Grade The Draft

[CJD]

It wasn't that flashy of a draft, especially early, but every choice serves a need. And, perhaps most importantly, not a single one was considered a "reach" on draft day. They followed their board and selected who they believed was the best player at each selection (within reason). You can't ask much more than that.

Myles Murphy will be an early contributor at DE with his efficiency against the run and potential as a pass rusher and he will likely step in for Hendrickson when he moves on in 2025.

DJ Turner serves a similar role as Murphy, with potential for early contribution in sub packages and in case of injuries and will step in for Chidobe Awuzie after 2023.

Jordan Battle has a bit of a different role because no one in front of him on the depth chart is leaving in the next 3 years via free agency. So if he is going to play, he will have earned that play time. Nick Scott was signed to be the starter on the depth chart, but he isn't a pro bowler and we don't even know for sure if he's an average starting safety. Battle provides competition to Scott (and Hill) such that we aren't forced to start a player who is struggling just because we have no one better behind them. Scott's contract is cheap enough and structured well enough that we could cut him after 1 or 2 seasons if Battle excels.

Charlie Jones and Andrei Iosivas are crucial depth at WR and will help to replace Tyler Boyd after the 2023 season. They also provide some level of insurance if, in the worst case scenario, Tee Higgins and the Bengals don't reach a new deal and he leaves after being franchise tagged in 2025.

Chase Brown will immediately compete for that 3rd down/pass blocking RB role that Perine used to fill. He has all the tools you want in that position and should complement Mixon very nicely in 2023. After this season, there's a chance Mixon is no longer on the team, in which case Brown is capable of being a 3 down back. We'll have to see if he grows into that role, but the talent is there.

Brad Robbins is a punter that specializes in directional punting, long hang time and very little opportunity for returns. His average punt was only 42.3 this past season, but his net average was 41.2 A difference of 1.1 yards between your average and net average ranked 7th overall in college last season, meaning he does not give up many returns at all. On 43 punts, he only allowed 7 returns.

As I was looking at stats, Adam Korsak beat him in several niche categories, like difference between net and average, in20%, yards per return average, average and net average and returns per punt, yet he wasn't drafted (and it seems he has not signed on with another team as a free agent either). So I'm curious about what happened there, but either way we needed a punter and we got one that has high hang times that doesn't give up big returns with games on the line. Who could complain about that?

And then, finally, we took a CB that I know nothing about. There's a pick like this every year. I don't factor it into the equation because he's likely to not make the team regardless. Such is the life of 7th round picks.

I'd give it a B+ to an A-, depending on how you feel about the fact that this team CLEARLY does not give two shits about the tight end position.