The Open For Business Draft Thread 2025 Edition

[claptonrocks]

On 11/22/2024 at 9:15 AM, dex said:

Just stunning that the top WR prospect and the top CB prospect in the draft is the same player...

I don't believe he's the best at either.

He's very good though.

[claptonrocks]

On 11/22/2024 at 10:07 AM, BlackJesus said:

 

... I think Hunter goes #1 overall. A unique talent. 

He'll go high but Shadure Sanders will go first imo.

A team (Giants, Raiders?) will trade up for him.

[sparky151]

18 hours ago, claptonrocks said:

He'll go high but Shadure Sanders will go first imo.

A team (Giants, Raiders?) will trade up for him.

 

Yeah, 1 or 2 QBs will go ahead of Hunter. TH is a great athlete but not very big. In the NFL he'll be a CB who moonlights as a WR or KR. IMO he'll have a worse NFL career than Will Johnson or Ben Morrison.

[I_C_Deadpeople]

Wonder if some team high in the draft tries to get both Sanders and Hunter?

[sparky151]

Bengals currently drafting 10th overall. 

[claptonrocks]

22 hours ago, I_C_Deadpeople said:

Wonder if some team high in the draft tries to get both Sanders and Hunter?

Not a chance.

.both top 10 or better.

[|BlackJesus|]

The Bengals need to either win out 6-0 (and make the playoffs) or lose out 0-6 (for better draft position). 

 

A 4-2 or 5-1 down the stretch (but missing the playoffs) would be the worst of all options. 

[claptonrocks]

3 hours ago, BlackJesus said:

The Bengals need to either win out 6-0 (and make the playoffs) or lose out 0-6 (for better draft position). 

 

A 4-2 or 5-1 down the stretch (but missing the playoffs) would be the worst of all options. 

Your sure a 9-8 team won't make it?

I see them winning 5 of 6 on down the stretch run

 

Why?

Because not one of their future opponents are better than them

 

In JB I trust.

 

[|BlackJesus|]

1 hour ago, claptonrocks said:

Your sure a 9-8 team won't make it?

I see them winning 6 of 7 down the stretch run

 

- a 9-8 team might make it, but not the Bengals I think because they lose so many tie breakers. They need to win out. 

 

,- There's only 6 games total left. 

[KA14_HOF]

Just curious what the general feeling here is at this point. Who "won" the 2024 draft in the AFC North? Or is it too soon to know? (FWIW, I color-code everything in my draft history spread sheet)

 

[T-Dub]

4 hours ago, BlackJesus said:

The Bengals need to either win out 6-0 (and make the playoffs) or lose out 0-6 (for better draft position). 

 

A 4-2 or 5-1 down the stretch (but missing the playoffs) would be the worst of all options. 

 

Oh buddy, we both know the answer to this one. 

 

[texbengal]

8 hours ago, KA14_HOF said:

Just curious what the general feeling here is at this point. Who "won" the 2024 draft in the AFC North? Or is it too soon to know? (FWIW, I color-code everything in my draft history spread sheet)

 

Thanks for this. 
 

So far, I like what the Bengals have done but Pittsburgh as well. Roman Wilson has been hurt but I think he’s gonna help and on the OL  Mason McCormack is starting, as is Zach Frazier. Both guys are your prototype Stealers… tough, mauler type, play through the whistle. Payton Wilson had some major injury risk but he’s looked really good so far. Helluva productive player. Fautanu has been hurt some but if he ends up starting, that 3 OL starters in one draft.

[KA14_HOF]

3 hours ago, texbengal said:

Thanks for this. 
 

So far, I like what the Bengals have done but Pittsburgh as well. Roman Wilson has been hurt but I think he’s gonna help and on the OL  Mason McCormack is starting, as is Zach Frazier. Both guys are your prototype Stealers… tough, mauler type, play through the whistle. Payton Wilson had some major injury risk but he’s looked really good so far. Helluva productive player. Fautanu has been hurt some but if he ends up starting, that 3 OL starters in one draft.

 

Imagine fixing your O-Line in 1 draft. What must it be like....???

 

BTW, apologies for the typos in the original post. They've now been fixed, and the people responsible for the oversight have been sacked.

