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2019 Bengals Draft Class. Thoughts, Reactions and Grades


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12 minutes ago, SF2 said:

Dalton has won a lot with this team,more than the Heisman trophy winner quitter and Boomer. Keep in mind I am not a Dalton lover. 

Except what is most important in a Playoff Game and he is great in Prime Time games too, but, yea, he is a winner.  

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Just now, TigerJ@w said:

Except what is most important in a Playoff Game and he is great in Prime Time games too, but, yea, he is a winner.  

I agree but Palmer didn’t win shit either. Nobody has won a playoff game here in 28 years. Boomer played here 10 years, he had 3 winning seasons. 3 years as the starter he won 4 games or less. 

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My Grade A-

 

Round 1: OL Jonah Williams A+

When the draft season started I wanted Jonah Williams and he remains my top player in the draft for the Bengals. I think he will be a 10 year starter somewhere on the line and possibly at the LT position, which I think is the 2nd most important position on the team. He can start at RT tomorrow. I believe you build teams with Rocks that you know are stable. To me he is the most sure thing in the draft. 

Round 2: TE Drew Sample C

When we drafted him I was furious. I thought it was a terrible pick and taken way too soon. While I do think it was early I think as others have mentioned it reflects that we had a gaping hole in the new offense and Taylor deemed that his offense couldn't function without a run blocking TE. Essentially we drafted a starter. Still, to me, depending on how many snaps he plays, it's likely too high for a specialist. We wouldn't draft a fullback, nose tackle or 2 down LB that early. At the same time after the trade there wasn't another player that stood out to me. I would have taken Dalton Risner if he was available. It was noted that we tried to trade up for one of the lineman but the cost was too much.

Round 3: LB Germaine Pratt B

He's fast and a former Safety but might not offer the cover skills we really need at the position. The LB unit was terrible last year so anyone is an upgrade but despite his skillset he was a one year starter that wasn't amazing in coverage. 

Round 4: QB Ryan Finley A

This pick was excellent. Ourlad's had him as the 3rd rated QB in the draft and a 2nd rounder. We have an offensive room with 3 QB coaches making it a perfect place for a rookie to develop. Dalton's contract means he has the perfect opportunity to fill in as needed and 

Round 4: NT Renell Wren A

A really big nose who can be explosive in the middle. Billings is a free agent after this year and Wren is likely his replacement.

Round 4: C Micheal Jordan A+

The coaches described him as the last starter level guy they saw on the board. Love the connection to price and his versatility. Westerman, Hopkins and Boling are all free agents after this year. He might just kick Redmond of the team this year. 

Round 6: RB Trayveon Williams A+

Familiarity with Jim Turner and rare numbers (1700 yards and 18tds) make this a home run this late in the draft. Might be Gio's replacement next year

Round 6: LB DeShaun Davis C

2 down player who has bad size and athletic traits. Put up numbers but these type of guys don't seem rare in the college game. 

Round 6: RB Rodney Anderson A+

Ended three of his four years our with injuries. A perfect flyer in round 6 with starter and difference maker level upside but who may never play. 

Round 7: CB Jordan Brown A

Adds to the depth at CB. Small school guy with big upside. 

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One thing is I think the thoughts, comments and insight from the posters on this board during the draft was over the top fantastic.  I missed chunks of the draft and could drop in here and get caught up with what's up with who.  I honestly feel the best coverage of the Bengals draft was HERE provided by a joebaggadonuts krew who know our Bengals and know their shit about football and the draftees far better than I.

 

Point two .... lots of long lost friends and newer posters showed up.  I really hope they keep coming back through the season for their insight and input.  Special props to Angry Squirrel for the Best Avatar Award.  Cracks me up every time I see it.

 

I like it that our second round draft pick (who I now REALLY like) will forever be known around here as Junior Samples.  

 

I like it that the Squeels bumped the bunny by trading up and giving up too much to take an undersized linebacker, Devin Female Pubic Hair.  As an afterthought,  I'm glad he wasn't there for us to chooses between the second best linebacker and the best OLman in the draft.  If Pubes had been there and we had (correctly) taken Williams, I would have been pissed.  Thanks, Squeels.  For being assholes.

 

How about Forrest Greg's first draft choice ever was the best OT in the draft and Zac Taylor's first ever draft choice was the best OT in the draft.  Deja vu all over again?  I certainly hope so.

 

Reading the reviews of our draft choices posted here, I recall off the top of my head seeing the term "Sleeper" used at least twice (Samples was one) and "Steal" on lower rounders twice.

