The first day of the draft for the Bengals was a disappointment. The day started with the team getting scooped by the Saints and Jaguars on getting their impact defensive player and ended with the team making their annual "what in the hell were you thinking pick" as they selected WR Jerome Simpson out of Costal Carolina. 

I was really hoping that the Bengals would land Sedrick Ellis and after Glenn Dorsey slid to the Chiefs at #5 and the Jets nabbed Vernon Gholston with the sixth pick overall. The Patriots have more pressing issues than DT and the Ravens didn't really need Ellis at eight either. Both teams would trade down as the Saints moved up from 10th overall to grab Ellis and Jacksonville went large and grabbed Derrick Harvey.

The Bengals did the right thing grabbing Rivers at No. 9, but the Saints only swapped third round picks and gave up a fifth to get Ellis, I would have liked to see Cincinnati come off some of their 10 draft picks in order to grab the defensive tackle they so desperately needed.

The bigger curve ball came with the Simpson pick. I wasn't surprised to see them go wide receiver, but they had Malcolm Kelly of Oklahoma,  Desean Jackson of California, Mario Manningham of Michigan and Limas Sweed of Texas (the guy I wanted who wound up on Pittsburgh) on the board, yet still opted to go with a player that many publications had going in the fourth or fifth round. They also once again opted to ignore defensive tackle as they could have nabbed the highly touted Trevor Laws (went on the following pick to the Eagles) in that spot.

Analysis from SportsIllustrated.com:

Keith Rivers
Rivers is a speedy defender with good upside potential as a weak side linebacker. He comes off a disappointing senior campaign, yet his size/speed numbers and production throughout his college career should keep him in the first half of round one.

Jerome Simpson
A graceful receiver who competes on the field, Simpson has the size and pass-catching skills to be a fourth wideout at the next level.

WHAT'S UP NEXT
After only having two picks on Saturday, the team gets to fill eight more spots on Sunday:

Round 3, Pick 14 (77)     
Round 3, Pick 34 (97) (Compensatory selection)     
Round 4, Pick 13 (112)     
Round 5, Pick 10 (145)     
Round 6, Pick 11 (177)     
Round 6, Pick 41 (207) (Compensatory selection)     
Round 7, Pick 37 (244) (Compensatory selection)     
Round 7, Pick 39 (246) (Compensatory selection)