Ask Mark

With less than three weeks to go until April 26, Bengals fans are feeling a draft.

Question, from Steve in Price Hill: What do you think are the chances of the Bengals taking Southern Cal quarterback Carson Palmer? Jon Kitna will be a lot better. Coach Marvin Lewis won't put up with dropped passes and bad routes. I'd like to see Kitna groom Palmer.

Answer: Most indications are you're going to get your wish.

So far there has been no interest in trading with the Bengals for the first overall pick. The Bengals' asking price appears to be the other team's first-round pick and either their second- or third-rounder.

At this point, Palmer looks like the only player worth the money the No. 1 pick demands.

Kitna is a productive quarterback. In his 12 starts in 2002, the Bengals averaged 21.3 points a game. If that pace had been maintained for 16 games, the Bengals would have ended up ranked 20th in scoring instead of 28th.

Kitna is one of the most intelligent and humble players in the NFL. He has a degree in math education and had planned a career as a teacher. He would be an outstanding mentor for a rookie.

Q, from Mark in Cincinnati: How can Lewis or the Bengals organization have high expectations for the upcoming season? They have a brutal schedule and no matter who they draft, they aren't going to be able to put the Bengals above the teams they play in 2003. For once, I would like the Bengals to use one year (this year would be a good one) to develop players and say that they are building for the '04 season. What is one more losing season for the Bengals?

A: In terms of the draft, Lewis has brought in a mentality of looking out for six or seven years. He is attempting to rebuild the team quickly but knows the first draft pick - especially if he is a quarterback - cannot be counted on to help the team significantly in the first year.

But this is the NFL. Many systems are in place to help a team turn around in one season, which makes the Bengals' 12 years of relentless losing that much more mind-boggling.

Q, from Jason at Cornell University: It seems this offseason has been a very busy one for the Bengals in terms of free agent signings. What areas still need to be addressed, and do you think the team will dip into free agency again? Will the free agent signings - particularly at cornerback - be more successful than past free agency acquisitions?

A: Fullback was a problem until Thursday. The waiver pickup of Mike Green from the Titans is a more meaningful transaction than it might appear. He is young but has experience in a winning NFL program.

The Bengals also are believed to have interest in center-guard Gennaro DiNapoli, who would add experience and depth in the middle of the offensive line.

As for the signing of free agent cornerback Tory James, it has to work better than past signings at that position. Give Lewis, a defensive mastermind, the benefit of the doubt in knowing what he's doing. It also seems that competition for roster spots will be legitimate this season instead of an empty threat.

Q, from Mike in Westwood: Where is (quarterback) Kyle Boller from Cal slotted to go in the draft? If the Bengals don't take a QB with the first overall pick, can they get him in the beginning of the second round? Would this approach make sense?

A: The approach would be brilliant if the Bengals could pull it off, but Boller won't be available in the second round. He has made himself a top-20 pick.

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com