Jaylon Smith

[Be Weary of Query]

Would you be willing to use a second round pick on him? Based on how Marvin and Duke have operated in recent years, they aren't afraid to buy low on damaged goods in hopes of it bearing fruit years down the line. Ogbuehi being the most recent example and A.J. McCarron as well.

I'm not advocating using our (current) 1st round pick (assuming we don't trade down) but I could live with taking him in the 2nd and sitting him a year.

 

[cincygrad]

Given that most of our drat picks never see the field in their first year, I'd definitely be cool with it.

 

[Cincyfan78]

As long as the medicals come back good, I'd have no problem with it. He was the best LB in the draft by far before he was hurt.

 

[cincygrad]

You also never know when Burfict is going to get himself tossed out of the league. Probably time to start thinking about other options.

 

[Kingspoint]

Not a 2nd...or a 3rd. An injury like that will often drop that player to the 6th. There are exceptions, but you could probably be safe in waiting with the Bengals 5th rd pick to select him.

 

[futballiscool]

The Ogbuehi situation was different in a couple important ways. First his injury was a typical ACL tear which is no longer career altering 9 out of 10 times. He also plays arguably the most important position on the field other than QB. That was worth a redshirt year and the gamble. I am not a doctor but the Jaylon Smith situation sounds like it might have more in common with Marcus Lattimore's based on the predraft buzz. If Rapport is right and teams are confident he's back to form in 2017 he's worth a 2nd rd pick but there's so much misinformation this time of year

 

[Kingspoint]

The Ogbuehi situation was different in a couple important ways. First his injury was a typical ACL tear which is no longer career altering 9 out of 10 times. He also plays arguably the most important position on the field other than QB. That was worth a redshirt year and the gamble. I am not a doctor but the Jaylon Smith situation sounds like it might have more in common with Marcus Lattimore's based on the predraft buzz. If Rapport is right and teams are confident he's back to form in 2017 he's worth a 2nd rd pick but there's so much misinformation this time of year

A team like the Browns or 49ers, who each have 12 picks this year, can afford to use one on him....or the Titans.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Teams that are also set on their lineups can also take a flyer depending on how far he drops.

The reality is for the Bengals, outside of landing a stud WR, anyone else drafted will probably not see much of the field this year regardless if it's Jaylon or another player. The one thing the Bengals have done really well with over the past few drafts is landing a few guys they knew wouldn't contribute right away, but would be great additions in a year or two down the line. That kind of forward thinking has enabled them to fill spots in the roster when they open up with quality guys, and allows them to continue to draft the best available without the deep feeling of needing to draft a starter that has to contribute right away and prevents them from over-reaching for guys just to fill a spot.

If the Bengals truly feel the medicals check out on Jaylon, I have no issues with them taking him and hoping that he'll be a big contributor in the future. It just all depends on who is available at the time of the pick, and the round they are in, plus how far Jaylon falls. A lot of variables.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

The Ogbuehi situation was different in a couple important ways. First his injury was a typical ACL tear which is no longer career altering 9 out of 10 times. He also plays arguably the most important position on the field other than QB. That was worth a redshirt year and the gamble. I am not a doctor but the Jaylon Smith situation sounds like it might have more in common with Marcus Lattimore's based on the predraft buzz. If Rapport is right and teams are confident he's back to form in 2017 he's worth a 2nd rd pick but there's so much misinformation this time of year

The issue with Smith is much the same that PIT experienced with Sean Spence only his injury occurred after getting drafted in preseason or camp I think...nerve damage...it took him 2 seasons to rebuild his leg and when he finally did hit the field...he's been okay ever since...too bad they couldn't afford to keep him, just too stacked at ILB at the time.

The weaker teams with the 7+ draft picks are the most logical, but they are not too often thinking forward...the better teams that can afford to have him sit until '17 are most likely...2nd is steep, but somebody will take that risk.

 

[cincygrad]

Teams that are also set on their lineups can also take a flyer depending on how far he drops.

The reality is for the Bengals, outside of landing a stud WR, anyone else drafted will probably not see much of the field this year regardless if it's Jaylon or another player. The one thing the Bengals have done really well with over the past few drafts is landing a few guys they knew wouldn't contribute right away, but would be great additions in a year or two down the line. That kind of forward thinking has enabled them to fill spots in the roster when they open up with quality guys, and allows them to continue to draft the best available without the deep feeling of needing to draft a starter that has to contribute right away and prevents them from over-reaching for guys just to fill a spot.

If the Bengals truly feel the medicals check out on Jaylon, I have no issues with them taking him and hoping that he'll be a big contributor in the future. It just all depends on who is available at the time of the pick, and the round they are in, plus how far Jaylon falls. A lot of variables.

 

[cincygrad]

I kid....

