The Open For Business Draft Thread 2025 Edition

[claptonrocks]

7 minutes ago, BlackJesus said:

In my book the #1 need is a DE who can actually get sacks. Trey needs help on the other side. 

Yes..

I don't care what receiver is on the board our defense can't pressure at all aside from Trey.

Get the he best DE pass rusher in the board .

 

[KA14_HOF]

2021

Rd 1 - Ja'Marr Chase (Chase or Sewell were going to be a home run)

Rd 2 - Jackson Carman

Rd 3 - Joseph Ossai

 

2022

Rd 1 - Dax Hill

Rd 2 - Cam Taylor-Britt

Rd 3 - Zachary Carter

 

2023

Rd 1 - Myles Murphy

Rd 2 - D.J. Turner

Rd 3 - Jordan Battle

 

For the previous 3 drafts prior to 2024, we were doing great up until we picked Jackson Carman. After that, not much bang for our buck from our premium picks. Our scouts really need to do better. Both of them.

[T-Dub]

34 minutes ago, KA14_HOF said:

Our scouts really need to do better. Both of them.

 

 

Why is that?  Would something bad happen if they don't?

 

[KA14_HOF]

4 hours ago, T-Dub said:

 

 

Why is that?  Would something bad happen if they don't?

 

If I was running the team? Absolutely. I'd revoke cushy perks. Like, no more company razor scooter. They'd have to find their own transportation.

[Jamie_B]

8 hours ago, KA14_HOF said:

2021

Rd 1 - Ja'Marr Chase (Chase or Sewell were going to be a home run)

Rd 2 - Jackson Carman

Rd 3 - Joseph Ossai

 

2022

Rd 1 - Dax Hill

Rd 2 - Cam Taylor-Britt

Rd 3 - Zachary Carter

 

2023

Rd 1 - Myles Murphy

Rd 2 - D.J. Turner

Rd 3 - Jordan Battle

 

For the previous 3 drafts prior to 2024, we were doing great up until we picked Jackson Carman. After that, not much bang for our buck from our premium picks. Our scouts really need to do better. Both of them.

 

Bengals scouting department 

 

[Jamie_B]

10 minutes ago, High School Harry said:

Tee straight up for Chase Young right now.

 

Why? Young isn't even a starter on the Saints.

[|High School Harry|]

1 hour ago, Jamie_B said:

 

Why? Young isn't even a starter on the Saints.

deleted... wrong guy...

still brain numb from yesterday.

[Jamie_B]

11 minutes ago, High School Harry said:

deleted... wrong guy...

still brain numb from yesterday.

 

Got ya

 

I'd bring Young in during FA as a backup that could potentially move into a starter role on a 2 year "prove it" deal though he's still young (no pun intended)

[texbengal]

10 hours ago, KA14_HOF said:

2021

Rd 1 - Ja'Marr Chase (Chase or Sewell were going to be a home run)

Rd 2 - Jackson Carman

Rd 3 - Joseph Ossai

 

2022

Rd 1 - Dax Hill

Rd 2 - Cam Taylor-Britt

Rd 3 - Zachary Carter

 

2023

Rd 1 - Myles Murphy

Rd 2 - D.J. Turner

Rd 3 - Jordan Battle

 

For the previous 3 drafts prior to 2024, we were doing great up until we picked Jackson Carman. After that, not much bang for our buck from our premium picks. Our scouts really need to do better. Both of them.

I don't take issue with the positional priorities at all, including Carman. Ja'Marr was a no-brainer. Maybe Dax will turn out to be a good player... he was trending that way. 

But Ossai has been a disappointment since the end of 2022, CTB has regressed, Zack Carter was a terrible pick who did zilch, Murphy has shown few flashes (as in very few), Turner can't find the football (still) and Battle hasn't developed, either. Maybe a few will, but IMO this falls on Duke and staff. They just haven't gotten it done. I know they love "traits" guys but they need to find guys that can PLAY Add in the recent FA acquisitions like Rankins, Bell and Stone - who have all been disappointments thus far - as well as decisions they've made not to re-sign key pieces - and they get a big fat F. 

 

[texbengal]

2 minutes ago, Jamie_B said:

 

Got ya

 

I'd bring Young in during FA as a backup that could potentially move into a starter role on a 2 year "prove it" deal though he's still young (no pun intended)

I don't see it with him. He wasn't even very good in Washington before he got hurt. Then SF didn't re-sign him, and now he's in NO, and he's had injury issues besides. No thanks. 

