Marvin's draft picks

Let's take a look at Marvin Lewis's luck with first round draft picks.

Here we go.

2003 - quarterback Carson Palmer.  A.  Sure, he wants out now, but there he is the best of that quarterback class.  By far.  Who knows what would have happened in 2005 had he not blown his knee out after sailing a beautiful 66 yard pass to Chris Henry on the game's second play of their opening playoff game against eventual Super Bowl champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

2004 - running back Chris Henry. F.  I'd give this pick a G grade if there was anything lower than an F.  Marvin traded down with the Patriots at the bottom of the round to get more picks, but he passed on the premiere runner in the draft, Stephen Jackson.  Had Marvin landed Jackson to go with Palmer, things might have panned out differently in 2005.

2005 - outside linebacker / defensive end David Pollack.  F.  I loved Pollack.  He was maybe the greatest defensive player in the history of the SEC while at Georgia.  But a neck injury early on in his second season effectively ended his career.  What adds insult to injury is that many of the players picked in this draft led the Bengals to the division title in 2005, but they are long gone by now - some of the low lights (ILB Odell Thurman, out of the league after alcohol problems, Chris Henry, deceased after being suspended several times, Tab Perry, out of the league after hip injury, Adam Kefit, never played a down after injury in training camp).

2006 - cornerback Jonathan Joseph.  A.  One of the best cover corners in the league.  If the Bengals won more often, he'd be a perennial all pro.  This is one of their better drafts netting us our left tackle (Andrew Whitworth) and one of our best defensive linemen (Domato Pecko).

2007 - cornerback Leon Hall.  A.  He pairs with Joseph to form the strength of our defense.  The rest of the draft is long gone, though.  The heart breaker is the second round pick (Kenny Irons), a running back who tore his ALC in his first preseason game and never played a down in the NFL.

2008 - outside linebacker Keith Rivers.  D.  He was supposedly the safest player in the draft, but he has been injury prone and has made one big play (an interception against Dallas his rookie year).  A waiver wire pick up, Brandon Johnson, has been far more production.  Not what you want from the 10th pick in the entire draft.

2009 - offensive tackle Andre Smith.  F.  He ran into trouble at the end of his junior year at Alabama for contacting an agent.  He spent much of that year rated as the top player in the country.  He got fat and out of shape but rebounded some prior to the draft.  The Bengals gambled on being able to motivate him and coach him up.  But on his first day of training camp - after a long contract dispute - Smith broke his foot and has barely been on the field since.  Not what you want from the sixth player taken in the entire draft.  Now, they are even talking of moving him to guard.  Not what you want from the sixth player taken in the entire draft.

2010 - tight end Germain Gresham.  A.  Led all rookie tightends in yards and catches.  Is a weapon.  He leads a very impressive draft class.  Defensive end Carlos Dunlap in the second round led the Bengals in sacks (9.5) and broke the rookie record for sacks in a season.  Third round pick WR Jordan Shipley is a stud, leading all AFC rookie WRs win catches and yards.  Fourth rounder defensive tackle Geno Atkins also rushed the passer well and could start next year.  With another solid class like those of '10 and '06, the Bengals might be able to be more consistent.

Overall grade, C.

There are some home runs, but there are some glaring misses too.