Take this draft in a heartbeat

[CrashDavisSports]

Took best available at the time, turned out heavy on the line but that would definitely fix our line for years to comes.




Jenkins, Grant, Harmon, McKinley in at DI rotating the whole game unless someone turns into a superstar and they play demands they stay on the field.

Hendrickson, Princely, Murphy, Ossai on the edge.

That certainly stocks our DL, but leaves us lots of holes still to fill with FA. (Guard x 2)(Safety)(Linebacker)(potentially WR if Tee leaves)

 

[Cincyfan78]

Some of these guys yes, they had starters in front of them, but once again, they were expected as rotational players until they had to replace the starter, like Hill with Bates, Murphy with Hubbard. You already said in your post that we may have depth at a position, but you have to take guys that are considered impact players that will contribute whether that is year one or later on when replacing guys because they pushed a starter out. Otherwise, you are not talking about grabbing an impact player that is going to improve the depth, you are talking about drafting for NEED, and when you draft for need instead of taking best player available, you potentially leave yourself weak from not taking higher potential players over positions of NEED you are trying to fill with draft picks instead of quality veteran players.

If there is a position of great need, I want to fill that hole with a vet/FA, and then draft best player available at the time of our picks. And if we just happen to get the best player available and he matches up with a position of need, great. We have the rookie come in, learn behind the vet, jettison the vet the following year if the rookie is ready to make a difference.

I guess the point is - they are missing on the guys they think can play in a year, or two, out...

Take the impact guy that could start from day 1 in rounds 1-2-3. Of course, you have a litle leeway with regards to positions - but we've seen too many reaches and thoughts about guys in year 2 or 3...it's not worked.

Grab a bonafide starter in those rounds - and then you don't have to worry about if they will develop into what you need. You grabbed a guy that already fits that bill.

Agreed they need to hit on F/A...but if they are going to spend on Tee and Chase in this off-season - you can bet the bottom dollar they are not going to be looking to spend big in F/A.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Took best available at the time, turned out heavy on the line but that would definitely fix our line for years to comes.

View attachment 387011


Jenkins, Grant, Harmon, McKinley in at DI rotating the whole game unless someone turns into a superstar and they play demands they stay on the field.

Hendrickson, Princely, Murphy, Ossai on the edge.

That certainly stocks our DL, but leaves us lots of holes still to fill with FA. (Guard x 2)(Safety)(Linebacker)(potentially WR if Tee leaves)

I've had that as well...no chance Harmon makes it to the 3rd round, IMO. They've talked about him sliding into the backhalf of the 1st round...

But that would be stellar. I've often gotten the edge from Oregon in round 3 as well.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

I've had that as well...no chance Harmon makes it to the 3rd round, IMO. They've talked about him sliding into the backhalf of the 1st round...

But that would be stellar. I've often gotten the edge from Oregon in round 3 as well.

Yeah, I saw the Bengals mock draft that had us taking Harmon with the 17th pick. So if he fell here, pretty obvious pick even if you already took 3 DI in the 2nd, 3rd, 1st the last two drafts.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Welp - All to miss the '25 season as well. When they went in to fix his ACL, they found issues with the original surgery that was done. This required a 2nd surgery (3rd overall). He'll miss the entire season. Gotta feel for the kid - he was really showing out, too.

Just means that Gesicki becomes that much more important to keep around.

 

[DanBengalfan]

I can't decide....

we could use the OT
brown and gisecki/hudson/sample are good enough, but te or rb insurance would also be good.
iosivas or jones ready to fill in for higgins? maybe.
we need defense.

 

[Cincyfan78]

View attachment 387119

I can't decide....

we could use the OT
brown and gisecki/hudson/sample are good enough, but te or rb insurance would also be good.
iosivas or jones ready to fill in for higgins? maybe.
we need defense.

I'm not using a 1st rounder on a RB when Brown is more than capable. I'm also not using it on a TE - which isn't really a premium position unless you have a guy that can split out like a WR and be a true stretch the field type.

If those are all the guys that are left - WR would be a good one as it will only make the offense that much more dangerous (if Tee returns) and give it some actual depth as we can't rely on Burton. Yoshi did well, but lacks top end ability to really be a huge impact. Burden or Golden would be really good.

I could also see going OT. Both OT's struggled this year with various injuries, and in a pinch maybe either one of them would be able to slide into IOL at LG/RG (that would need to be decided upon evaluation). Often many OT's end up at IOL anyway at the NFL level.

