(04-26-2017, 08:24 AM)OCrazyjdawg Wrote: I think I could live with Ross at 9.

It would feel like a wasted opportunity to trade down because we would almost certainly still be able to nab him in the middle of the round, but I understand that trading down requires a second team and there may not be anyone willing to trade up at that spot.

If the Bengals are confident that Ross makes their offense exponentially better, then I'm on board.

Now, if we could trade down to 16 or 17 and still get him, that would just be incredible.

...But we won't haha.

(04-26-2017, 08:24 AM)Crazyjdawg Wrote: I think I could live with Ross at 9.

It would feel like a wasted opportunity to trade down because we would almost certainly still be able to nab him in the middle of the round, but I understand that trading down requires a second team and there may not be anyone willing to trade up at that spot.

If the Bengals are confident that Ross makes their offense exponentially better, then I'm on board.

Now, if we could trade down to 16 or 17 and still get him, that would just be incredible.

...But we won't haha.

(04-26-2017, 08:33 AM)Bengalbug Wrote: I think 16/17 could be too low.  

honestly with the bills and saints right behind the bengals flipping with the Browns might not even work.  

Everyone assumes he saints will go with defense but with them losing graham and cooks in recent years they need some playmakers.

(04-26-2017, 08:42 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: It seems that the way this draft is set up with a ton of really good players, but not a lot of elites, that accumulating picks is the way to go.  Like you said, however, almost every team is looking for the same thing and many won't offer much to move up.  

My dream is they get Ross, trade AJM for the #33 pick, and then get lucky with a player like Tak McKinley as an outside speed rusher.  Then, with their actual pick in the 2nd round, they can sit back and see what player falls to them.  Obi Melifonwu?  Dalvin cook?  Cam Robinson?  Someone is going to slide.  Always happens.  And without huge pressing needs after getting Ross and McKinley, they can look for playmakers at almost any position.  

(04-25-2017, 09:08 PM)SHRacerX Wrote: Here is what I have learned.  

The Bengals agree that Ross is a dynamic playmaker and they aren't concerned with his medicals.  He could be our pick at #9.  That isn't just wishful thinking by me, as he is my hope for our first pick.  They feel that NFL teams would have to play two deep safeties, which would open up the running game.  This last worked when they had Henry (how many times have we said that here!) and it allowed for Rudi's 1400 yard season.


All of the Bengals TEs were injured last year, and injured significantly.  Some played through the injuries, some could not.  They are still very high on Kroft, Uzomah, Hewitt, and Eifert.  They agree that Howard is a great prospect, but when pressed, they may lean towards the player in Ross as he does more to open up the running game by keeping the safeties back.  

They like the production of Derek Barnett, but are disappointed with his speed.  They don't think that he will be their top 10 pick.  

The backup guard Alex Redmond, from UCLA, has impressed the Bengals quite a bit.  He apparently didn't have the same strength training program in college and has put on nearly 20 lbs and has really impressed them with his improvement.  Andre Smith may actually be more of a backup to Fisher at RT, should Ced struggle and Fisher moves to the left side.  The competition at RG could be Westerman vs. Redmond, and they really, really like Redmond.  

More on Ced:  they feel they did him a tremendous disservice by moving him to RT.  They feel there is no way he won't be ready to be an excellent LT this year.  He has added strength, if fully healthy, and they believe that if he was being drafted in this year's draft class, he would undoubtedly be the first offensive lineman taken.

They feel that there will be excellent choices at RB, but I felt a certain interest in Donta Foreman.  They likely won't be taking one of them very early.  

They like Jordan Willis, but don't love him.  They feel he will be overdrafted because of the speed he ran at the combine but that his speed didn't translate to his playing speed.  I emphasized the difference in his "get off" on film on obvious pass rushing downs, where (as a LDE) he didn't have to worry about a RB assignment as a read-option.

They are REALLY high on Billings, WJIII, and Clayton Fedjelum.  They think all three will be significant contributors this year.  

I didn't get anything specific about AJM, but I will surmise that they will keep him as insurance to Dalton having an injury.  They feel so strongly about a lot of their roster that they don't have to deal AJM and get a specific position that can't be addressed with their draft picks.

I'm personally still hopeful they can trade him to Cleveland for #33 overall and get another stud LB to go with their current crop.  That is one of the only positions where I see the depth as really thin, other than Tackle and RB.  

That's all I've got, folks.  Here's to a draft that we look back on and remember as the one that started the Championship run!!!

(04-26-2017, 11:25 AM)yang Wrote: Ross is major intriguing buy I still can't see them drafting what is projected to be an under 6'0 slot receiver.  He can line up wide simply to stretch the defense but would not catch many balls that way.   I get that he creates space underneath but we can get a late round fast dude to just run downfield.    Really, he is so fast and talented that he could really be the exception, but I think fast, physical pro corners will give him fits.

(04-26-2017, 11:25 AM)yang Wrote: Donta Foreman would not beat JHill imho.  I don't get that pick unless you want to groom him for next year.

(04-26-2017, 10:54 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Nice thoughts. I am curious, who is your source ad Bengals are very tight lipped about commenting on anyone on our roster.

(04-26-2017, 11:54 AM)Au165 Wrote: Foreman was one of the most productive backs in college this year. He has a very good size to speed ratio and, contrary to what some believe, has the power to pick up the tough yards. The thing you have to like about him is he is a true one cut back, he sees a hole and attacks it, past the line of scrimmage he has deceptive wiggle for a bigger back. If we got him in the 3rd or later I would be pumped.

(04-26-2017, 11:55 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: I think that has a very good chance of happening.  My hope is Mixon gets picked before the Bengals selection in the 2nd.  I want nothing to do with him.

(04-26-2017, 11:57 AM)Au165 Wrote: If we went Ross, DE, Foreman for our draft I wouldn't hate it at all. I am not a huge Ross fan at 9, but if thats the worst thing we do I am happy.

(04-26-2017, 12:00 PM)pulses Wrote: Ross,Kamara, Rivers??