The Bengals have claimed 23-year old RB Cedric Peerman off waivers from the Lions.  He played in 2 games for the Lions last season but he didn’t get a chance to touch the football as a rookie.  The 5’9″, 210 pound Peerman was a good player in college so maybe a fresh start will motivate him in 2010 for the Bengals.  The Bengals have nothing to lose by giving Peerman a chance to win a job as a backup RB/special teams player.

The Bengals have selected CB Brandon Ghee with the 96th overall pick (3rd round) out of Wake Forest.  Ghee is 5’11″, 189 pounds but he is lightning fast running a 4.4 40.  Ghee is a outstanding special teams player and he will likely make his biggest mark on the Bengals next season there.  He will serve as a nickel back as long as Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph start the 2010 season healthy.  Ghee just needs to get a little bit tougher against the running game but that in something that could happen in practice before the season starts.  Ghee played in 11 games (all starts) at Wake Forest last season and he had 52 tackles, broke up 8 passes and he had 1 fumble recovery.  Ghee played in 35 games (33 starts) in his three years in college and he had 150 tackles, broke up 25 passes, he had 1 interception, forced 5 fumbles and he recovered 1 fumble.  The Bengals got themselves quality depth in the secondary and a special teams ace in Ghee so I like the pick.

The Bengals needed a slot receiver and they got a good one in Jordan Shipley out of Texas.  They used the 84th overall pick (third round) on Shipley.  Without putting too much pressure on Shipley he reminds me a lot of Wes Welker.  He will help the Bengals in a lot of areas as he was a holder for kicks and he returned punts and kickoffs at Texas.  Shipley is small at 5’11″, 190 pounds and he runs a 4.55 40 as he is not the fastest guys around, but, he has good moves after the catch and he lives for going over the middle.  Shipley played in 14 games (all starts) with the Longhorns last season and he caught 116 passes for 1,485 yards (12.8 avg) with 13 TD grabs.  He played in 53 games (35 starts) in his four years in Texas in which he caught 248 passes for 3,191 yards (12.9 avg) with 33 career TD grabs.  This was another solid pick for the Bengals as Shipley is a tough little football player.

The Bengals got great value in drafting DE Carlos Dunlap out of Florida with the 54th overall pick (2nd round) of the NFL Draft.  Many experts projected Dunlap to be picked in the first round of the NFL Draft.  Dunlap is a big guy at 6’6″, 275 pounds and he’s fast running a 4.7 40.  He lived in the opposing backfield at Florida and he gets his arms up to block passes.  He played in 13 games (all starts) for the Gators last season and he made 38 tackles, had 10.5 tackles for a loss, he had 9 sacks and he batted down 6 passes.  Dunlap played in 39 games (15 starts) in his three years at Florida and he had 75 tackles, 26 tackles for a loss, 19.5 sacks, batted down 8 passes and he forced 2 fumbles.  Dunlap is also solid against the running game due to his size.  I like this pick a lot for the Bengals as Dunlap has a nice upside.

The Bengals have signed 28-year old kicker Mike Nugent to a 2-year deal.  Nugent played in 6 games for the Bucs & Cardinals last season and he connected on 4 of 8 (50%) field goals and he was 14 of 14 on extra points good for 26 points.  He has now played in 55 games in his NFL career and he is 79 of 100 (79%) on field goals and he is 97 for 99 on extra points for 334 points.  Nugent will battle Dave Rayner this fall for Shayne Graham’s old job as the Bengals’ starting kicker.

The Cincinnati Bengals have selected TE Jermaine Gresham out of Oklahoma with the 21st pick of the first round of the NFL Draft.  Gresham is a big target at 6’6″, 260 pounds and he is fast running a 4.6 40.  Gresham did not play last season because of a knee injury.  He played in 41 games (19 starts) in his three years with the Sooners and he caught 111 passes for 1,629 yards (14.7 avg) with 26 TD grabs.  Gresham is a all around TE as he is a good run blocker and a solid receiver.  He catches the football away from his body quite often and he wins a lot of jump balls.  I really like this pick for the Bengals as Gresham gives Carson Palmer another weapon to use in the passing game.

The Bengals have filled their biggest hole heading into the off-season by signing WR Antonio Bryant.  With that in mind the Bengals are in good shape heading into the NFL Draft this weekend.  The Bengals have 4 of the top 96 picks in the draft and 9 total picks with at least 1 in each round.  That will give the Bengals the ammo needed to trade up if they have a player they really want.  The Bengals have needs at OLB, G, T and TE.  With that in mind I see the Bengals considering OLB Sergio Kindle and OTs Anthony Davis, Trent Williams and Bruce Campbell in the first round.

PROJECTED FIRST ROUND PICK:  OLB, Sergio Kindle, Texas

The biggest hole on the Bengals last season was at WR.  They were very aggressive in free agency signing Antonio Bryant, Matt Jones and Chris Davis.  Bryant will be starting opposite of Chad Ocho Cinco which will force teams away from double teaming Cinco.  Matt Jones missed all of last season and he is trying to get his career back on track after drug problems.  He could be the possession WR the Bengals have been looking for.  Davis is a special teams/#5 WR type so I wouldn’t get too excited about him.  The Bengals also inked kicker Dave Rayner as they are very upset at Shayne Graham and they might not re-sign him.

The Bengals have cut 22-year old cornerback Mike Mickens.  He did not play as a rookie last season.  You would think that since he was a local boy (Cincinnati Bearcats) that he would have at least got a chance to come to camp this year.  I don’t think the Bengals will miss him at all as he did nothing last season.