(05-04-2023, 02:53 PM)TecmoBengals Wrote: Charlie Jones running crisp routes is going to make us forget about the TE problems... that is until a few plays later when he gets trucked trying to block for Burrow. 

(05-07-2023, 01:36 AM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: Last year Hurst was our 4th best receiver. 

This year, Smith will be 5th, or 6th if Iosivas develops quickly. That is not a knock on Smith vs Hurst, either. It just reflects the fact that we have 4 WRs who can actually get open instead of 3. And a 5th who, at minimun, has to be respected due to deep speed. 

I bet we see more 4 WR sets this year. 

(05-07-2023, 08:00 AM)OSUfan Wrote: I find it hysterical that across the NFL the Bengals are being lauded for an excellent draft yet the majority of these boards are giving the draft a B and it is simply because the Bengals did not draft the players or positions that the individuals have determined were needed by the Bengals. Shows a real inability to look at the situation with perspective and to realize that the staff and ownership have a better grip on the needs of the team better than the fan does.

The Bengals pretty much went BPA across the board and added value selections in areas that needed depth and/or positions that could see player turnover in the next couple of seasons. Drafting as the Bengals did is how a team continues to weather free agency and cap restrictions to remain highly competitive year in and year out.

Bengals fans should start to embrace drafting at the bottom of each round moving forward and that is a very good thing.

(05-07-2023, 01:36 AM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: Last year Hurst was our 4th best receiver. 

This year, Smith will be 5th, or 6th if Iosivas develops quickly. That is not a knock on Smith vs Hurst, either. It just reflects the fact that we have 4 WRs who can actually get open instead of 3. And a 5th who, at minimun, has to be respected due to deep speed. 

I bet we see more 4 WR sets this year. 

(05-07-2023, 09:01 AM)Soonerpeace Wrote: We suffered when Trey went down last year. We suffered when Awouzie went down. We suffered when Boyd went down in the AFC Championship. As you mentioned they are covering themselves if they get injuries at key positions as well as developing to save cap money down the road. So glad they aren’t masters of just the here and now.

(05-07-2023, 08:00 AM)OSUfan Wrote: I find it hysterical that across the NFL the Bengals are being lauded for an excellent draft yet the majority of these boards are giving the draft a B and it is simply because the Bengals did not draft the players or positions that the individuals have determined were needed by the Bengals. Shows a real inability to look at the situation with perspective and to realize that the staff and ownership have a better grip on the needs of the team better than the fan does.

The Bengals pretty much went BPA across the board and added value selections in areas that needed depth and/or positions that could see player turnover in the next couple of seasons. Drafting as the Bengals did is how a team continues to weather free agency and cap restrictions to remain highly competitive year in and year out.

Bengals fans should start to embrace drafting at the bottom of each round moving forward and that is a very good thing.

(05-07-2023, 11:26 AM)Synric Wrote: I grade on a curve. I thought the draft class as a whole was a B- which means you either climb or fall from there. The Draft class was lacking in two of six premium positions (WR, OT) only one of the premium positions had a player that could be considered "Blue Chip". The LB class you could have almost considered and endangered species. Add in all the 6 year seniors and the fact a large part of the skill positions were 10lbs away from being underweight and you have a B- draft class.

The Bengals earned above the average B+ by staying with the strength of the draft class defensive line and defensive back early and had what I considered a couple of steals Myles Murphy and Chase Brown.

(05-07-2023, 12:06 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: As has been mentioned we’ve got a lot of money invested in tackles. We’ve got 4 total not counting Ford. It was a waste of a roster spot. I’m kinda interested in Ben Brown and others. Quietly I think the OL group top to bottom is much improved. If that’s the case the whole roster sure looks fortified.

(05-07-2023, 12:43 PM)Synric Wrote: I mean the prospect class was a B- and the Bengals earned a B+ with their draft class. 

(05-07-2023, 12:43 PM)Synric Wrote: I mean the prospect class was a B- and the Bengals earned a B+ with their draft class. 

(05-07-2023, 11:26 AM)Synric Wrote: I grade on a curve. I thought the draft class as a whole was a B- which means you either climb or fall from there. The Draft class was lacking in two of six premium positions (WR, OT) only one of the premium positions had a player that could be considered "Blue Chip". The LB class you could have almost considered and endangered species. Add in all the 6 year seniors and the fact a large part of the skill positions were 10lbs away from being underweight and you have a B- draft class.

The Bengals earned above the average B+ by staying with the strength of the draft class defensive line and defensive back early and had what I considered a couple of steals Myles Murphy and Chase Brown.

(05-07-2023, 11:26 AM)Synric Wrote: I grade on a curve. I thought the draft class as a whole was a B- which means you either climb or fall from there. The Draft class was lacking in two of six premium positions (WR, OT) only one of the premium positions had a player that could be considered "Blue Chip". The LB class you could have almost considered and endangered species. Add in all the 6 year seniors and the fact a large part of the skill positions were 10lbs away from being underweight and you have a B- draft class.

The Bengals earned above the average B+ by staying with the strength of the draft class defensive line and defensive back early and had what I considered a couple of steals Myles Murphy and Chase Brown.

(05-07-2023, 08:00 AM)OSUfan Wrote: I find it hysterical that across the NFL the Bengals are being lauded for an excellent draft yet the majority of these boards are giving the draft a B and it is simply because the Bengals did not draft the players or positions that the individuals have determined were needed by the Bengals. Shows a real inability to look at the situation with perspective and to realize that the staff and ownership have a better grip on the needs of the team better than the fan does.

The Bengals pretty much went BPA across the board and added value selections in areas that needed depth and/or positions that could see player turnover in the next couple of seasons. Drafting as the Bengals did is how a team continues to weather free agency and cap restrictions to remain highly competitive year in and year out.

Bengals fans should start to embrace drafting at the bottom of each round moving forward and that is a very good thing.

(05-07-2023, 07:56 PM)Nepa Wrote: There are many sites that graded the draft as in the B's for the Bengals, including USA Today and Fox Sports (B), NBC and Washington Post (B-), Sports Illustrated (B+), and you can even find C's and C-minus. Yes, the Bengals received many A's as well, including from respected analysts. But it hardly "hysterical" that the majority of Bengals fans on this site gave the draft a B. 

And, by the way, B is not a bad grade. It is saying the draft was above average and someone voting the draft a "B" is basically saying they were pleased with the draft. Because they didn't give the draft an A doesn't mean they "have an real inability to look at the situation with the perspective." If fans were just supposed to give an A to everything the Bengals staff and ownership does then that makes us robotic or zombie followers.

(05-07-2023, 08:43 PM)Housh Wrote: My reasoning for an A grade was we filled needs and at the same time took BPA. Literally every pick has a chance to compete.

(05-07-2023, 09:01 AM)Soonerpeace Wrote: We suffered when Trey went down last year. We suffered when Awouzie went down. We suffered when Boyd went down in the AFC Championship. As you mentioned they are covering themselves if they get injuries at key positions as well as developing to save cap money down the road. So glad they aren’t masters of just the here and now.

(05-07-2023, 09:16 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Suffered even more when OL went down but they didn't draft a single one even with an impending $55m/yr deal for their QB.

Honestly though, putting a grade on a draft is pretty pointless until maybe this time 2025.

(05-07-2023, 09:22 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: Of course they didn’t. They’ve got a full room. 4 solid tackles. Ford who can play G/T. They invested in FA. If it had been somebody they had high on their list at the time of the pick they would have.