BJD7642

Bengals Trade Dillon for 2nd Round Pick

The Bengals today traded HB Corey Dillon to the New England Patriots for a second-round pick (No. 56 overall) in this weekend’s college draft.

"We are excited to obtain another early selection in what looks to be a talent-rich draft," said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. "Our organization has obtained many excellent players in the second round through the years. And with a total of seven picks now in the first four rounds, we’re in a position to improve ourselves significantly.

"Corey has been a very productive back for the Bengals for a number of years," Lewis continued. "But you don’t get a second-round pick without giving something up, and we believe this clearly is the move that’s in our team’s best interest."

The Bengals now have the No. 24 selection in Round 1 of the draft, plus two picks each in the second, third and fourth rounds. Those selection numbers are 49 and 56 in Round 2, 80 and 96 in Round 3 and 114 and 117 in Round 4.

Cincinnati originally had the No. 17 overall selection, but traded it April 9 to Denver in exchange for the Nos. 24 and 117 picks, plus CB Deltha O’Neil. Cincinnati’s extra pick in the third round (No. 96) is a compensatory selection allocated by the NFL. The No. 56 selection received today for Dillon was originally Miami’s but was later obtained by New England.

The Bengals’ total of 10 picks overall in the draft is the team’s highest since 1992, when the draft went for 12 rounds instead of the current seven. Cincinnati has not had as many as seven picks in the first four rounds since 1986, when the club had eight.

Top players selected by the Bengals since 1980 in the draft’s second round include WR Cris Collinsworth (1981), QB Boomer Esiason (1984), CB Eric Thomas (1987), FB Ickey Woods (1988), HB Harold Green (1990), WR Carl Pickens (1992), TE Tony McGee (1993), WR Darnay Scott (1994), Dillon (1997), WR Chad Johnson (2001) and G Eric Steinbach (2003).

Dillon, entering his eighth NFL season in 2004, was the No. 43 overall pick by Cincinnati in 1997. He is the Bengals’ all-time leader in rushing yards (8061), carries (1865) and yards from scrimmage (9543). He also holds club marks for most rushing yards in a season (1435 in 2000) and most rushing yards in a game (278 on Oct. 22, 2000).

Dillon stands as one of only four NFL players to rush for 1000 or more yards in each of his first six seasons, but he was nagged by injuries in 2003 and finished with a career-low 541 rushing yards.