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.

Vince Vitale from Ramblin’ Fan and Fan-Sided Blogs weighs in on who the Rams should be looking at in the upcoming 2009 NFL Draft.

Positions: C, MLB, SS, DT, WR, DE

Well when your team goes 2-14, and 5-27 in their last 32 games you have a lot of draft needs. On offense the St. Louis Rams were 31st in scoring with a lowly 14.5 PPG. The Rams were 27th in total yards, 26th in passing, and 25th in rushing. On defense the Rams were 31st in points allowed, 28th in yards allowed, 29th in rushing yards allowed, and 19th in passing yards allowed. So where should we, and where do we start?

Let’s go over one thing the St. Louis Rams desperately need, and that is improved quarterback play. Many fans would love to get rid of Marc Bulger but his 60+ million dollar contract pretty much ensures that the Rams will not select a QB in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Marc was 30th in QB rating behind such greats as Dan Orlovsky & JaMarcus Russell this year. In 2007 Marc also finished 30th behind Hall of Fame candidates Cleo Lemon & Tarvaris Jackson. The Rams need to protect Marc better and provide him with more weapons in 2009.

The Rams have the number two pick in the draft which can be quite costly as we reported here. With the second pick you need to select a franchise type player. The only player I see in that mode at the top of this draft is Michael Crabtree. As we stated in our earlier mock draft we love the selection of Crabtree with this pick. Crabtree can help improve the Rams offense, give Bulger a go-to receiver, and eventually replace Torry Holt.

I believe the Rams can get away without taking an OT with their first pick. I would like to see them pick up a solid center in the second or third round like Alex Mack, Max Unger, or Eric Wood. Remember Orlando Pace and Alex Barron each have a year left on their contract so if you draft on OT someone is going to ride the pine. At a 50+ million dollar price tag that will be a lot to spend on a backup. Remember the Rams have a large quantity in the O-line department already, including John Greco, Adam Goldberg, Mark Setterstrom, and Roy Schuening. Maybe with better coaching we could have a solid line.

So on one hand I would love to see the improved offense taking shape with a better line and Michael Crabtree. On the other hand the Rams need to be strong up this middle. I don’t like any defensive player coming out of this draft well enough to take at #2, however if we could move down I would be all for upgrading the middle of this D. Rey Maualuga is being talked about which would help two-fold as Will Witherspoon could then move to his natural position on the outside. Then what if the Rams could come back with the 35th pick in the draft and get a hammer at Safety like Patrick Chung.

Many 2009 mock drafts have the Rams taking an OT. Of the last 50 mock drafts posted on HailRedskins.com 44 of them have the Rams taking an OT, and 28 of those have the Rams taking Andre Smith from Alabama. I am not sold on Smith, I believe he is actually too large and slow especially to play LT in the NFL. Also his footwork is simply not good enough right now.

With a new coaching staff under Steve Spagnuolo and a new GM in Billy Devaney the Rams will first have to decide on which players they will keep, what free agents they are interested in and based on their philosophy what players they will draft. So hey nobody knows anything yet, but it sure is fun to talk Rams football in January.

1. QB Pat White

2. DE Robert Ayers, Tennessee - Set to become the biggest Ayers since Bill. When I say Draft, you say Ayers — Draft-Ayers! Draft-Ayers! (gotta love that SNL skit) Coming in, critics were concerned about him not being a full-time starter as a Vol for very long. Then he straight whooped Michael Oher last Monday in practice and was basically unblockable in last night’s game, recording 1.5 sacks — the half sack resulting in a defensive TD. He’s a second-round lock who could move up with a strong combine showing. Ayers was the Defensive Player of the Game.

3. WR – Juaquin Iglesias, Oklahoma - His play last night after the week of practice he had has convinced me that he is this year’s Eddie Royal. I’m going to call him Steak n Shake. Why? He’s got the hands of a good graveyard shift server — he holds onto the ball regardless of the situation; B.) He’s definitely got the shake part down; C.) He’s always open. Love this kid.

4. LB  Rey Maualuga, USC – Rey outplayed teammate Brian Cushing after a week where it looked like Cushing might pass him on draft boards. He rebounded immediately from a missed tackle early on to cause a fumble on the same series. Later in the game he absolutely annihilated an attempted halfback screen, beating standout center Max Unger to make the play. He looked like a pro amongst amateurs out there at times. The NFL needs a Rey for the next generation. He’s ready.

5. TE Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State – The best blocking tight end who’s also a good receiver that I’ve ever seen at this level. He’s a 10 as a blocker, an 8 as a receiver. His blocking was just awesome last night, and he’s the best TE receiver in this class as well. Pencil him in as a first-rounder. Actually, you’re safe to use pen.

6. C Eric Woods, Louisville -  I watched him a lot, and like what I saw from the mauler. He dominated B.J. Raji — arguably the best DT in the draft — on one short TD run by getting under Raji’s pads and blowing him off the ball. Impressive.

7. RB Andre Brown, NC State – You know those third-round RBs that end up starting during their rookie season. I could see Brown doing that. What can Brown do for your team? A lot.

8. G/T Herman Johnson, LSU – He was a 15-pound baby. Now, I’m not so sure that he couldn’t eat a 15-pound baby. Big man, I just dig the way you move all that man. If you keep your weight in check I could see you being a Leonard Davis-type player.

9. CB Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest – Should have had a pick six on a route he jumped, but couldn’t come down with it, . He’s a potential shutdown corner for sure. He’ll probably be picked early second, making him this year’s Brandon Flowers. He’ll play like a first-rounder.

10. OT Xavier Fulton, Illinois – Got called for a questionable holding call, but I thought he moved better than any OT in the game. He can really get downfield and make some things happen. I think this kid is a serious sleeper becuase of his athleticism. Could be a better pro than college player.

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