Harmon has been rising up the boards - I would need to know more about him before putting him a bit higher. But, if he checks out, then adding another DT to the rotation would immediately bolster the depth and athleticism along that front.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Also - if that is all that is left at 17 for the Bengals - I might cry...

 

[CrashDavisSports]

I'm not using a 1st rounder on a RB when Brown is more than capable. I'm also not using it on a TE - which isn't really a premium position unless you have a guy that can split out like a WR and be a true stretch the field type.

If those are all the guys that are left - WR would be a good one as it will only make the offense that much more dangerous (if Tee returns) and give it some actual depth as we can't rely on Burton. Yoshi did well, but lacks top end ability to really be a huge impact. Burden or Golden would be really good.

I could also see going OT. Both OT's struggled this year with various injuries, and in a pinch maybe either one of them would be able to slide into IOL at LG/RG (that would need to be decided upon evaluation). Often many OT's end up at IOL anyway at the NFL level.

Harmon has been rising up the boards - I would need to know more about him before putting him a bit higher. But, if he checks out, then adding another DT to the rotation would immediately bolster the depth and athleticism along that front.

If that is who is left on the boards, you go with the biggest talent, I don't care, you take Jeanty. Yeah, you don't want to go there, but if there is nothing what we want, you take Barry Sanders and call it a day. Plus, I have seen sveral mocks that have the Bengals going Harmon at 17.

 

[Cincyfan78]

If that is who is left on the boards, you go with the biggest talent, I don't care, you take Jeanty. Yeah, you don't want to go there, but if there is nothing what we want, you take Barry Sanders and call it a day. Plus, I have seen sveral mocks that have the Bengals going Harmon at 17.

I don't disagree with going for the talent, but there has to be some leeway in regards to impact as well. I don't think Jeanty is Sanders...and this isn't the same NFL that Sanders played in. The value to return, to me, isn't going to be there. If you get Jeanty and he runs for 1400 yards...great...but Brown didn't start for half the season and still nearly got to 1,000. So, let's say he gets to 1200ish yards...1st round pick on a guy who got you 200 more yards. That's just 11 more yards a game - and in an offense that doesn't value that kind of RB or ground game.

If this were Tenn a few years ago, or Baltimore that relies heavily on the ground/run game - I could see it. But I'm not sure I see a fit here - and I think that has to be considered. Taking a guy that doesn't fit what you do will result in lower expectations/output. I could be wrong - wouldn't be the 1st time - but I just can't see taking a RB or TE with the 1st round pick outside of some dire need at those positions in which can be filled by high end talents.

For reference - only 1 rookie RB last year eclipsed 1,000 yards...and of the top 7 rushers that were rookies - 4 of them were QB's...So........yeah. That's where I'm at...lol

 

[CrashDavisSports]

I don't disagree with going for the talent, but there has to be some leeway in regards to impact as well. I don't think Jeanty is Sanders...and this isn't the same NFL that Sanders played in. The value to return, to me, isn't going to be there. If you get Jeanty and he runs for 1400 yards...great...but Brown didn't start for half the season and still nearly got to 1,000. So, let's say he gets to 1200ish yards...1st round pick on a guy who got you 200 more yards. That's just 11 more yards a game - and in an offense that doesn't value that kind of RB or ground game.

If this were Tenn a few years ago, or Baltimore that relies heavily on the ground/run game - I could see it. But I'm not sure I see a fit here - and I think that has to be considered. Taking a guy that doesn't fit what you do will result in lower expectations/output. I could be wrong - wouldn't be the 1st time - but I just can't see taking a RB or TE with the 1st round pick outside of some dire need at those positions in which can be filled by high end talents.

For reference - only 1 rookie RB last year eclipsed 1,000 yards...and of the top 7 rushers that were rookies - 4 of them were QB's...So........yeah. That's where I'm at...lol

As a side note, you are talking about a Bengals team that had Frank Pollack. I think the new oline coach wants guys to be tough, fast, mentally acute with lightning reflexes. Guys get hurt, I don't believe we are a good two backs deep. You can also trade back for more picks with a team that really wants Jeanty. However, there is nothing wrong with having quality players. I do think Jeanty is the next stud at RB, the next Saquon. 5 Years as a first rounder and a deflated value at the position if you want to franchise him.

Once again, we don't know what the new line will look like and perform under new oline coach. I wouldn't mind using a two back set more often, Brown is great at catching and fast, Jeanty is powerful and a great pass blocker. You could also hand off to either one. Chase basically gives you that 3rd WR if needed.

