Draft prospects

[augustisback003]

Looking at last night's season finale a few positions in need of an upgrade were apparent when compared to the AFC North Champions Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers speed and depth at wide receiver with Markus Wheaton and Martavis Bryant were obvious and should be emulated by the Bengals. And though Mohammad Sanu and Marvin Jones are excellent players, neither are the burner needed to scare a defense like the ones the Steelers have. Our lack of a consistent pass rush was also on display last night as Rothlisberger was barely touched all night and was able to stand in the pocket and pick our defense apart. Another position that can be addressed, but isn't in need of an immediate upgrade, is depth along the O-line. With that being said here are a list of players I would like to see the Bengals target in this year's draft.

Defensive Ends/Pass rushers
1. Bud Dupree DE/OLB 6'3⅝" 268 Kentucky
2. Dante Fowler Jr. DE 6'2½" 271 Florida
3. Vic Beasley DE 6'2⅞" 220 Clemson
4. Shilique Calhoun* DE 6'4" 257 Michigan State

Defensive Tackles
1. Danny Shelton DT 6'1⅞" 332 Washington (likely drafted before Bengals spot)
2. Eddie Goldman DT 6'3½" 315 Florida State (likely drafted before Bengals spot)
3. Malcom Brown DT 6'3½" 317 Texas
4. Mike Bennett DT 6'2¼" 286 Ohio State

Wide Reciever
1. Rashad Greene WR 5'11½" 175 Florida State
2. Nelson Agholor WR 6'0" 185 USC
3. Phillip Dorsett WR 5'10" 182 Miami (FL)
4. Tyler Lockett WR 5'9⅝" 175 Kansas State

Offensive Linemen
1. Jarvis Harrison OG 6'3¾" 325 Texas A&M
2. Tre Jackson OG 6'3⅝" 337 Florida State
3. Daryl Williams OT 6'5¼" 330 Oklahoma
4. Corey Robinson OT 6'7¾" 340 South Carolina

 

[augustisback003]

Phillip Dorsett reminds me of Antonio Brown!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuJAI_LJ9hU

 

[cincygrad]

Let me get things started by calling someone an idiot.

 

[kramer1]

Quarterback, Round 1.

 

[cincygrad]

Quarterback, Round 1.

Idiot

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Looking at last night's season finale a few positions in need of an upgrade were apparent when compared to the AFC North Champions Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers speed and depth at wide receiver with Markus Wheaton and Martavis Bryant were obvious and should be emulated by the Bengals. And though Mohammad Sanu and Marvin Jones are excellent players, neither are the burner needed to scare a defense like the ones the Steelers have. Our lack of a consistent pass rush was also on display last night as Rothlisberger was barely touched all night and was able to stand in the pocket and pick our defense apart. Another position that can be addressed, but isn't in need of an immediate upgrade, is depth along the O-line. With that being said here are a list of players I would like to see the Bengals target in this year's draft.

Defensive Ends/Pass rushers
1. Bud Dupree DE/OLB 6'3⅝" 268 Kentucky
2. Dante Fowler Jr. DE 6'2½" 271 Florida We like bigger DE's who will not get shoved around.
3. Vic Beasley DE 6'2⅞" 220 Clemson
4. Shilique Calhoun* DE 6'4" 257 Michigan State

Defensive Tackles
1. Danny Shelton DT 6'1⅞" 332 Washington (likely drafted before Bengals spot)
2. Eddie Goldman DT 6'3½" 315 Florida State (likely drafted before Bengals spot)
3. Malcom Brown DT 6'3½" 317 Texas
4. Mike Bennett DT 6'2¼" 286 Ohio State

Wide Reciever
1. Rashad Greene WR 5'11½" 175 Florida State
2. Nelson Agholor WR 6'0" 185 USC
3. Phillip Dorsett WR 5'10" 182 Miami (FL) He has speed, and instincts it appears, so while on the small side, he seems like a play maker to replace the Hawkins role.
4. Tyler Lockett WR 5'9⅝" 175 Kansas State

Offensive Linemen
1. Jarvis Harrison OG 6'3¾" 325 Texas A&M
2. Tre Jackson OG 6'3⅝" 337 Florida State
3. Daryl Williams OT 6'5¼" 330 Oklahoma
4. Corey Robinson OT 6'7¾" 340 South Carolina Big mauling RT to replace Tits.

