By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Starting with the second round, the Bengals could take a player at any position - including tailback - at any time.

The only exception would likely be tight end, where the team has two third-round picks from the previous two drafts.

"There doesn't seem to be a position where we can't not take a player who can help us," coach Marvin Lewis said Tuesday at his pre-draft news conference.

That includes running back, a spot where three-time Pro Bowler Corey Dillon has excelled for the past six seasons.

Pressed by reporters about the possibility of drafting a running back with the 33rd overall pick (the first in the second round), Lewis said discussions have been held about exactly how many productive years Dillon has left.

"That's something you have to look at," Lewis said. "If there's a guy there, that's something that could come up. It's something you have to look at. If there's a guy there that we value that highly, that's a chance we'll spend our chip there."

Dillon was the only signed Bengals player not to attend the voluntary veteran minicamp earlier this month.

Lewis declined to mention any prospective draft choice by name, but did credit each member of the organization's personnel department for their draft preparation work.

"I always say at the end of the day, though, we've got to pick the guys and we have to coach our tail off on them and make them better players three years down the road," Lewis said. "And we're not drafting for tomorrow. We're drafting for the future and we'll continue with that.

"There are no 'that's the exact guy you got to have' players out there, or at least I haven't run across them."

Lewis, a rookie head coach, was a defensive coordinator for the past seven seasons. While he's paying attention to the offense, his heart remains with the defense. The draft is another opportunity for Lewis to rebuild the Bengals defense.

"I think, defensively, we'll be able to add and begin cycling some players," Lewis said. "We have some guys who are five-, six- and seven-year players. We have some two-, three-, four-year players, and we begin cycling players as rookies. And when we can't afford a guy through free agency and he has a better opportunity for himself and his family outside of Cincinnati, we can wish him well, and the next guy can step in and take his spot.

"And I'm excited about being able to start that process this year.''

The evaluation is complete. Lewis said there would be no changing minds on draft day and little internal drama.

"It's not like the floor of the Senate, where we're debating things," Lewis said. "It's going to be done."

Asked for his evaluation of the overall draft, Lewis said, "I don't know. I'll call (media draft guru) Mel (Kiper Jr.) later today and find out what he thinks. My man. See, I'm tight with Mel, so that's a good thing."

SIGNED: Fourth-year veteran wide receiver Danny Farmer, a restricted free agent, signed a one-year tender offer of $605,000.

DEADLINE: The Bengals have given free-agent center Gennaro DiNapoli until Saturday to accept their multi-year contract offer. The Tennessee Titans would like to keep him and have made an offer. An unidentified NFC team also has made an offer to DiNapoli.

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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