Will: Cincinnati Bengals Round 1; Pick 21- Jermaine Gresham, TE Oklahoma
This is one of the few automatic picks in this year’s draft. Oklahoma’s Jermaine Gresham would have been the first TE off the board last season if he would have declared; instead he went back to the Sooners and suffered a season ending knee injury in practice before the start of the season. While he does not have top end speed, at 6’5” and 261, this guy is a pass catching monster over the middle of the field. He has good technique as a blocker, but given the spread system he ran in college, there simply isn’t enough film for me to say he can set the edge for Cedric Benson. If the Bungles are honest, they really don’t care if he can block. Carson Palmer will have a legit pass catching option at TE for the first time in his pro career and that will open up everything for the offense. Ochocinco will have the middle of the field cleared out, Bryant will have less safety help over the top, and Carson will have a big target right in the middle of the defense. Last season was a massive fluke and the Bungles are still the 3rd best team in this division, but with a talented young defensive unit and a more balanced offensive attack, the Steelers and Ravens are certainly not comfortable.
Jay: I couldn’t agree with you more. The tight end position has been non existent for the Bengals. I really liked the Bengals decision to sign Antonio Bryant over Terrell Owens in the off-season. Can you imagine the headache for Marvin Lewis if they had Ochocinco and TO? With Bryant and Ochocinco taking care of the outside of the field, Gresham will have a lot of space to work with in the middle of the field. I don’t care that he can’t block, put an extra lineman in when you are going to run the ball and let Gresham catch passes. I think he has the chance to be a Red Zone TD machine. If the Bengals pass on him, he will get picked by the Pats with the next pick (another team that needs a TE very badly). I could also see Cincy picking a DT with this pick. They have Tank Johnson, who in my mind is average at best, and depending who is still available at this pick I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Bengals add an athletic DT to their D-line.
(I know it is a little early but I’m going to give my 2010-2011 AFC North projection. 1.Ravens 2.Bengals 3.Steelers. Sorry Will and Steeler Nation)
