Few mock drafts predicted Michigan State cornerback Darqueze Dennard would fall all the way to No. 24, but the Bengals were certainly thrilled he did. The 2013 Jim Thorpe Award winner as the top cornerback in the country, unanimous first team All-American and finalist for the defensive player of the year award. Dennard totaled 167 tackles and 30 passes defended (10 interceptions, 20 pass break-ups) in 44 career games, including 40 starts, 29 consecutive to close out career. He will begin a youth movement at cornerback where their top three corners will all cross the 30-year-old threshold by the end of next season. Terence Newman is 35, Adam Jones 30 and Leon Hall 29 coming off his second Achilles injury in three years. This marks the fourth time Marvin Lewis selected a cornerback in the first round. He also took Johnathan Joseph (2006), Leon Hall (2007) and Dre Kirkpatrick (2012) there. As Dennard slipped down the draft board while watching with his friends and family in his hometown of Macon, Georgia, he could sense the anxiety. Before the Bengals called, Dennard jumped and did a dance to lighten the mood. Minutes later the whole party danced along with him. "There was a sigh of relief in the room, really," Dennard said. "I wasn't really worried. My family was a little worried because they paid attention to all the mock drafts and things like that. I didn't pay too much attention to that." The Bengals did and hence the surprise when he still sat on the board. Talk circled the room about moving up a few spots to secure him, but when the Browns traded with Philadelphia for Johnny Manziel, it all but assured Cincinnati would land their guy. - See more at:http://www.cincinnati.com/story/spo...24-nfl-draft-select-darqueze-dennard/8880917/