I agree with you. Marvin likes experience. At some positions, players can play early but for the most part the roster is set. That said, I'd like to see them continue to build the roster at premium positions. Get D-line or D-backs early in the draft. We took offensive tackles last year, get some defensive guys this year. Look for some interior linemen in the middle rounds to create competition or protect against Zeitler leaving.

 

[Cincyfan78]

View attachment 109590

Touche!

LOL

 

[Cincyfan78]

I kid....

I agree with you. Marvin likes experience. At some positions, players can play early but for the most part the roster is set. That said, I'd like to see them continue to build the roster at premium positions. Get D-line or D-backs early in the draft. We took offensive tackles last year, get some defensive guys this year. Look for some interior linemen in the middle rounds to create competition or protect against Zeitler leaving.

I agree.

Hit or miss, the ability of this team to simply focus on best player (regardless of position) has been as good as it's been because the starting lineup (and backups for the most part) are pretty set. When you are able to draft, develop, and then insert it prevents the team from going into the draft saying "Well, we HAVE to draft this position", which leads to reaching and taking chances. That pokes a hole in the model of what they've been doing, and it can have a serious domino effect.

 

[DanBengalfan]

players should be cleared medically before being allowed to be drafted.

but I guess that's another matter.

 

[Cincyfan78]

players should be cleared medically before being allowed to be drafted.

but I guess that's another matter.

I think trying to go that route would open up too many issues.

Does that mean they have to wait until the next draft? If they miss the original drafting date, are then then UFA? If that's the case, how many players will want to be "injured" so they can dictate where they go?

Also, how are most of these kids going to pay for the kind of rehab and medical coverage that will be required to get them back into the NFL level of play?

Seems like there could be a lot of lawsuits filed if the NFL/NFLPA allowed a rule that would prohibit someone declaring for the draft simply due to injury (especially from football).

How many dr's have to clear them? Whose dr's? Will the NFL have to employ a separate line of Medical Doctors? Can any team simply clear them medically?

The way it is now is fine. A team wants to take a chance on a guy who's injured, watch him rehab under their staff, give him all the tools to come back, and then reap the risk/reward from that, it's up to each individual team.

And again, legally, I'm not so sure that the NFL would be able to preclude someone from declaring just on the basis of injury. Seems like a losing lawsuit waiting to happen.

 

[DanBengalfan]

yep, lots of issues.

my thinking is, someone could get a million dollar contract, sit the first year, make some investments, and never really be motivated to play again.

 

[Cincyfan78]

yep, lots of issues.

my thinking is, someone could get a million dollar contract, sit the first year, make some investments, and never really be motivated to play again.

Yeah, but that could be for anyone. It's not like, even if they are injured, they're working their asses off.

Still a minimal investment. rookie contract, 2nd or 3rd round, not going to get a ton, and you can cut them with minimal hit.

Just depends on what you are willing to risk.

 

[Kingspoint]

Stash another talent that doesn't count against the roster.

He should still be there in the 3rd.

 

[Kingspoint]

players should be cleared medically before being allowed to be drafted.

but I guess that's another matter.

By whom? The NFL doctors who have repeatedly lied for 20 years about the effects of concussions and repeated blows to the head and it's long-term health effects?

 

[Kingspoint]

I agree.

Hit or miss, the ability of this team to simply focus on best player (regardless of position) has been as good as it's been because the starting lineup (and backups for the most part) are pretty set. When you are able to draft, develop, and then insert it prevents the team from going into the draft saying "Well, we HAVE to draft this position", which leads to reaching and taking chances. That pokes a hole in the model of what they've been doing, and it can have a serious domino effect.

While their drafting has been superior since they doubled the staff (from 2-4), they could still have done a whole lot better.

There's analytics out there that rates them as being second best only to Seattle over the last five years, but Seattle is in another stratosphere. Seattle moves up (their Star SR/Ret), they move down. They acquire more picks (they had two DC's become HC's and steal FA's, which added comps). Their 47 picks over the last five years is as many as any team. They also shop Free Agency diligently. They make trades. They use their cap space every year. They spend on the scouting department. They bring in a lot of competition to camp.

With that many moves, they will make a lot of mistakes. But, they hit a lot of homeruns.

There's almost no creativity with the Bengals and the draft. We'll pick when it's our turn and we won't trade up or down. You can go do your house chores or errands in between because there's little risk you'll miss a Bengals' trade. I guarantee there will be at least two Seattle trades as they have certain players targeted and they will move quickly if they think they have to.

The Bengals have come a long way from when they were drafting 3rd-rd smokers from Fresno State that they knew so little about, they had to copy and paste an SI blurb on him for their press release after they drafted him.

But, it's no time to rest on their laurels. Dre looks like a bust. Hunt was a bust. Shawn Williams isn't showing anything, yet. Bodine was a bad Center in his 2nd season. Hill went backwards his 2nd season. Ogbuehi and Dennard sat for a year injured.