Paul Dehner Jr. Bengals Mock Draft 1.0
Leading up to April 30 and the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft in Chicago, I will wheel out four different versions of this mock draft predicting who the Bengals will select. Also, I've added a second-round pick prediction for the Bengals as well.
The second version will surface following the majority of free agency in early April, then a third two weeks before the draft and the final version launching the day before the first round finally arrives.
1. Tampa Bay — QB Jameis Winston (Florida State). Lovie Smith and the Buccaneers' staff will hold their breath regarding Winston's off-field behavior, but he's the top quarterback available who could potentially change the direction of this downtrodden franchise.
2. Tennessee — DL Leonard Williams (USC). The Titans ranked 31st in rushing yards allowed per game. Plugging the top defensive lineman in this draft into the middle of the line will help change that.
3. Jacksonville — DE Dante Fowler Jr. (Florida). The Jaguars would prefer to upgrade their offensive line. And considering a team in love with Marcus Mariota could be interested in trading up, don't rule out the Jags moving back.
4. Oakland — WR Kevin White (West Virginia). One of the fun debates this season has been between polished Alabama WR Amari Cooper and White, who saw his stock fly even higher running a 4.35 40-yard dash at the Combine. Raiders and speed always go together.
5. Washington — OLB Shane Ray (Missouri). The only question surrounds his size to stand up in the 3-4 defense, but his pass-rushing skills off the edge mean too much to a defense filling in for Brian Orakpo.
6. New York Jets — QB Marcus Mariota (Oregon). New coach Todd Bowles didn't draft Geno Smith, but he's currently stuck with him. That is, until Mariota sits waiting six picks in. The Jets have to do it.
7. Chicago — DT Danny Shelton (Washington). With John Fox flipping to a 3-4, he must fill the all-important defensive tackle position. The 6-foot-2, 339-pound Shelton provides an ideal fit of need, size and skill.
8. Atlanta — DE Randy Gregory (Nebraska). The Falcons badly need a pass rush. They'll run to the podium if the explosive Gregory remains in the eight spot.
9. New York Giants — OL Brandon Scherff (Iowa). New York must figure a way to keep Eli Manning upright. Adding the top offensive lineman in this draft would be the smart choice.
10. St. Louis — WR Amari Cooper (Alabama). Weapons abound for the Rams, only needing a quarterback to pull them all together. Finding Cooper here could be the steal of the draft.
11. Minnesota — WR DeVante Parker (Louisville). Looking to help out second-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater? How about adding his favorite college target.
12. Cleveland — DT Malcolm Brown (Texas). The Browns cry as both receivers come off the board in front of them, but gaining one of the most disruptive tackles in the draft would be a fine consolation.
13. New Orleans — OLB Vic Beasley (Clemson). The Saints finished 31st in total defense last year in the bottom quadrant in sacks per pass attempt. Beasley could help rejuvenate the pass rush.
14. Miami — CB Trae Waynes (Michigan State). The Dolphins could use help up front, so they'll be tempted by Arik Armstead and Eddie Goldman, but depth at corner can never be underestimated - particularly with the top one still on the board.
15. San Francisco — DE Arik Armstead (Oregon). With Justin Smith on the way out, Armstead offers the perfect transition to the next generation.
16. Houston — SS Landon Collins (Alabama). The Texans need a youth infusion in their secondary, and Collins helps provide that. Houston's needs could change dramatically, though, depending on where their numerous defensive free agents land.
17. San Diego — DT Eddie Goldman (Florida State). The Chargers need help on the interior of their line against the run where they were 29th in rushing yards allowed per play. Goldman serves as a stabilizing presence.
18. Kansas City — WR Jaelen Strong (Arizona State). The Chiefs were the only team without a touchdown for a receiver last year. Strong fits with his ability to make tough catches fending off defenders.
