04-30-2017, 11:41 PM
(04-30-2017, 10:38 PM)GodFather Wrote: So far it seems like everyone thought we overwhelmingly hit a homer with this years draft giving the Bengals an A overall by the board poll. I absolutely remember though this being the case for the past few years and everyone getting so excited by the draft choices and thinking the Bengals were going far from such draft choices. (to be fair critic grades too)
But were they so great? Here is the past two years to reflect on the Bengal choices. Do you still give them that overwhelming "A" that was perceived in 2015/2016? (Im not talking individual posters but as a whole instead as it should be)
Why am I bringing this up? Because this is usually the reaction every year with very different outcomes as the season began on expectations.
Do I think we had a "great A grade" draft this year? No way, but I also don't think we had a bad one either. There are so many factors involved in the success of these players that its hard to see how they will perform this year, one being coaching and I don't even want to go there because it would warrant its own thread and has already been talked to death.
2016 Draft
1 William Jackson III CB
2 Tyler Boyd WR
3 Nick "Rattail" Vigil LB
4 Andrew Billings DT
5 Christian Westerman OG
6 Cody Core WR
7 Clayton Fejedelem S
Are you really questioning this draft?
1. Unknown, but let's face it, once healthy will see a lot of playing time.
2. Starting slot receiver.
3.at the moment, penciled in as a base 4-3 starter. Will get tons of time at LB this year.
4. Penciled in as starter beside geno.
5. Easily makes team as backup guard.
6. Made plays at WR last year. Has a strong chance to do the same this season.
7. Was great on ST and even played meaningful snaps at safety on defense.
To me, injuries skewed it, but 2016 was a pretty damn good draft even without wj3 and billings. And It'll only prove to be even better this season, with those two returning. Using 2016 is Poor reasoning when trying to downplay past drafts. Call it incomplete if you like, but please refrain from using it as an example of failure because it makes you look ridiculous.
