The Bengals filled one of their biggest needs and sought out to better protect their franchise quaterback when they selected Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith with the 6th overall pick in Saturday's first round of the NFL Draft. The team resisted temptation of taking a flashy skilled position player and made the pick everybody was clamoring for.

Smith was the second tackle taken in the draft with the Rams having taken Baylor's Jason Smith in the No. 2 slot.

"We had an opportunity to select a player that has a great opportunity to come in here and really make us a better football team right away. We spent a lot of time with Andre and we are ready to begin work with him," Bengals' head coach Marvin Lewis said. "It’s been quite a process of evaluation with him and very, very thorough."

FootballsFuture.com says this of the Alabama tackle:

Smith had a tremendous junior campaign that had him being mentioned as a candidate for the top spot overall in the draft. Since the regular season, it has all been downhill. He was suspended for the Sugar Bowl for dealings with an agent. Then he did not work out at the combine, going as far as admitting he was not prepared to work out. On top of that, he left the facilities without notifying anyone. To his credit, Smith did have a respectable pro day where he tested well in lineman drills but he still is not a finished product. His entire future will come down to how badly he wants it. He has the natural gifts to be a pro bowl tackle or guard, but must get into better shape to maximize his talents. He is a borderline top ten talent that has slipped to the third best lineman at best since the post season began.

The team made the right call on taking Smith, now they just need to do the right thing and be sure to develop him.

NFL nfl draft, bengals, andre smith