2010 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft: Pick No. 54

Rd. # Player Pos. College 2 54 Brandon LaFell WR LSU General Manager: motown313

With the 54th pick of the 2010 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select LSU wide receiver Brandon LaFell.

Here is motown313's reasoning for the pick:

It's no secret that the Bengals need help at the wide receiver position. Chad Ochocinco is still productive, but at age 32 the question of how much gas is left in his tank is one that lingers in the minds of Bengals fans. Chris Henry, the team's go-to large red zone target passed away. They signed Antonio Bryant this offseason to replace the disappointing Laveranues Coles, but Bryant's inconsistencies throughout his career lend the possibility of another disappointing free agent receiver acquisition. Regardless of whether or not Bryant plays well, however, the fact remains that they need a young receiver who's capable of eventually taking over Ochocinco's place as the number one receiver in Cincinnati.

Enter Brandon LaFell, a large specimen that physically is capable of dominating cornerbacks at the professional level. At 6-3, 210 pounds, he's able to go up and snatch the ball out of the air and is difficult to bring down in the open field, which enables him to consistently create extra yards after the catch. He utilizes his size to his advantage when blocking, and flat out levels cornerbacks in the running game. One of the main knocks on him, poor route running, can be fixed with proper coaching. His speed, however, can't be, as he ran a 4.59 in the 40 at the combine, seemingly his only real downside.

Overall, with good coaching, Brandon LaFell has the size, competitiveness and drive to be a number one receiver in the NFL for years to come. He gives Carson Palmer a large end zone target who will contribute to the team immediately, which is why he's the pick.

Check out the 2010 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft tracker for a look at all of the picks.