No. 9

Pick by Cincy Jungle Keith Rivers Linebacker Southern California

With the ninth overall selection in the 2008 SBNation NFL Mock Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select Keith Rivers, linebacker, USC.  Kirkendall, who heads up the fine community of Bengals fans over at Cincy Jungle, made the selection.  Here's how he breaks down his pick of Rivers:

  When the Bengals selected Odell Thurman and David Pollack in 2005's NFL Draft, the hope was that the team had set their foundation at the position for a long time. While both played their entire rookie season, Pollack and Thurman have combined to play two games since 2006.
Since then, the Bengals have had to start linebackers that were better suited for special teams with limited, if any, impact on the defense. While the Bengals are still in need for talented linemen on the defensive front, the defense still needs that linebacker that opposing offense's have to plan around. With the likeliness of a returning Odell Thurman after his two-year suspension, drafting Rivers would re-solidify the position and even make an improvement with Landon Johnson's departure.

There are still needs to be addressed on the defensive front – especially in the middle that can, and will, be addressed later in the draft.

Matt Miller, host of this site as well as owner of New Era Scouting, provides his analysis below:

 Cincinnati makes it three straight great picks here in the first round. Rivers was the most impressive player at the Senior Bowl this January, and made a great impression on all of us in attendance. Marvin Lewis has talked about going back to hard-nosed football, and this pick solidifies that.

The Bengals have the offense to go deep into the playoffs, but have lacked playmakers on defense. This pick, coupled with the additions from last year, gives Lewis and co. a nucleus to build their defense around. Keith Rivers will be their Lance Briggs, only better.

Looking ahead to the next rounds, Cincinnati must continue to draft defenders. Replacing Justin Smith at end will be a need they must fill in Rd 2 or 3.

Grade: A  ::  Keith Rivers Scouting Report - New Era Scouting :: Matt Miller's Top Five Prospects Remaining - 1.  OT Ryan Clady, 2.  CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, 3.  CB Mike Jenkins, 4.  RB Rashard Mendenhall, 5. RB Jonathan Stewart  

The picks are starting to become a little less obvious - and therefore a little more debatable - so hold on tight as we finish off the top ten with the New Orleans Saints now on the clock.  We are sans Saints blogger at the moment at SB Nation, so our NFC South bloggers will handle the selection process.