[Jamie_B]

1 minute ago, texbengal said:

I don't see it with him. He wasn't even very good in Washington before he got hurt. Then SF didn't re-sign him, and now he's in NO, and he's had injury issues besides. No thanks. 

 

I'm talking as a backup. I don't think Ossai is going to get another contract here. I want to draft DE in the first two rounds, we will still need another DE too.

[New Jersey Bengal]

5 minutes ago, texbengal said:

I don't take issue with the positional priorities at all, including Carman. Ja'Marr was a no-brainer. Maybe Dax will turn out to be a good player... he was trending that way. 

But Ossai has been a disappointment since the end of 2022, CTB has regressed, Zack Carter was a terrible pick who did zilch, Murphy has shown few flashes (as in very few), Turner can't find the football (still) and Battle hasn't developed, either. Maybe a few will, but IMO this falls on Duke and staff. They just haven't gotten it done. I know they love "traits" guys but they need to find guys that can PLAY Add in the recent FA acquisitions like Rankins, Bell and Stone - who have all been disappointments thus far - as well as decisions they've made not to re-sign key pieces - and they get a big fat F. 

 

I think this is on coaching also

[Jamie_B]

9 minutes ago, texbengal said:

I don't take issue with the positional priorities at all, including Carman. Ja'Marr was a no-brainer. Maybe Dax will turn out to be a good player... he was trending that way. 

But Ossai has been a disappointment since the end of 2022, CTB has regressed, Zack Carter was a terrible pick who did zilch, Murphy has shown few flashes (as in very few), Turner can't find the football (still) and Battle hasn't developed, either. Maybe a few will, but IMO this falls on Duke and staff. They just haven't gotten it done. I know they love "traits" guys but they need to find guys that can PLAY Add in the recent FA acquisitions like Rankins, Bell and Stone - who have all been disappointments thus far - as well as decisions they've made not to re-sign key pieces - and they get a big fat F. 

 

 

 

I'm sad about Ossai, he was really promising until his mess up in the AFC Championship game. He has never been the same player since. 

[texbengal]

Just now, New Jersey Bengal said:

I think this is on coaching also

For sure. 

The CBs should be improving... they aren't. DL should be getting better at pass rush. They aren't. They should tackle better and limit YAC. They aren't. They should be getting off the field on 3rd down... it's been a problem for years with this defense. 

They *were* better at limiting explosives for a few games, but in the important moments in games (e.g. Henry in OT), they don't do it. And they got gashed yesterday. 

 

[texbengal]

Just now, Jamie_B said:

 

 

I'm sad about Ossai, he was really promising until his mess up in the AFC Championship game. He has never been the same player since. 

 

100%. He was great in college and he really started to show up. And then that KC game happened. 

[texbengal]

6 minutes ago, Jamie_B said:

 

I'm talking as a backup. I don't think Ossai is going to get another contract here. I want to draft DE in the first two rounds, we will still need another DE too.

Yeah, I'd be shocked if Ossai wasn't gone next year. Cam Sample, they might re-sign. He's useful. And I'd like to see more Cedric Johnson on the pass rush. He's got some juice. 

They definitely need help at DE in the draft. Nic Scourton of Texas A&M is a guy I really like. He's a big DE but he can get after the QB. I believe he led the SEC in sacks last year and he's been good from what I've seen this year. Josiah Stewart (Michigan) is a smaller guy who has a knack for making plays and getting to the QB. Likely a 3rd-day pick but he can play. 

[Jamie_B]

2 minutes ago, texbengal said:

Yeah, I'd be shocked if Ossai wasn't gone next year. Cam Sample, they might re-sign. He's useful. And I'd like to see more Cedric Johnson on the pass rush. He's got some juice. 

They definitely need help at DE in the draft. Nic Scourton of Texas A&M is a guy I really like. He's a big DE but he can get after the QB. I believe he led the SEC in sacks last year and he's been good from what I've seen this year. Josiah Stewart (Michigan) is a smaller guy who has a knack for making plays and getting to the QB. Likely a 3rd-day pick but he can play. 

 

Hilton and Hill are FAs and I dont see either of them coming back either.

