dex Posted August 26 Report Share Posted August 26 No secret that the Bengals had less than stellar draft classes in 2021 and '22, with the depth that Day Three is supposed to provide being especially bad. Still very early of course, but this year's Day Three class looks like it could be really special. I can't remember the last time the 4th-7th round picks have flashed this much this quickly. ERICK ALL 4th rd - Other than Amarius Mims this is the '24 draft pick that seems to be creating the most positive buzz among the coaches. He missed the entire offseason program and the beginning of training camp recovering from knee surgery, but he has been turning heads ever since he started practicing. TE is considered one of the most difficult positions to learn at the NFL level, but All has made a big impression in a very short time. He may not be as good as an in-line blocker as DSample (yet) or as good of a slot receiving TE as Gesick (yet) but All is living up to his name as the best all-around TE in the room. By midseason he might be getting as many snaps as any TE. Figures to be starting TE in 2025 for sure. Could be the best TE the Bengals have drafted in a decade or more. JOSH NEWTON 5th rd - Figures to provide immediate depth. Has flashed plenty in training camp. Might be like a 3rd round value in the 5th. TANNER MCLAUGHLIN 6th rd A - Might be the only draft pick that doesn't make the 53 man roster. He has flashed some, but would likely have to beat Tanner Hudson out for TE4. Definitely would be put on the practice squad if he isn't claimed on waivers. CEDRIC JOHNSON 6th rd B - The youngest of the 10 draft picks (maybe a month or so younger than Mims) has flashed a ton in preseason games. Has a lot of untapped potential as a pass rusher. Could be a beast on special teams too. DAIJUAN ANTHONY 7th rd A- A safety who always seems seems to be in the right place at the right time. Has drawn some very early comparisons to Geno Stone, another 7th rd pick a few years ago. MATT LEE 7th rd B - Has graded extremely high as a pass protector in preseason games. Run blocking needs work. In a couple years he could possibly replace Karras at center. Is the rare backup OL who can make the team even though he can only play one position. Probably the top reason he was still available so late. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|High School Harry| Posted August 26 Report Share Posted August 26 I think McLaughlin sticks and Hudson goes to the practice squad. Was thinking this is probably the BEST Bengals draft class ever esp if you throw in Njongmeta and Rehkow who I think will be on the practice squad if not replacing Robbins on the 53. If the latter happens, Robbing to practice squad. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texbengal Posted August 26 Report Share Posted August 26 There's a lot to like about what we've seen so far. And to me, the quality of your front office really shows up in how well the draft pans out in days 2 and 3 - plus finding a few UDFAs that can upgrade the back end of your roster. McLaughlin is likely the only one who might get exposed, if other teams look to upgrade their rosters and he's available. Interestingly, one of the bubble guys in NE (who they play in week one) is Mitchell Wilcox, former Bengal TE. Anyway, all of that said, when the real bullets fly, we'll have a better indication if what we have. But definitely promising so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|BlackJesus| Posted August 26 Report Share Posted August 26 2 hours ago, High School Harry said: Was thinking this is probably the BEST Bengals draft class ever It very well could be if you factor in both quality and quantity. I predicted on draft weekend that all 10 would make the team and still believe that. But really they might keep 12 rookies if you count the FA (Njongmeta, Rekhow). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatternMaster Posted August 26 Report Share Posted August 26 I think this is a bit premature, preseason football is not the same as regular season...Let's wait and see how these guys perform when the season starts before we crown them the best draft class ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dex Posted August 26 Author Report Share Posted August 26 6 minutes ago, PatternMaster said: I think this is a bit premature, preseason football is not the same as regular season...Let's wait and see how these guys perform when the season starts before we crown them the best draft class ever. I certainly didn't crown them the best draft class ever. While the Day Three picks looks very promising, the Day Two picks seem like a more worrisome muddle at the moment. We won't know what they have for at least two years anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatternMaster Posted August 26 Report Share Posted August 26 1 hour ago, dex said: I certainly didn't crown them the best draft class ever. While the Day Three picks looks very promising, the Day Two picks seem like a more worrisome muddle at the moment. We won't know what they have for at least two years anyway. I never said you specifically did that, but I agree they are promising and seem to be the most complete draft class in the Zac Taylor era. It's rare to get this much production from the day 3 picks as it seems they are going make contributions this season at some point, but definitely be starters in the next few years. All could be the next starting TE in 2025, Newton looks to be the slot corner of the future once Hilton's contract expires, McLachlan could be the 2nd TE in 2025, while Johnson and Lee look like absolute steals. I'm not very high on Anthony as I didn't see anything in coverage that stood out and I think Battle and Stone will be the safeties of the future, but he may find a home on special teams. This draft class can be special if Mims can stay healthy, Jenkins continues on his current path, and Burton matures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|High School Harry| Posted August 26 Report Share Posted August 26 4 hours ago, dex said: I certainly didn't crown them the best draft class ever. While the Day Three picks looks very promising, the Day Two picks seem like a more worrisome muddle at the moment. We won't know what they have for at least two years anyway. 2 hours ago, PatternMaster said: I never said you specifically did that, but I agree they are promising and seem to be the most complete draft class in the Zac Taylor era. It's rare to get this much production from the day 3 picks as it seems they are going make contributions this season at some point, but definitely be starters in the next few years. All could be the next starting TE in 2025, Newton looks to be the slot corner of the future once Hilton's contract expires, McLachlan could be the 2nd TE in 2025, while Johnson and Lee look like absolute steals. I'm not very high on Anthony as I didn't see anything in coverage that stood out and I think Battle and Stone will be the safeties of the future, but he may find a home on special teams. This draft class can be special if Mims can stay healthy, Jenkins continues on his current path, and Burton matures I said that. And all the shiny new toy stuff aside, I am very excited about the draft picks and undrafted free agent LB probably making the team. Add drafted Kirkland who has been around a couple years including one on IR working himself into a key back up spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dex Posted August 26 Author Report Share Posted August 26 Just now, High School Harry said: I said that. And all the shiny new toy stuff aside, I am very excited about the draft picks and undrafted free agent LB probably making the team. Add drafted Kirkland who has been around a couple years including one on IR working himself into a key back up spot. Kirkland wasn't drafted. Believe he was the first UDFA that signed with the Bengals after the draft. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|High School Harry| Posted August 26 Report Share Posted August 26 Just now, dex said: Kirkland wasn't drafted. Believe he was the first UDFA that signed with the Bengals after the draft. forgot the un oops I think I read several teams put in bids and he chose the Bengals. I like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackie Treehorn Posted August 26 Report Share Posted August 26 5 minutes ago, dex said: Kirkland wasn't drafted. Believe he was the first UDFA that signed with the Bengals after the draft. So would this be the Bengals drafting and developing an OL player? Because I've heard that the Bengals never do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Dub Posted August 26 Report Share Posted August 26 2 minutes ago, Jackie Treehorn said: So would this be the Bengals drafting and developing an OL player? Because I've heard that the Bengals never do that. Same situation as Matt Lee, the answer is: maybe? Seems they've done enough to make the 53 but the level of competition there was abysmally low. We won't have a definitive answer until they're called on to play. They've raised the bar some for the OL as a whole, that's good enough for me for now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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