The Cincinnati Bengals had one goal in mind heading into last week’s NFL Draft — get help on offense.

After nine picks and three days of drafting, the Bengals believe they’ve done it, and a big reason for that is former Kansas University wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe, whom they selected in the sixth round.

“He really has a nice skill set,” Bengals receivers coach Mike Sheppard told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “He has excellent hands and is in and out of cuts real well. We were amazed that he was sitting there (in the sixth round). We had him higher. We weren’t necessarily in the market to get a receiver at that point but it was a case where we branched a little bit from our need and went out and got him.”

Just a couple of years removed from being one of the league’s most potent offenses, the Bengals have struggled in recent years, particularly in the passing game. Part of that has been because of the poor health of franchise quarterback Carson Palmer, and the other part has been the inconsistent play of those around him.

By adding Briscoe, who finished his three-year KU career as the school-record holder in career receiving yards (3,240) and career touchdowns (31), as well as former Texas receiver Jordan Shipley (third round) and Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham (first round), the Bengals believe they’ve addressed their greatest need.

“Obviously, our No. 1 goal this offseason has been to give Carson more weapons and threats and put people in place to help enhance our passing game and get us back to where we were,” Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis told the Enquirer.

Briscoe will report to Bengals’ rookie minicamp this weekend.

Gill going racing

KU coach Turner Gill will make his first visit to Kansas Speedway. Gill will ride two or three laps in an IndyCar Series two-seater at 8 a.m. Saturday, as the series prepares for the Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 later that day. In addition, he’ll be introduced to the Speedway crowd just before the start of the race.

Lockett keeps up K-State tradition

Just a week after naming KU and K-State as his leaders, Class of 2011 wide receiver Tyler Lockett, 5-foot-10, 160 pounds from Tulsa, Okla., has orally committed to Kansas State, according to Rivals.com.

The move comes as virtually no surprise, considering Lockett’s father, Kevin, and uncle, Aaron, both starred at KSU.