[I_C_Deadpeople]

16 hours ago, claptonrocks said:

Not a chance.

.both top 10 or better.

It has been done, if one gives up enough it is doable. It would be very bold, I could see Vegas trying it 

[KA14_HOF]

20 minutes ago, I_C_Deadpeople said:

It has been done, if one gives up enough it is doable. It would be very bold, I could see Vegas trying it 

 

[texbengal]

37 minutes ago, KA14_HOF said:

 

Imagine fixing your O-Line in 1 draft. What must it be like....???

 

BTW, apologies for the typos in the original post. They've now been fixed, and the people responsible for the oversight have been sacked.

 

That's what is so frustrating. The Bengals just can't get the OL right, even with them spending significant money in FA. I look at Pitt with 3 OL starters in one draft... both Fautanu and Frazier looked like they could play, based on what they did in college - and McCormick has been a a really nice get. Meanwhile, the Bengals have Cordell Volson as their homegrown "talent" from 3 years ago (pre-Mims). And being on rookie deals, those guys are not only relatively cheap, but as young guys, they grow together as a unit. Ugh. 

Hopefully - at least on the DL - guys like Jenkins, Jackson, and (hopefully) Murphy can have some success and be part of a good, young unit. 

[texbengal]

13 hours ago, BlackJesus said:

 

- a 9-8 team might make it, but not the Bengals I think because they lose so many tie breakers. They need to win out. 

 

,- There's only 6 games total left. 

I could see them getting to 9-8, but I don't see them beating Pitt 2X unless they win this weekend and the last game, Pitt rests guys, like Cleveland did last year.

But given how the D has been such trash, I could see them losing several games, too. Dallas is getting healthier, and Denver looks solid. Denver is really the "must win" game because of potential tie breaker considerations. Bo Nix, who was a stiff at Auburn but resurrected his career at Oregon, looks like he's figuring things out and is playing with a lot of confidence. Denver has a nice D and Cortland Sutton is playing as well as anyone lately and he'll be a handful when the Bengals play them. 

[UncleEarl]

2 hours ago, texbengal said:

I could see them getting to 9-8, but I don't see them beating Pitt 2X unless they win this weekend and the last game, Pitt rests guys, like Cleveland did last year.

But given how the D has been such trash, I could see them losing several games, too. Dallas is getting healthier, and Denver looks solid. Denver is really the "must win" game because of potential tie breaker considerations. Bo Nix, who was a stiff at Auburn but resurrected his career at Oregon, looks like he's figuring things out and is playing with a lot of confidence. Denver has a nice D and Cortland Sutton is playing as well as anyone lately and he'll be a handful when the Bengals play them. 

 

Bo Nix is still Bo Nix.  He can make all the plays, but will piss down his leg under pressure.  Physical or stress related. 

[Jamie_B]

1 minute ago, UncleEarl said:

 

Bo Nix is still Bo Nix.  He can make all the plays, but will piss down his leg under pressure.  Physical or stress related. 

 

Problem is we only have one guy on defense that can get pressure. 

[|BlackJesus|]

[Le Tigre]

Right on schedule bump 

[Jamie_B]

Do we end up with a top 10 pick?

[I_C_Deadpeople]

38 minutes ago, Jamie_B said:

Do we end up with a top 10 pick?

Will be around that spot, need to get a elite rushing DE

[Jamie_B]

Just now, I_C_Deadpeople said:

Will be around that spot, need to get a elite rushing DE

 

Or the kid from Michigan, really anyone who can get to the QB or collapse the pocket

[texbengal]

42 minutes ago, Jamie_B said:

 

Or the kid from Michigan, really anyone who can get to the QB or collapse the pocket

Michigan has 2 DTs - Manson Graham and Kenneth Grant. Currently Graham is the better player, IMO Grant may have a higher ceiling, he’s a heckuva athlete for a 330 pound guy. Issue for me is, Bengals already swing for guys like CTB and Murphy as “traits” guys but I want guys with a history of productivity, so for me, that’s Graham. Another intriguing inside guy is at Texas - Vernon Broughton. Impressive get-off and he can collapse the pocket. 
 

They just need guys who can play. They don’t have nearly enough of those.