However, you could lineup with Jeanty and Brown in the backfield, Chase and Higgins on the outside with Gesicki at TE. That is a lot of on field weapons with tons of versatility.

 

[Cincyfan78]

As a side note, you are talking about a Bengals team that had Frank Pollack. I think the new oline coach wants guys to be tough, fast, mentally acute with lightning reflexes. Guys get hurt, I don't believe we are a good two backs deep. You can also trade back for more picks with a team that really wants Jeanty. However, there is nothing wrong with having quality players. I do think Jeanty is the next stud at RB, the next Saquon. 5 Years as a first rounder and a deflated value at the position if you want to franchise him.

Once again, we don't know what the new line will look like and perform under new oline coach. I wouldn't mind using a two back set more often, Brown is great at catching and fast, Jeanty is powerful and a great pass blocker. You could also hand off to either one. Chase basically gives you that 3rd WR if needed.

However, you could lineup with Jeanty and Brown in the backfield, Chase and Higgins on the outside with Gesicki at TE. That is a lot of on field weapons with tons of versatility.

Agreed on Pollack, but again - if you get better OL play and Brown gets a full season - why can't he be a guy that goes for 1400 yards and 8-10 TD's? I'm just saying - there is a guy on the team that has already done it at the NFL level and RB is just not a value position in the NFL any longer.

Agreed on a trade back - if that is the case with those picks available - I'd probably trade back and then either go to DL/WR (based on Tee, of course) and then OT to stockpile some depth.

Sure - there could be lots of ways to use both RB's...and monkeys could fly out our asses, and likely would be more likely to happen than Taylor changing up his scheme...LOL

 

[DanBengalfan]

yea, Im not believing brown stays healthy all season. brown can also line up as a receiver at times.

 

[DanBengalfan]

I think we would trade the pick to someone who wants jeanty if we got here. we have too many areas that need improvement.

alternatively, I think we use gisecki as a stealth slot receiver and 2nd receiver and draft a tight end.

 

[Cincyfan78]

A bit different approach in this one. Grabbing a sure Edge guy in round 1, shoring up DT in round 2, and then adding a pure speed/slot guy in round 3.

Normally I'd go for IOL in round 3, but assuming they keep Higgins, and you have Yoshi as depth on the outside, I'd prefer to have a true/pure slot guy like Bond to help give this offense another dimension with speed and over the middle. May not be a guy you can put outside often, or at all, but I think with what is already on this team, he could be a good fit. Can't rely on Burton, or if he'll even be around, so at some point, I think the Bengals need to look for a WR. With Higgins, Yoshi, and Chase - you have enough to take on another rookie that can help expand the offense.

I'd also like to see the Bengals target at least 1 F/A IOL, if not 2. If they could add just average, to slightly above average, LG/RG play - this offense can take a massive step forward with no other changes, really (again, assuming Higgins and maybe Gesicki return). However, even if you don't get Higgins back (in which case I think Gesicki absolutely returns) - an improved pocket for Burrow and Brown will help propel this offense forward.

 

[Cincyfan78]

PFF has updated their boards...

 

[DanBengalfan]

if the bengals goof this up...

 

[CrashDavisSports]

PFF has updated their boards...

View attachment 389514

 

[Cincyfan78]

View attachment 389516

I like that one as well...F/A is going to be critical on where this team goes in the first few rounds. I probably would have gone Grant as well, if here were there...was gone by the time I picked in my simulationbut Harmon is a good DT and is moving up a lot of boards - as evidenced by the current PFF ranking.

I also like Bond there - but I would consider Tez Johnson as well...as more of a pure slot guy, of course, assuming Higgins does return. Of course, a tag/trade would likely open the Bengals up to a WR in round 1 if someone like the OSU kid falls, or even in round 2...

 

[CrashDavisSports]

I like that one as well...F/A is going to be critical on where this team goes in the first few rounds. I probably would have gone Grant as well, if here were there...was gone by the time I picked in my simulationbut Harmon is a good DT and is moving up a lot of boards - as evidenced by the current PFF ranking.

I also like Bond there - but I would consider Tez Johnson as well...as more of a pure slot guy, of course, assuming Higgins does return. Of course, a tag/trade would likely open the Bengals up to a WR in round 1 if someone like the OSU kid falls, or even in round 2...

Egbuka was available also. I thought about something different with the draft by selecting him, but then with Chase and Higgins both potentially coming back under new contracts, made no sense.