 

This coaching staff and Tobin really did their homework on these guys ie bringing Finley in for a close up and personal look-see.  An intelligent and cerebral approach (underrated and undervalued Junior Samples picked higher than most thought) to the draft rather than Coach Clappy's dart board and bullshit approach.

 

A+ to the Bengals Draft and A++ to the posters.  

 

A New Dey is upon us.

 

OT trivia... love it that All Ego Team D. K. Metcalf was crying because he was the last player left in the green room when everyone else was taken ahead of him.

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Analysts praise the stealers as commanded for the draft where they gave up their 2nd round pick. So regardless of how good pubes does, it will still only be one pick in the first two rounds. The bengals would get slammed for doing the same thing. They also pleased the analysts by getting notable skills players in the other rounds.

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My thoughts...it's clear to me that Zac identified the Bengals biggest weakness,the ability to actually block and run the ball.Our first two picks weren't sexy picks,but along with Jordan in the 4th,if we are among the league leaders in rushing and Andy has better protection and we wind up making the playoffs because of these picks,then it's a good draft.We will find out come September.

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15 hours ago, HOF dan said:

It's interesting in that we are all so indoctrinated in the draft from a Marvin Lewis perspective - me included.

We watched his picks, his analysis of them and then his development / use (or non-use!) and, at least for me, my expectations remain as they have been.

I think I've seen and heard enough today that tells me I need to be ready to look at all of this through a new lense.

Taylor and company clearly have a their plan and talk like this draft played into that. Specifically a dedication to a diverse offense that features a strong run game.

While a lot of this is football speak that we've heard from all over the league for years, hopefully these guys are onto something.

I'm always an optimist and I'd like to see how this unfolds compared to the last 16 (?) years of ole Marv ball.

It just might surprise some people - even with a second round reach.

 

I agree. This draft was a breath of fresh air. Putting the actual players selected aside this is the FIRST time we have seen this team utilize it's draft capital to targets players they want for their system. This is what good teams do. Merv was so passive he just sat back and picked players when our turn came up, there never seemed to be a consistent 'theme' to the picks. Regardless of how this draft plays out in years to come I really like that they moved around with purpose. 

 

Second thing I noticed was the type of player selected - high IQ, high football IQ, high character and players who love to play the game. This was specifically noted in the press videos from the team about the selections. 

 

Moving up and down in the draft to target players is aggressive and that speaks to the style of coaching and play the team wants as well, no more passive "ply to not lose' Merv ball.

 

I was pleasantly surprised to see us move around the draft, and it says Zac has a big hand in that and Merv did in the past. How many times did we hear in the past that the player we wanted was picked just in front of us? 

 

There just seemed to be far more purpose to the draft this year, if nothing else it made it more fun for the fans (not their intention obviously)

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14 hours ago, Hooky said:

he was supposed to be a 4th round pick.

Based on Mike Mayock and Smell Kiper.

The fans used to be pissed that we never did our own scouting, now they're mad because we didn't take a guy where Kiper said we should have.

Unless you're a traveler from an alternate dimension, you have no idea where he would have gone. Love or hate the player, not his draft spot.

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From USA Today

Cincinnati Bengals: D+

It would appear they picked a blocking tight end (Drew Sample) in Round 2. Um ... Even if he develops into a quality all-around player, the Bengals, who finished last in total defense in 2018, certainly should have been addressing other areas instead. No real qualm with first-round OL Jonah Williams. But why pick QB Ryan Finley, who seems like a lateral move from Andy Dalton, in Round 4 when you could have had Dwayne Haskins 11th and picked up decent blockers later. Sorry, but this is still perplexing.

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From NFL.com

 

Cincinnati Bengals
Draft picks: Alabama OT Jonah Williams (No. 11 overall); Washington TE Drew Sample (No. 52); N.C. State LB Germaine Pratt (No. 72); N.C. State QB Ryan Finley (No. 104); Arizona State DT Renell Wren (No. 125); Ohio State C Michael Jordan (No. 136); Texas A&M RB Trayveon Williams (No. 182); Auburn LB Deshaun Davis (No, 210); Oklahoma RB Rodney Anderson (No. 211); South Dakota State CB Jordan Brown (No. 223)
Day 1 grade: A
Day 2 grade: C+
Day 3 grade: A
Overall grade: A-
Draft analysis: Cincinnati desperately needed help at offensive tackle, and Williams proved he can handle playing on the left or right side at Alabama. With both of the top inside linebackers off the board, this pick made a whole lot of sense. Just a solid pick.