I am almost to the point I am ready to not have the team sink $10+ million a year on Green. Just trade him for a 1st rounder and a conditional 2nd pick that could go as high as 1st with production. We will then need to go after a top WR prospect in the draft. I really like AJ, but I don't think we can win a championship with Dalton/Green on the team. Go after a defensive line like the Rams have. We can keep Atkins and Dunlap, but we need players better than both of them on the opposite of them. I think our LB's are fine when all are healthy and on the field together (Lamur/Maualuga/Burfict).

We also need to just let Hall go, Newman go, and start Kirkpatrick/Dennard/Jones and maybe find a decent 4th CB to go with this group.

If f'n Eifert can stay healthy, and we replace Gresham with a decent replacement, I think we will be okay here.

So now we can save money from Newman, Hall, Green, Gresham, Peko, Tits McGee. I would honestly look at getting rid of all these players and trying to do a small rebuild, and if Dalton doesn't improve like tremendously next year (which I think he may actually improve a little if he is not forcing the damn ball to Green, as that seems to be the area he is always throwing picks), then we will have made it through year two of the new contract where we can cut Dalton's ass for a small cap hit. Then we can save money on his ass.

I think the Oline is decent, but we need a top tier RT to replace Tits with, and look towards the future on replacing Whitworth who while still awesome, is getting older and may only have a few years left in him at the most.

I think we are finally set at RB with Hill/Bernard/Burkhead. I really like that RB set.

In the meantime, I would consider promoting Marvin Lewis to GM (not gonna happen but should), hire Rex Ryan as HC, leave Hue as OC if possible, and see what we can do about our defensive coordinator. Granted, not sure our defensive coordinator is the problem, as Burfict was gone most of the season, is the heart and soul and leader of that defense, and the defensive line had ZERO pass rushing ability, dead last in the NFL. Pathetic! Hard to blame the DC when the defensive line is that pathetic.

These are all moves that would save this team tons of money, some could hurt more than others, like Green, but if you replace him with the right guys, you may not have that much of a drop off, especially if you get healthy with Eifert and Jones, along with a talented FA/draft pick in the draft.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

I actually think AJ Green makes Dalton a worse QB, and Dalton makes AJ Green a worse WR.

AJ needs a competent QB to be throwing him balls and keep from getting him killed, along with being able to throw to a spot deep down the field that Green can run to without having to turn around and stop for every damn ball thrown to him.

Dalton needs a quality core of WR's without a single superstar, because Dalton focuses too hard on getting one guy the ball and his decision making becomes erratic and he begins forcing too much crap to that one guy regardless of coverage.

Dalton is obviously the problem, but I am not sure having one major superstar at WR is going to help this team more than having a whole stable of quality horses with no superstar. Also, not sure it is worth sticking 10-12 million a year on a WR in this league.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

If we could trade AJ Green for a 1st and a conditional 2nd pick that could be as high as a 1st with Probowl appearances in back to back years....

This is initially how my draft would look:

1st: Leonard Williams, DE/DT, USC (6'5" / 300 / 4.91)
1st: Devin Smith, WR, OSU (6'1" / 197 / 4.40)
2nd: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma (6'6" / 220 / 4.55)
3rd: Daryl Williams, OT, Oklahoma (6'6" / 329)
4th: Jeff Heuerman, TE, OSU (6'5" / 255 / 4.83) Balanced TE (which we need since Eifert is pass catching)

Not sure after that, but I think that is a nice start, and you save tons of money by letting all those other guys go so you can actually spend a little money in FA for a specific need and it allows you to sign other good players to longer term contracts (Lamur, Nelson, Iloka, Zeitler, *Hill, *Bernard).

*Later on in their contracts of course.

 

[augustisback003]

If we could trade AJ Green for a 1st and a conditional 2nd pick that could be as high as a 1st with Probowl appearances in back to back years....