 

Your starting CBs next year are CTB, Turner, and Hill

 

Jenkins will slide in next to Rankins and we will need to get another 3Tech 

[texbengal]

3 minutes ago, Jamie_B said:

 

Hilton and Hill are FAs and I dont see either of them coming back either.

 

Your starting CBs next year are CTB, Turner, and Hill

 

Jenkins will slide in next to Rankins and we will need to get another 3Tech 

Could possibly see either back on a one-year deal, or Hill on a 2-year. Both pretty useful guys, but I'd prefer Hill vs. Hilton based on team depth, and the fact that he can be a solid player as part a rotation. He just wears down if he plays too much.  I guess part of it depends on how Rankins does for the rest of the year... so far, he's talked a good game but has done very little on the field. 

[Jamie_B]

1 minute ago, texbengal said:

Could possibly see either back on a one-year deal, or Hill on a 2-year. Both pretty useful guys, but I'd prefer Hill vs. Hilton based on team depth, and the fact that he can be a solid player as part a rotation. He just wears down if he plays too much.  I guess part of it depends on how Rankins does for the rest of the year... so far, he's talked a good game but has done very little on the field. 

 

 

Yeah Rankins has been a disappointment after we got into a bidding war for him. If we bring Hill back, I'd cut Rankins and still draft another 3 Tech. What I don't think we can do is lose both Hill and Rankins and be in a situation where you are starting Jenkins and McKinley Jackson and still need to draft another guy.

[|BlackJesus|]

This team's 5 biggest NEEDS (assuming Tee isn't back) ...

 

1. LE

2. NT

3. WR2 

4. G

5. RE to spell Trey

 

But more than anything this entire DL needs way more speed and athleticism. I personally would resign Ja'Marr and Tee and draft all DL in rds 1-4 next year (have to hit on some of them). 

[Jamie_B]

2 minutes ago, BlackJesus said:

This team's 5 biggest NEEDS (assuming Tee isn't back) ...

 

1. LE

2. NT

3. WR2 

4. G

5. RE to spell Trey

 

But more than anything this entire DL needs way more speed and athleticism. I personally would resign Ja'Marr and Tee and draft all DL in rds 1-4 next year (have to hit on some of them). 

 

I would also add CB1. I just don't think any of our CB's are shut down CBs or even ball hawks, but I do think all 3 of them are solid CB2s. Otherwise I think this list is spot on. 

[|BlackJesus|]

I am not sure if our running issues would matter with a highly drafted RB1, as if there isn't a hole there just isn't one. Would Barry Sanders succeed within this offense? 

 

I think our running game is schematic, and the fact that we have drafted all pass blockers on the OL, so they are used to dropping back, and none of them really have that mauler road grader trait in them. But if that is the case then we should just own it and quit pretending to run and just go shotgun, drop back and let Joe sling it. We give up so many first and 2nd down plays with 2-3 yard runs and then have to throw on 3rd and long all the time. 

[texbengal]

7 minutes ago, Jamie_B said:

 

 

Yeah Rankins has been a disappointment after we got into a bidding war for him. If we bring Hill back, I'd cut Rankins and still draft another 3 Tech. What I don't think we can do is lose both Hill and Rankins and be in a situation where you are starting Jenkins and McKinley Jackson and still need to draft another guy.

 

Agreed. And so far, Hill is the superior player. 

[Jamie_B]

1 minute ago, texbengal said:

 

Agreed. And so far, Hill is the superior player. 

 

 

Yup

[Jamie_B]

4 minutes ago, BlackJesus said:

I am not sure if our running issues would matter with a highly drafted RB1, as if there isn't a hole there just isn't one. Would Barry Sanders succeed within this offense? 

 

I think our running game is schematic, and the fact that we have drafted all pass blockers on the OL, so they are used to dropping back, and none of them really have that mauler road grader trait in them. But if that is the case then we should just own it and quit pretending to run and just go shotgun, drop back and let Joe sling it. We give up so many first and 2nd down plays with 2-3 yard runs and then have to throw on 3rd and long all the time. 

 

 

You can't completely abandon the run. Do that and teams just drop their LBs and Safeties and make the pass game that much harder. 

 

I watched a bit of the Cowboys/49ners game last night and kept thinking to myself. Who on this team on either line outside of Trey is this physical when they play?

 

We're a finesse team in the AFC North which is not how this division runs.