Sample was considered one of the better combination tight ends (run blocker/receiver) in the draft, and the new Bengals coaching staff wanted that sort of player on the roster. It was probably two rounds too early, though. Pratt will be a good inside 'backer for Cincinnati, which needed to replace Vontaze Burfict.

Finley has the chance to be a starter eventually, whether it is in Cincinnati after the Andy Dalton era concludes or with another team via trade. Wren's athleticism is just waiting to be tapped by the right coach -- don't be surprised if he becomes a top-notch starter. Jordan is a guard for the Bengals, who could use an upgrade there. Mark Walton's departure made Williams a must-pick, given his value. Anderson's injury history caused him to fall into the sixth round, but that pick could pay off if he can get healthy. The addition of Brown's coverage ability closed a strong draft for the Bengals.

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From SBNation

Cincinnati Bengals

After getting jumped by Pittsburgh for linebacker Devin Bush, the Bengals took offensive tackle Jonah Williams at No. 11 overall. Maybe he’ll be the one to fix the team’s ongoing issues at tackle.

The Bengals helped their blocking issues further with Washington tight end Drew Sample at No. 52. That seemed a little early for him.

It was evident coming in that the Bengals needed a starting linebacker. They got one at No. 72 with Germaine Pratt of NC State. He’s a close comparison to Vontaze Burfict.

Cincinnati needed a quarterback and got one in NC State’s Ryan Finley. He’s accurate with otherwise average tools. But can he be anything more than a solid backup?

Grade: B-

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From Mel Kiper

Cincinnati Bengals: A-

Top needs: Linebacker, offensive line, quarterback

It's tough to know what to think about the Bengals in 2019. While longtime coach Marvin Lewis is gone and Zac Taylor is now in charge, Mike Brown still runs things. That means the team is going to build through the draft and not worry much about free agency. In fact, Cincinnati didn't make many notable moves, other than parting ways with Vontaze Burfict and re-signing its own guys. After a 6-10 finish last season, is this team better?

This is not a sexy class, but it's solid throughout. Jonah Williams (No. 11) is a no-brainer immediate starter, either at guard or tackle. Germaine Pratt (No. 72) is a converted safety who will likely end up at outside linebacker in Cincy's 4-3. The versatility makes it good value. I didn't love Ryan Finley's tape as much as Todd McShay -- he gave Finley a second-round grade -- but Andy Dalton shouldn't be locked in long term, so this is another option for Taylor if Dalton underwhelms. To get Finley at No. 104 is solid.

Drew Sample (No. 52) is a really good blocking tight end, but even he didn't expect to go in the second round. That was high with more complete tight ends available. Renell Wren (No. 125) had an up-and-down career for the Sun Devils, but he impressed at the Senior Bowl and has some intriguing athletic traits. I'm intrigued by the Day 3 running backs with Trayveon Williams (No. 182) and Rodney Anderson (No. 211). Anderson is one of the most talented backs in the class, but he simply couldn't stay on the field. Williams is going to help spell Joe Mixon in the receiving game. Jordan Brown (No. 223) is a good corner for the seventh round.

Williams and Sample are the only surefire early starters, but there's some upside with Finley and the Day 3 running backs. This group will help Taylor navigate his first year on the job.

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12 hours ago, TigerJ@w said:

I think he was being sarcastic, then again probably not from the Kool Aid Decades Drinker! Who Dey! 

Im pretty sure nobody in there right mind would call this best draft ever. I read sarcasm all the way😲

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How much say do coaches have in who we draft? It sounds to me like Duke is the man at this. Either way, now that it's over I'm ok with Drew Sample. He's a Bengal and I'm going to support him. If he makes our running game better then I'm not complaining. I'm in love with the rest of the draft picks. 

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1 hour ago, Duluoz said:

From USA Today

Cincinnati Bengals: D+

It would appear they picked a blocking tight end (Drew Sample) in Round 2. Um ... Even if he develops into a quality all-around player, the Bengals, who finished last in total defense in 2018, certainly should have been addressing other areas instead. No real qualm with first-round OL Jonah Williams. But why pick QB Ryan Finley, who seems like a lateral move from Andy Dalton, in Round 4 when you could have had Dwayne Haskins 11th and picked up decent blockers later. Sorry, but this is still perplexing.

 

I can't help but to agree with this. As I said earlier, I'm not going to keep complaining but move on and support the moves and the new coach. 

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This draft felt different with the new coaching staff and overall I think they did well.  I wasn't crazy about taking Sample in Round 2, but otherwise they got pretty good value with just about all the other picks.  They were able to move up and down a few times for specific targets which was nice to see.  I expect this draft class will have an immediate impact at several spots and I'm excited to see how it unfolds.

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