This is initially how my draft would look:

1st: Leonard Williams, DE/DT, USC (6'5" / 300 / 4.91)
1st: Devin Smith, WR, OSU (6'1" / 197 / 4.40)
2nd: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma (6'6" / 220 / 4.55)
3rd: Daryl Williams, OT, Oklahoma (6'6" / 329)
4th: Jeff Heuerman, TE, OSU (6'5" / 255 / 4.83) Balanced TE (which we need since Eifert is pass catching)

Not sure after that, but I think that is a nice start, and you save tons of money by letting all those other guys go so you can actually spend a little money in FA for a specific need and it allows you to sign other good players to longer term contracts (Lamur, Nelson, Iloka, Zeitler, *Hill, *Bernard).

*Later on in their contracts of course.

Leonard Williams is going in the top 5, there is no way in Hell he's making it to the Bengals in the mid 20's

 

[alf8478]

I am basing this on 2 assumptions:
A-we once again fail to win a playoff game
B-Marvin Lewis isn't man enough to do what's best for the team and resign.

This offseason should either be an agressive go for it, or rebuild.
I read recently that the Bengals have about $30 million in cap room, and they don't need to save it to re-sign any major players. AJ is on 5th year option and can be franchised the next year.Their most prominent free agent is Rey M.

So they should try an acquire an IMPACT player on defense and an upgrade on offense, maybe along the line, or trade up in the draft for one of the top D prospects.
OR
Break the whole thing down. Trade Green, let Gresham And Rey M. walk. Cut Newman, Peko, Geathers, Tate, Little. Release or re-do Hall's contract and just go back to being bottom feeders with no expectations.

 

[JBUCK66]

Here's the problem....none of that is going to happen

 

[BKBroiler9000]

I am basing this on 2 assumptions:
A-we once again fail to win a playoff game
B-Marvin Lewis isn't man enough to do what's best for the team and resign.

This offseason should either be an agressive go for it, or rebuild.
I read recently that the Bengals have about $30 million in cap room, and they don't need to save it to re-sign any major players. AJ is on 5th year option and can be franchised the next year.Their most prominent free agent is Rey M.

So they should try an acquire an IMPACT player on defense and an upgrade on offense, maybe along the line, or trade up in the draft for one of the top D prospects.
OR
Break the whole thing down. Trade Green, let Gresham And Rey M. walk. Cut Newman, Peko, Geathers, Tate, Little. Release or re-do Hall's contract and just go back to being bottom feeders with no expectations.

I like your words. Keep speaking them!

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Leonard Williams is going in the top 5, there is no way in Hell he's making it to the Bengals in the mid 20's

I think we should trade AJ Green to one of the teams with a 1st round pick in the top 5. That is why my assumption for Williams was to us. Maybe like the Raiders who have a young talented QB and could use a legit WR threat.

 

[cincygrad]

Just stop it people. AJ Green is never being traded. Dalton is not going anywhere. And we are not signing an impact free agent.

We will have the same roster next season. And we are going to play quite a few rebuilding or retooled teams. Hell, we might even have better health. We'll win 10 or 11 games and likely be in the playoffs for the 5th consecutive year, but we will not challenge for the super bowl.

 

[DanBengalfan]

people are assuming that after watching AJ get banged up people are eager to trade a first rounder for him, they are not.

also, this team has so many needs that we can just draft based on talent available.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

I thought it was pretty obvious, but I guess I should have started my posts out with:

"This is what I would prefer to do...."

What we will actually do.....not a damn thing but keep losing.

Is that realistic enough?

 

[DanBengalfan]

lol, yea.

...

drafting a wide out wouldn't be a bad idea though.
move Green to #2, Marvin Jones isn't that special. Sanu in the slot (although he's out of favor with the Bengals coaching staff somehow they still love Brandon Tate)

but I digress, we need to plan for OT, we need help at nearly every position except for K, P, LS, and RB

 

[BKBroiler9000]

Too early to even worry about the draft yet. We still have a postseason game to epically shit down the drain! Stay focused people!

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Too early to even worry about the draft yet. We still have a postseason game to epically shit down the drain! Stay focused people!

For some reason the season already feels over to me. *shrugs*

 

[DanBengalfan]

Too early to even worry about the draft yet. We still have a postseason game to epically shit down the drain! Stay focused people!

we're going to whoop ass.