Pick #4: Cincinnati Bengals

Perhaps no franchise is in a greater state of flux and uncertainty right now than the Cincinnati Bengals, who in 2009 won the bruising AFC North division and seemed to be turning a corner, then took a horrible nose dive this past season, to the tune of losing 10 straight games this season. Can’t remember the last time a division champ lost 10 straight games the following year? Either can I, but I’m too lazy to look it up. The point is, there will be upheaval this offseason in Cincy and many thought it would start at the top, with Head Coach Marv Lewis, who the players clearly gave up on. 10 straight losses means Marv lost his team - and then quickly got a contract extension at the end of the season. Business as usual in Cincinnati.

Early indications are that this will be a draft heavy on offense for the Bengals. For one, the team will have two wide receivers signed after the 2011 season - the fast slot receiver type who is contractually obligated to be white and feisty, Jordan Shipley and Shay Hodge, who no one has ever really heard of. Their incumbent starters, T.O and OchoCinco were somewhat productive last year but the team still did not have a receiver in double digits in touchdowns on the season, kind of an amazing feat considering the firepower they were supposed to have. Some of that blame could fall on Carson Palmer, who had an abysmal season and subsequently made a vow to never set foot inside Paul Brown Stadium ever again and then sold his Cincinnati-based home. That being the case, there could be a strong case for Gabbert here, as the Bengals were going to have to address the quarterback position anyway and now with Palmer's extended temper tantrum that need has been heightened. I’m thinking they address the QB position with one of their later round picks, possibly taking a flyer on Ryan Mallett if he’s still around in Round 2 or Florida State’s Christian Ponder, who has been steadily rising up draft boards the past few weeks but should be available when the Bengals pick again. With their first round pick, the Bengals snatch up one of the premium prospects at any position the game has seen in some time.

(INSERT OFFENSIVE NAME) #4 OVERALL MOCK DRAFT PICK:
A.J GREEN - WR, GEORGIA

There has been some speculation, notably from Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, that the Bengals actually like Alabama’s Julio Jones more than A.J Green, but I don’t buy that. Green has been touted since high school as a special, game-changing Randy Moss type prospect. He missed the first part of Georgia’s season and when he returned his instantly transformed their offense. The Bulldogs were averaging 14 points a game when he wasn’t playing, when he came back they started averaging almost 40 points a game. He necessitates safety help because has the speed to burn corners deep, but his route running is what really separates him from the wide receiver pack. He has some of the cleanest routes around and he is the quickest in and out of breaks the game has seen for a long time. It’s amazing how polished the guy is at such a young age - in short, he has all the tools to be a dominant wide receiver in the NFL for 10-12 years. This kid is right next to Patrick Peterson as the closest to a sure thing stud prospect there is in this draft. If he’s available at #4 as I suspect and the Bengals let him slip away, it will take the top place in a long list of Bengals blunders.

Entire Mock Draft:

1. Carolina Panthers - Marcell Dareus
2. Denver Broncos - Patrick Peterson
3. Buffalo Bills - Cam Newton
4. Cincinnati Bengals - A.J. Green