A Look At The Bengals' Draft Picks

CINCINNATI -- Here's a look at the players chosen by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2008 NFL draft, listing name, position, college, overall selection in draft, height, weight and hometown.

- Round 1

Keith Rivers, linebacker, Southern California (No. 9), 6-foot-2, 237 pounds, Lake Mary, Fla.

Four-year starter and team leader at USC. Played all three linebacker positions and lined up as a defensive end in pass rushing situations in his first two years. Missed one game last season with a sprained ankle. ... One of Florida's top prep players at Lake Mary High School. ... Fast and strong. Looks like a body builder with his sculpted frame. ... Coach Marvin Lewis hopes he develops quickly enough to win a starting job late this season or next. ... Bengals have taken defensive players with their last four No. 1 picks - LB David Pollack, CB Johnathan Joseph, CB Leon Hall and Rivers. ... Main questions involve his consistency. ... If Odell Thurman can stay out of trouble, Bengals will have a core of three young linebackers. Thurman was a second-round pick in 2005, Ahmad Brooks was a pick in the 2007 supplemental draft.

- Round 2

Jerome Simpson, receiver, Coastal Carolina (No. 46), 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, Reidsville, N.C. Bengals desperately needed help at the position after they let No. 3 receiver Chris Henry go after an arrest earlier this month. ... Was taken higher than he expected, given his career at a smaller school. Chose Coastal Carolina after East Carolina declined to offer him a scholarship. ... As a true freshman in 2004, won Big South freshman honors with 26 catches and eight touchdowns. Set a conference record with 1,077 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior in 2006. Finished with a conference-record 2,430 yards career. ... Has long arms and big hands. Won all-conference honors in high jump and long jump. Also was on 4x400-meter relay team that set a school record. ... Bengals like the way he can make acrobatic catches. "We have film of every catch he's made over the last two years, and there's a lot of 'Wows' on there," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said. ... Needs to add some weight. Also will have to adjust to a big jump in level of competition.

- Round 3

Pat Sims, defensive tackle, Auburn (No. 77), 6-foot-3, 314 pounds, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Turned down scholarship offers from Ohio State, Florida and others to go to Auburn. Played in one game as a true freshman, then took off 2005 season to regroup after his sister died of a heart attack. Played in 13 games as a reserve defensive tackle, then had breakout season as a junior. Started 13 games at right defensive end, was second on the team with 4.5 sacks despite wearing a cast to protect a broken bone in his left hand most of the season. ... Given his lack of college experience as a starter, the Bengals figure they're getting a player with a lot of room to grow, if he's dedicated to it. ... Has a quick first step, which allows him to rush the passer. His techniques need a lot of work. Main question is whether he will continue to play with the determination he showed last season.

Andre Caldwell, receiver, Florida (No. 97), 6-foot, 203 pounds, Tampa, Fla.

Brother, Reche, is a receiver with the Rams. ... Broke his right thigh on a kickoff return in the third game of the 2005 season, his junior year. Took him a year to get back to full strength and speed. ... Started nine games in 2006 season, when he had 57 catches for 577 yards and six touchdowns. ... Caught a 1-yard touchdown pass that put Gators up 34-14 with 23 seconds left in first half of national title game against Ohio State. Florida won 41-14. ... Started 11 games last season, when he missed two games with a sprained right knee. Finished with 56 catches for 761 yards and seven touchdowns. ... Good straight-ahead speed and can go after the long pass, reminiscent of released WR Chris Henry. Ran 40-yard dash in 4.29 seconds. ... Main questions are about his strength, blocking and durability.

- Round 4

Anthony Collins, offensive tackle, Kansas (No. 112), 6-foot-5, 311 pounds, Beaumont, Texas.

Played only one season of football at Central High School in Beaumont, starting at defensive end as a senior. He was a defensive lineman on the scout team his first year at Kansas, then moved to the offensive line. He started at right tackle as a sophomore, the moved to left tackle and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy in 2007. Allowed six sacks on 476 pass plays. ... Bengals like his size and scrappiness. "As soon as he walks out to the field with our guys, he'll look just like the rest of them," offensive line coach Paul Alexander said. ... Scouts say he needs major improvement in foot work and needs to use his size better.

- Round 5

Jason Shirley, defensive tackle, Fresno State (No. 145), 6-foot-5, 329 pounds, Fontana, Calif.

Big and strong, Shirley was a hard-to-move nose tackle at Fresno State. His standing in the draft plummeted after a 2007 season virtually wiped out by three suspensions and an arrest. ... Suspended for the first two games last season for violating a team rule. He played in three games, then was suspended again after he allegedly crashed a car into an apartment complex on Oct. 8 and fled the scene. He was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. Police said he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.12, above the legal limit of 0.08 in California. His trial is scheduled for May 21. His defense lawyer blames a concussion sustained on the field before the accident. ... Shirley was reinstated to the team after the accident, then suspended again for the rest of the season after he was charged with driving with a suspended license and expired registration. ... The Bengals are taking a chance on Shirley even though they're the league's prime example of player misconduct, with 10 players arrested over a 14-month span through last summer.

- Round 6

Corey Lynch, safety, Appalachian State (No. 177), 5-foot-11, 206 pounds, Cape Coral, Fla.

Led Applachian State in interceptions four seasons in a row, finishing with 24 career. Clinched the Mountaineers' 34-32 upset of Michigan in the season opener last year by blocking a 37-yard field goal attempt on the final play. ... Scouts like his feel for the game and the disciplined way he plays his position and reacts to plays. His biggest drawback is his lack of top-of-the-group speed.

Matty Sherry, tight end, Villanova (No. 207), 6-foot-4, 255 pounds, Rumford, R.I.

Had surgery on both shoulders after 2005 season. Started all 11 games in 2007 and caught 37 passes for 461 yards and five touchdowns. ... Able to get down the field. .... Scouts say his routes could be sharper, and he needs to show more toughness in blocking.

- Round 7

Angelo Craig, defensive end/linebacker, Cincinnati (No. 244), 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, Cleveland.

Spent two years at linebacker before moving to defensive end in 2006, played there his last two seasons. Bulked up to 250 pounds for the NFL combine and it slowed him down. Scouts think he could be useful once he matures physically and settles in at a weight.

Mario Urrutia, receiver, Louisville (No. 246), 6-foot-6, 232 pounds, Louisville.

Had 58 catches for 973 yards in 2006. Got turf toe last season that sidelined him for two games and limited him in four others. Also was benched for inconsistent play and dropped passes. Finished with only 35 catches for 501 yards and three touchdowns. ... With his big frame, was one of QB Brian Brohm's favorite targets while scrambling away from pressure.