Most of the articles I’ve seen have given the Bengals somewhere around a C grade. I’d say C- to C if you’re being generous. This is a team with problems but they’ve started to rid themselves of that. Chris Henry is gone, a few other troublesome players are gone.  Sure, there are still problems: Chad Johnson wants out, Levi Jones wants out (although he won’t make it the drama that the Johnson situation is).

The draft started out ok. They didn’t get Sedrick Ellis but I’m fine with Keith Rivers. He seems to be a talented guy who plays hard. I have no problem with having a guy on my team that people describe as “solid”. Then we get to round 2. They probably reached for Jerome Simpson but from what I understand, they really like him. If there is a guy you rate higher than everyone else, then you take him even if other players are there. With the other receivers falling, I have to imagine the Bengals thought they might still have a chance at one of them later (and they almost did).

They were able to grab guys at a few positions, although a few of the later picks will likely be helping on special teams. But that shouldn’t be looked at too badly. The Bengals were horrible on special teams last year. If any of these guys can come in and make a tackle or a big block on a return, all the better.

What I don’t understand at all are the picks of bad character players. How many times do the Bengals have to draft someone and then have to deal with their problems off the field? Maybe these guys have learned their lesson and we won’t be reading about them later. But I think I’ve hoped this before. Heck, I may have said that a time or ten about Chris Henry. I just don’t think the team needed this. After doing some good and getting rid of a few players, they go and bring in a couple of players with some of the same problems? I don’t get it.

I do think the team could have done more to maybe move up a time or two and get better quality players. I won’t get all down about reaching for Jerome Simpson, I will wait and see what he can do. I don’t know much about him so it’s just too early to say it was a bad choice. There were just several questionable choices here and if these guys don’t work out, something needs to be looked at and maybe they need to change how they scout and draft. The worst part about watching the draft was seeing other teams (like the Steelers) make good moves and get several players that could really help their teams.

At the 244th pick, the team took linebacker Angelo Craig from Cincinnati. Craig is 6′4″, 252 lbs. He has special teams’ experience and will probably be used there with the Bengals.

Last season, Craig played every game and had 43 tackles, 3 sacks and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. He was also disciplined for violating team rules last season. I’m not sure what he was disciplined for but he’s another guy with character issues that the Bengals have picked this year.

With the 246th pick, the team took wide receiver Mario Urrutia from Louisville. Urrutia is 6′5″-ish and 232 lbs.

Last season, he played in ten games and finished with 35 catches for 501 yards and 3 touchdowns.

He’s a big guy who can go up and get it so he’s more of a possession receiver. I’ve read that he has good hands but that he loses focus at times. He’s also not a real fast guy (4.62 in the 40).

The Bengals selected tight end Matt Sherry from Villanova with the 207th pick in the draft. Sherry is 6′4″, 250 lbs. He caught 37 passes for 461 yards and 5 touchdowns last season.

Even though the Bengals signed Ben Utecht, they had talked about adding another tight end. I’ve seen where they are looking to add more two tight end sets next season. If Chad Johnson does sit out, I don’t doubt that Carson Palmer will be throwing more to his tight ends.

With the 177th pick, the team selected safety Corey Lynch of Appalachian State. Lynch is a little over 6 feet and 204 pounds.

He should mainly help on special teams. Lynch blocked three kicks last season, including the one against Michigan that sealed the victory for Appalachian State.

I had seen the Bengals taking a RB in most of the mock drafts I saw. I think they would have been interested in Kevin Smith but he was snatched up in the third round.

I’m not sure if he would be a good fit or not but Mike Hart is still out there. He’s a tough runner for his small size. Probably not an every-down back but he could come in for a few runs now and then. And he’ll play hurt. Considering the Bengals already have some injuries at running back, that’s not a bad thing.

Hart surely thought he would be picked higher than this so he’s going to play hard to prove that he should have. There’s nothing wrong with having a player that will work hard and has something to prove on your team.

With the 145th pick, the Bengals selected DT Jason Shirley from Fresno State. He is a huge man at 6′5″, 335. From what I read, he looks like he has some talent but only in flashes. He tires out and takes plays off.

He was projected as a late round pick or a free agent because of his character issues. He was suspended from school after he was arrested for suspicion of drunk driving and then reinstated and later kicked off the team after getting cited for driving with a suspended license and expired registration.

So he can take up space, which is good but he might have personal problems, which is bad. I thought the Bengals were staying away from players like this. But if he can turn his life around and stay out of trouble, maybe the Bengals can get him into shape and make him a good player.

With the 112nd pick, the team took offensive tackle Anthony Collins from Kansas. Collins was rated as a second or third-round pick so this might not be a bad one.

I don’t know much about him yet so we’ll have to do some more research.

With the 97th pick, the team took wide receiver Andre Caldwell from Florida. Caldwell had 56 catches and 7 touchdowns. He is also know for his kickoff return ability. He was projected as a second or third-round pick so this is about where he was thought to go.

Mario Manningham went two picks earlier to the Giants. As a Michigan fan, I was really hoping he would last but the Bengals may not have taken him anyway. Instead, Manningham goes to the Giants who I can’t stand. I hate when players I like go to teams I hate.

Caldwell did break his right leg in 2005 but has seemed fairly healthy since then. He ran a 4.35 in the 40-yard dash so he’s quick.

So now the Bengals have taken a wide receiver who can jump and has long arms and a wide receiver with speed and return ability. On paper, it doesn’t look too bad.