The Cincinnati Bengals entered the 2010 NFL Season with hopes and dreams of reaching the Super Bowl after winning the AFC North in 2009. A 2-1 start was followed by ten straight losses and even more fingers being pointed at who was to blame. This offseason has been just as problematic. Terrell Owens is not coming back. Chad Ochocinco Johnson may or may not be back. Carson Palmer has threatened to retire if he is not traded. Mike Brown isn't going to budge on that matter, so you may as well consider Palmer gone from Cincy. The Bengals entered the draft with questions at quarterback and receiver, and hit the mark at both positions.
Cincinnati could have drafted Blaine Gabbert with the 4th Overall pick, but they opted to go with the best offensive player in the draft with A.J. Green, the wide receiver out of Georgia. In Round 2, Cincinnati was able to get the quarterback they wanted all along in Andy Dalton. Unless Palmer somehow ends up back in a Bengals jersey, or unless they can pick up a veteran free agent quarterback, Dalton will be the Day 1 starter, and his job will be much easier with Green lining up on the outside.
The Bengals selected Dontay Moch, the outside linebacker/defensive end out of Nevada. Moch will have to adjust to playing linebacker, but he has all the physical tools to be a disruptive pass rusher. Cincinnati also got two more potential starters in fourth round pick Cling Boling and fifth round selection Robert Sands. Boling was seen by some as having late first round/early second round talent, and he should start at left guard. Sands will have the opportunity to move into the strong safety position, with Roy Williams and Chris Crocker both getting hit by age and injuries.
A late round sleeper looks to be Korey Lindsey, a cornerback taken in the seventh round out of Southern Illinois. Lindsey was seen as the best corner in FCS, and with Jonathon Joseph potentially heading to free agency he could get a chance right away.
Draft Grade: A
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