19. Cleveland (from Buffalo) — OT Andrus Peat (Stanford). The Browns are beside themselves as Strong comes off the board before them and have to consider Dorial Green-Beckham, but there's no way this franchise brings in a WR with trouble off-the-field. Or would that be exactly what the Browns would do?
20. Philadelphia — CB Kevin Johnson (Wake Forest). The release of corner Cary Williams solidifies even further the secondary will be overhauled. Johnson will be part of the solution.
21. Cincinnati — OT La'el Collins (LSU). The argument many will make in selecting Collins surround doubts he can transition to left tackle full-time in the NFL. The same doubts were cast toward another former LSU offensive lineman joining the Bengals. Cincinnati can only hope Collins achieves to the same degree.
Collins hits both immediate and future needs since he can play immediately as a starting guard in the league as well as cover both tackle positions as a swinging backup. Then, with the contracts of Whitworth and Andre Smith expiring after this year, the team decides if Collins should move into the starting role of one or the other. Regardless, the versatility and upside potential he offers at one of the most important positions on the field will be hard to pass up.
Plus, he serves as an ideal fit being mentored by Tigers product Whitworth and blocking for one of his best friends in former Tigers teammate Jeremy Hill. Sometimes the board falls your way, and Cincinnati would sure feel they covered a lot of options if Collins landed in their lap.
22. Pittsburgh — OLB Bud Dupree (Kentucky). A host of Steelers outside backers are free agents, so they may need to replenish. It wouldn't be shocking at all for one of the freakiest athletes in the draft to fall into the Steelers' lap.
23. Detroit — DT Jordan Phillips (Oklahoma). The potential free-agent losses of Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley make interior line the top priority, and Phillips would be next on the list.
24. Arizona — LB Eli Harold (Virginia). The Cardinals finished 26th in sacks per pass attempt last year and will be looking for rushers. They'd prefer a Dupree or Armstead slip down the board, but Harold will do in this scenario.
25. Carolina — WR Dorial Green-Beckham (Missouri). The Panthers live in a constant search of playmaking receivers. Though there is concern over Green-Beckham's off-the-field transgressions, his talent is too good to pass up.
26. Baltimore — CB Jalen Collins (LSU). The Ravens must repair a putrid secondary in a hurry this offseason. Using a first-round pick on this talented Tigers corner would be an understandable start.
27. Dallas — RB Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin). Out with one running back and in with another. Watching Gordon run behind the devastating Cowboys offensive line should be a scary thought for the NFC East.
28. Denver — OL T.J. Clemmings (Pittsburgh). The Broncos add a player capable of being the top offensive lineman selected in this draft - and one the Bengals likely pondered at 21.
29. Indianapolis — OT Ereck Flowers (Miami). The Colts need help everywhere except left tackle on their line and Flowers could hold down the other side as a powerful body up front.
30. Green Bay — LB Benardrick McKinney (Mississippi State). The Packers look to fill the spot vacated by A.J. Hawk, and McKinney ranks among the best options at the spot.
31. Seattle — RB Todd Gurley (Georgia). The move almost makes too much sense. Another year or two of Marshawn Lynch, then his college prototype will be fully recovered from his ACL injury and ready to pick up the baton.
32. New England — C Cameron Irving (Florida State). The Patriots will rarely pass on supplementing the offensive line in early rounds to keep the core of their team together and protecting Tom Brady.
Second Round
53. Bengals — WR Phillip Dorsett (Miami). If it's speed the Bengals seek, and they absolutely do, you won't find much more speed in this draft than with Dorsett. The Hurricanes' product ranked second at the NFL Combine with a 4.33 40-yard dash. He consistently hit touchdowns over the top of the defense with Miami. He ranked second only to Devin Smith of Ohio State in yards per reception (24.2) and caught 10 touchdown passes.
Dorsett plays with an edge that offensive coordinator Hue Jackson loves in his players, including a tough battler for contested catches. The idea of his speed crossing underneath A.J. Green and Marvin Jones creates a scary scenario for defenses. The bigger question likely is whether Dorsett would last this long.