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2014 NFL Mock Draft: Cincinnati Bengals Select...

Somehow the Cincinnati Bengals were the only AFC North team to make the playoffs last season. But true to Bengals form, they crashed out in the opening round yet again. BTSC contributor SteelSpike has their pick in our community mock.

John Grieshop

The Bengals don't have very many needs on offense, which means this pick will most likely be defense.

However, this is Mike Brown we're talking about here. The guy who, when he picks, makes even Bengals fans say "What?". There's a hilarious video on YouTube of a Bengals fan when he sees they passed on David DeCastro to get Kevin Zeitler. He loses his mind in typical state of Ohio fan style.

Anyway, since I'm not Mike Brown and I'm still in full control of my faculties (debatable), I will be making a pick on the defensive side of the ball.

[On the Bengals' defense] there's two or three really good players, but the other 8 or 9 are just not very good.-SteelSpike

The Bengals defense is in terrible disarray. There's two or three really good players, but the other 8 or 9 are just not very good. Since the Bengals have historically (and are sure to continue) with a Zone 4-3 defense, I looked first at upgrading their pass rush since they had a fairly pedestrian 43 sacks in 2013. Unfortunately for me, there isn't good value here with all the best edge rushers off the board. Moving on.

I then wanted to get them a weak side OLB (pass defense). Shazier would have been perfect... but no value left. Moving on.

Next was the ultimate in pass defense: corner back. The Bengals secondary is, for lack of a better word, ancient (outside of Dre Kirkpatrick, who has shown to be a typical Mike Brown pick). So, this is the department I shall focus on. But with the two big boys gone (Gilbert and Dennard) who to grab?

I was told by the Bengals fan I was working with for info on his team that - in no uncertain terms - I would be murdered if I selected Bradley Roby for them. As funny as it would be to have Bengals fans over here screaming at me, I'm going to do exactly what I did a couple years ago when I was the Bengals GM for the Mocking The Draft, um, community mock draft -- in which I got them A.J. Green and Andy Dalton in the exact same rounds they were actually selected.

On to the pick.

With the 24th pick, the Cincinnati Bengals select Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech.

Usatsi_7478184_154224504_lowres_medium

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

With all the old guys in their secondary, a youthful infusion is essential for the Bengals to, ya know, have some postseason success.

Fuller excels in zone coverage, which is something the only young corner on their roster right now struggles with. Since the Bengals are sure to continue with the 4-3 zone (as previously mentioned), Fuller makes for a perfect addition to the best football team in Ohio.

2014 NFL Draft Prospects


Team Player Pos School BTSC rep/link to pick
1 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/HOU.png Blake Bortles QB UCF SteelerWolf
2 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/STL.pngviahttp://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/WAS.png Johnny Manziel QB Texas A&M Jack Finn
3 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/JAC.png Teddy Bridgewater QB Louisville twault
4 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/CLE.png Jadeveon Clowney DE South Carolina Double-Eagle
5 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/OAK.png Jake Matthews OT Texas A&M diehardsteelerfan625
6 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/ATL.png Khalil Mack LB Buffalo Erik Stone
7 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/TB.png Sammy Watkins WR Clemson TheCommish
8 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/MIN.png C.J. Mosley LB Alabama VinnySteel
9 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/BUF.png Greg Robinson OT Auburn Sean Geddes
10 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/DET.png Anthony Barr OLB UCLA JDSpartan
11 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/TEN.png Justin Gilbert CB Oklahoma St slatts17
12 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/NYG.png Mike Evans WR Texas A&M omara891
13 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/STL.png Ha Ha Clinton-Dix S Alabama Panther pride 76
14 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/CHI.png Aaron Donald DT Pittsburgh Michael Uhlhorn
15 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/PIT.png Darqueze Dennard CB Michigan St (BTSC vote)
16 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/DAL.png Calvin Pryor S Louisville steeler fever
17 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/BAL.png Taylor Lewan OT Michigan Steelers_Fan_to_the_Core
18 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/NYJ.png Eric Ebron TE North Carolina DropTheHammer
19 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/MIA.png Zack Martin OT Notre Dame steeler_chris_5
20 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/ARI.png Dee Ford OLB Auburn Wichita SunSteeler
21 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/GB.png Ryan Shazier LB Ohio State NoVaBurgher
22 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/PHI.png Odell Beckham Jr. WR LSU c63tho
23 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/KC.png Kelvin Benjamin WR Florida State WelcomeToReality
24 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/CIN.png Kyle Fuller CB Virginia Tech Steel Spike
25 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/SD.png


L-Ray
26 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/CLE.pngviahttp://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/IND.png


AMKrup
27 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/NO.png


Ike Evans
28 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/CAR.png


asmith87
29 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/NE.png


Mr MaLoR
30 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/SF.png


Collision Course
31 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/DEN.png


alexryan
32 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/SEA.png


Thoroughbred of Sin