Post-Chris Henry WR Corps

With Chris Henry finally an afterthought for the Bengals, smart thinking would be to be planning for the future.  The Bengals clearly have a hole at WR with Henry's departure and with Chad's psychotic temper able to flare up at any moment. 

There are three options: promote from within, free agency and the draft.  Each are discussed in detail below:

Promote from Within

Antonio Chatman has been a disappointment after signing as a Free Agent from Green Bay before the 2006 season, posting only 22 catches for 171 yards and a TD in his 2 seasons on the Bengals.  Repeated drops nullify his kick return speed. Not a true #3 WR threat.

Glen Holt shined on special teams in 2007, showcasing a 24.3 yard/return kickoff average and catching 16 balls for 143 yards and a TD in limited appearances.  Unclear if he can translate his 2007 success into a more permanent offensive role.  Questionable as a #3 WR.

Free Agency

The Bengals missed the bus on a weak WR class of free agents, with Donte' Stallworth going to Cleveland and Javon Walker to Oakland in only big moves.  Everyone else out there is ancient, but I wouldn't doubt Brown taking a flyer on one to try and convince us that Eddie Kennison, Keenan McCardell or Troy Brown can actually still challenge defenses.  Unless Mike Brown and the Bengals scouting department know something that that the rest of the league knows about these free agents (trust me, they don't), this is not a viable option.

Draft

This leaves the upcoming NFL Draft as the best option to secure a solid #3 WR.  According to the venerable NFL Draft Countrown, the top WR prospects in this years draft are, in descending order, Limus Sweed (Texas), DeShawn Jackson (Cal), Malcom Kelly (Okla), Devin Thomas (Mich St.), James Hardy (Indiana), Mario Manningham (The School Up North), and Early Doucet (LSU). 

Sweed, Jackson, Kelly and Thomas are rumored to go in the 1st round, which (hopefully) puts them out of contention for the Bengals as they need to draft defense first, no matter what.

Hardy, Manningham and Doucet are projected 2nd rounders.  The Bengals have been burned by Michigan draft picks of late (Perry is a bust and Leon Hall has so far not lived up to his potential) but Michigan apologists point to Braylon Edwards as proof that Manningham is the real deal. Oh yeah?  Manningham ran a slower 40 time than Vernon Gholston, and with his character issues, he will likely be off the table for the Bengals.

Hardy has similar character issues and is largely unproven - most scouts are taken with his size (6'5", 217lbs) but seem to overlook his speed and technique.  A proven defensive player is a better choice than Hardy.

That leaves Doucet - a speedster who has fallen down the draft boards after posting an unimpressive 4.59 in the 40.  But anyone who saw him play at LSU knows differently - he is projected to be gone by the time the Bengals at #46 in the 2nd round, but I hope that the Bengals give Doucet a long look if he still on the board.

In summary, I tend to lean towards still taking a defensive player in the 2nd round.  The Bengals defense needs a LOT of work if they are ever going to be a true playoff threat.  And don't forget that early-round WRs are notorious busts.  In the last 3 drafts, out of the 22 WRs drafted in the first two rounds, only 1 (Braylon Edwards) has made it to the Pro Bowl. 

Just take this list of first and second round WRs from the 2005 and 2006 drafts and tell me the Bengals would rather have a WR of this caliber than a defensive lineman?

In 2006, Santonio Holmes (Pit) and Greg Jennings (GB) have produced, while Sincore Moss (NYG) and Chad Jackson (NE) have not.

In 2005, Braylon Edwards (Cle), Mark Clayton (Bal) and Vincent Jackson (SD) have been successful.  Not so for Troy Williamson (Minn), Mike Williams (Det), Matt Jones (Jax), Roddy White (Atl), Reggie Brown (Phi), Mark Bradley (Chi) and Roscoe Parrish (Buf).

As the draft approaches, Who Dey Revolution, and we hope the Bengals scouting department, will be taking a closer look at the WR options available in rounds 3 or later.  With the Bengals acute needs for defense, and with Mike Brown content with the Bengals positioning on draft day precluding any trades for picks or players, it seems to make the most sense to draft defense on in the first two rounds and focus on a WR on later rounds.

Tell Mike Brown and the Bengals what you really think by signing your name in the comments of the Who Dey Revolution Manifesto here.

Comments

[Demon Sweat]

Maybe we should trade for Ted Ginn Jr. He's been pretty sweet or maybe Anthony Gonzales he too is awesome. My favorite would be going after Santonio Holmes no character flaws there. I know Andrew Political went "the University of Ohio State" and that's all good, but there is no need to trash Michigan players when the biggest bust the Bengal's ever drafted was punch my pregnant girlfriend in the stomach Big Daddy Dan Wilkinson.

[Mike]

Leave your Michigan bias at home. I'm also not a Michigan fan but Leon Hall had a fine season for a first year cornerback.