Blackmon, Richardson, or trade down - 04/03/12 07:07 PM
I think these are our 3 most likely options. Im going to ignore Tannehill at #4 because we could still land him in a trade down option if we wanted (but I don't, he's too much of a reach considering the holes we need to fill).
Scenerio #1: Draft Justin Blackmon at #4
I like to think of this as the Bengals 2011 draft model. This team lacks a true #1 WR and Blackmon is the consensus #1 WR in the class. They say he's not rated as high as AJ Green or Julio Jones but he's better than anyone on the current roster. If we take him at #4 then I'd suspect the #22 pick will be a RT (Adams, Martin, Glenn) or RB (Miller, Martin, or Wilson). The 2nd round pick then becomes RT, RB (which ever wasn't used on #22) or IMO it would be QB Brandon Weeden. Dalton was a 2nd round pick last season who came seemingly from nowhere to lead Cincy to the playoffs. The Browns could hope to strike lightning in a bottle for a QB with 1st round talent but a 28 year old body who could step in with an improved line and a #1 WR he threw to in college and lead Cleveland from obscurity. I imagine if we went this route and didn't draft an RB we'd sign Benson.
Scenerio #2: Draft Trent Richardson at #4
Richardson is the highest rated RB to come out since Adrian Peterson. Of all the players in the draft not name Luck, he seems to be the prospect with the greatest chance of being an All-Pro. 2 years ago with a running game this team actually had something that resembled an offense. Last year with no running game, not so much. Richardson automatically forces teams to prepare for him and hes an all around back, he can run, catch and block. He gives this offense an immediate weapon and a chance to compete in the AFC North. Defenses will focus more on the run which could open up development of the pass. With the #22 pick the focus could be again on RT or getting a WR (Floyd if he drops, Wright, Hill, Jeffery) . The 2nd round pick could then (depending on the #22) RT (Adams, Massie, Sanders), WR (Randle, Jeffery, Sanu) or the Weeden QB option (if they really like another Cousins or Osweiller could be reached for).
Scenerio #3: Trade Down
Now there are numerous scenerios to this one but the consensus is if we trade down its not going to be like past drafts where we drop 10-15 spots, it will only be a few spots to grab a few extra picks. First possibility is a trade with the Rams to #6. No doubt they want Blackmon, but word is so does Jacksonville at #7. Possibly start a bidding war between the two and hopefully nab an extra 2nd and 3rd (or 4th). If we make the trade though we can almost assure that we wont get Blackmon or Richardson (no way he makes it past Tampa at #5). In this scenerio I could see us taking Tannehill (though I still don't want him that high; if by some miracle he dropped to #22 then I'd consider it) or talking to the Dolphins and moving back to #8 for another 2nd rounder. If we trade with the Rams at #6 then I say its either Claiborne or Tannehill. If we traded with Miami back to #8 then most likely Tannehill (Dolphins), Blackmon (Rams), Richardson (Bucs), and Claiborne (Jags) are all gone. At this point you start to consider player like Floyd, Reiff, Ingram, Coples, Upshaw and grab offense with the additional picks you've received. If Kalil somehow dropped to us we could probably get a ransom for him but I don't see it happening.
Scenerio #1: Draft Justin Blackmon at #4
I like to think of this as the Bengals 2011 draft model. This team lacks a true #1 WR and Blackmon is the consensus #1 WR in the class. They say he's not rated as high as AJ Green or Julio Jones but he's better than anyone on the current roster. If we take him at #4 then I'd suspect the #22 pick will be a RT (Adams, Martin, Glenn) or RB (Miller, Martin, or Wilson). The 2nd round pick then becomes RT, RB (which ever wasn't used on #22) or IMO it would be QB Brandon Weeden. Dalton was a 2nd round pick last season who came seemingly from nowhere to lead Cincy to the playoffs. The Browns could hope to strike lightning in a bottle for a QB with 1st round talent but a 28 year old body who could step in with an improved line and a #1 WR he threw to in college and lead Cleveland from obscurity. I imagine if we went this route and didn't draft an RB we'd sign Benson.
Scenerio #2: Draft Trent Richardson at #4
Richardson is the highest rated RB to come out since Adrian Peterson. Of all the players in the draft not name Luck, he seems to be the prospect with the greatest chance of being an All-Pro. 2 years ago with a running game this team actually had something that resembled an offense. Last year with no running game, not so much. Richardson automatically forces teams to prepare for him and hes an all around back, he can run, catch and block. He gives this offense an immediate weapon and a chance to compete in the AFC North. Defenses will focus more on the run which could open up development of the pass. With the #22 pick the focus could be again on RT or getting a WR (Floyd if he drops, Wright, Hill, Jeffery) . The 2nd round pick could then (depending on the #22) RT (Adams, Massie, Sanders), WR (Randle, Jeffery, Sanu) or the Weeden QB option (if they really like another Cousins or Osweiller could be reached for).
Scenerio #3: Trade Down
Now there are numerous scenerios to this one but the consensus is if we trade down its not going to be like past drafts where we drop 10-15 spots, it will only be a few spots to grab a few extra picks. First possibility is a trade with the Rams to #6. No doubt they want Blackmon, but word is so does Jacksonville at #7. Possibly start a bidding war between the two and hopefully nab an extra 2nd and 3rd (or 4th). If we make the trade though we can almost assure that we wont get Blackmon or Richardson (no way he makes it past Tampa at #5). In this scenerio I could see us taking Tannehill (though I still don't want him that high; if by some miracle he dropped to #22 then I'd consider it) or talking to the Dolphins and moving back to #8 for another 2nd rounder. If we trade with the Rams at #6 then I say its either Claiborne or Tannehill. If we traded with Miami back to #8 then most likely Tannehill (Dolphins), Blackmon (Rams), Richardson (Bucs), and Claiborne (Jags) are all gone. At this point you start to consider player like Floyd, Reiff, Ingram, Coples, Upshaw and grab offense with the additional picks you've received. If Kalil somehow dropped to us we could probably get a ransom for him but I don't see it happening.