly look to bolster the linebacking corps further, perhaps as early as the first round. Rey Maualuga would be an upgrade over Dhani Jones in the middle, as Aaron Curry would be over former CFL DE Rashad Jeanty on the strong side. Both those current Bengals starters are serviceable on the field and good characters in the locker room, but they aren’t keeping any offensive coordinators around the league up at night.

Cornerback is a slim possibility in the first. The Bengals took first-round corners Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall back-to-back in 2006 and 2007. Joseph has been dogged by injuries and hands of stone — just five picks on 48 passes defensed — while Hall is fine against Nos. 2 and 3 receivers, but can be burned by elite wideouts. The team’s No. 3 corner is David Jones, a fifth-round pick by the Saints in 2007. The Bengals are likely set at safety, especially if free agent Chris Crocker returns.

Special teams: Special teams could be very much in the mix come draft day. Incumbent kicker Shayne Graham is a free agent in March, and so far there have been no talks between his agent and the Bengals. The team and Graham tried to reach an extension prior to the 2008 season but couldn’t come to an agreement. Cincinnati was forced to match a rich offer from Jacksonville for Graham several years ago when Shayne was a restricted free agent, so his price tag for another tour of duty may simply be too high for the budget-conscious Bengals.

Punter is also up for grabs. The Bengals extended their current punter Kyle Larson last offseason, despite an iffy 2007 outing, and Larson was among the worst in the league in 2008. Special teams coach Darrin Simmons has already said that competition will be brought in at the position, and many Bengals fans would be overjoyed to see the team use a day 2 pick on a local product, University of Cincinnati standout Kevin Huber.

QB | RB | WR | TE | T | G/C | DT | DE | LB | CB | S | K | P

RANK	TEAM	POSITION	PLAYER
1		OLB/ILB	Aaron Curry
2		ILB	Rey Maualuga
3		OLB	Brian Cushing
4		ILB	James Laurinaitis
5		OLB	Aaron Maybin