BTSC 2011 Community Mock Draft Pick No. 35 -- Cincinnati Bengals Select Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State

A nice start to our second round thanks to three prompt and very sound picks to start things off. Though I must say, I wouldn't touch either Cameron Hayward or Christian Ponder with a ten-foot pole if I were an NFL executive. Nevertheless, many thanks to dietrich43 for the latest pick for Cincinnati here at 35. Next up: the Denver Broncos, represented by Cannon36. - Michael B. -

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The Bengals are at a good position, where BPA (or at least, nearly BPA) meets with a team need. As a result, the Bengals take Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State.

A lot of mock drafts are giving the Bengals Ryan Mallett. Mallett has a cannon for an arm, a lot of questions about his character and intangibles (not that it has ever scared off the Bengals before), but played in a spread offense. QBs in a spread typically struggle when moving under center in the NFL. Ponder started three years vs. Mallett's two years. Ponder has a higher career completion percentage, doesn't have character concerns, and is used to running a pro-style offense. While he's had some injury issues, he's performed well in workouts, was the MVP of the North-South Game, and made good impressions at the Combine. Mallett may have more upside, that comes with more risk due to character concerns and coming out of a spread offense.

The other tempting pick at this spot was Corey Liuget, the DT from Illinois. He could team with Bowers and solidify the defensive line, but Cincinnati has some solid DTs already on the roster so this isn't as much a need as QB.

BTSC 2011 Community Mock Draft Selections:

ROUND 1

1. Carolina Panthers -- Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
2. Denver Broncos -- Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
3. Buffalo Bills -- Von Miller, LB, Texas A&M
4. Cincinnati Bengals -- Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
5. Arizona Cardinals -- Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
6. Cleveland Browns -- 'The Snow Cone Machine' A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
7. San Francisco 49ers -- Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
8. Tennessee Titans -- Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
9. Dallas Cowboys -- Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
10. Washington Redskins -- Robert Quinn, DE/OLB, North Carolina
11. Houston Texans -- Aldon Smith, DE/OLB, Missouri
12. Minnesota Vikings -- Tyron Smith, OT, USC
13. Detroit Lions -- JJ Watt, DE, Wisconsin
14. St. Louis Rams -- Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
15. Miami Dolphons -- Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
16. Jacksonville Jaguars -- Brooks Reed , DE, Arizona
17. New England Patriots -- Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
18. San Diego Chargers -- Ryan Kerrigan, DE/OLB, Purdue
19. New York Giants -- Akeem Ayers, LB, UCLA
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
21. Kansas City Chiefs -- Martez Wilson, LB, Illinois
22. Indianapolis Colts -- Cameron Jordan, DL, California
23. Philadelphia Eagles -- Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
24. New Orleans Saints -- Justin Houston, DE/OLB, Georgia
25. Seattle Seahawks -- Jake Locker, QB, Washington
26. Baltimore Ravens -- Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland
27. Atlanta Falcons -- Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
28. New England Patriots -- Mike Pouncey, OG, Florida
29. Chicago Bears --Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
30. New York Jets -- Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple
31. Pittsburgh Steelers -- Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
32. Green Bay Packers -- Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor

ROUND 2

1. New England Patriots -- Cameron Hayward, DE, Ohio State (33rd overall)
2. Buffalo Bills -- Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame (34th overall)