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[size="5"][b]Grading the Bengals' 2008 draft[/b]
[/size]May, 11, 2011



By James Walker



We continue our look at 2008 draft classes with the [url="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/cin/cincinnati-bengals"][color="#225db7"]Cincinnati Bengals[/color][/url].

[b]

Draft picks:[/b] LB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11243"][color="#225db7"]Keith Rivers[/color][/url] (first round), WR [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11280"][color="#225db7"]Jerome Simpson[/color][/url] (second), DT [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11311"][color="#225db7"]Pat Sims[/color][/url] (third), WR [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11331"][color="#225db7"]Andre Caldwell[/color][/url] (third), OT [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11346"][color="#225db7"]Anthony Collins[/color][/url] (fourth), DT [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11368"][color="#225db7"]Jason Shirley[/color][/url] (fifth), S [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11411"][color="#225db7"]Corey Lynch[/color][/url] (sixth), TE [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11441"][color="#225db7"]Matt Sherry[/color][/url] (sixth), DE [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11478"][color="#225db7"]Angelo Craig[/color][/url] (seventh), WR [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11480"][color="#225db7"]Mario Urritia[/color][/url] (seventh)

[b]Analysis:[/b] The Bengals had a lot of draft picks, acquiring 10 new players. But despite so many picks, the Bengals didn't get much impact out of this draft. Rivers is a solid starter, but I would like to see more impact plays from him as a former top-10 pick. Simpson was a non-factor with Cincinnati for nearly three years before coming on strong in the final two weeks of last season. In 2011, Simpson has to prove that wasn't a flash in the pan. Caldwell and Sims have both developed into decent role players, which is not bad for a pair of third-round picks. It's not an awful draft for the Bengals but certainly not an impact draft. Simpson's development could be key to improving this final grade.

[b]AFC North blog's draft grade:[/b] C-






[url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/27514/grading-the-bengals-2008-draft"]http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/27514/grading-the-bengals-2008-draft[/url]
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