GIVE ME YOUR BENGALS DRAFT GRADES!

[*SHRacerX*]

(04-28-2018, 05:01 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Billy Price C Ohio State = A+ - Obviously our biggest area of need and Price is the best run blocking Center with
the biggest upside in the Draft. Just this pick solidifies the interior and now Dalton will have a pocket to step into
and our RB's will have holes to run through. Road grading run blocker and good pass protector all the while being
a great leader. Perfect pick for us, all 3 Centers were gone before our 2nd pick. Could of been a disaster if we
waited like some were calling for us to do.

Jessie Bates III Wake Forest = A - Best ballhawk in the Draft, just what we needed at Safety. Needs to work on
his tackling, only reason this is not an A+ from me and why i wanted us to take him in the 3rd.

Sam Hubbard DE Ohio State = A - Was a 2nd round talent we got in the 3rd for our rotation. Should make MJ
vulnerable. Cannot believe we took two OSU guys. Pretty crazy, love it. Needed another End badly and Hubbard
could be a great one.

Malk Jefferson LB Texas - A+ - Wanted this guy in the 2nd as well, great size and enormous talent. Watched this
guy at Texas and he always impressed me. Was wanting this guy in stripes, surprised he fell this far. Great 3rd
round.

Mark Walton RB Miami - B+ - Only reason i don't have this pick as an A is it was not a need, but the player is a
very good RB that can do it all. Just thought we had other needs to fill. But Walton could of went in the 2nd round
if not for the injury. Could be a future ST's stud for us to replace Peerman and a great backup. But i still like Brian
Hill too, which is why this pick is still not an A in my eyes, first questionable pick.

Devontae Harris CB Illinois State - A - Big rangy, fast CB. Excellent depth with high upside.

Andrew Brown DE/DT Virginia - A+ - Crazy upside and one of the best versatile D-lineman in this Draft, maybe the
best with the highest upside. Could be the steal of the Draft in the 5th round. The more i read up on this guy the
more i like, he could be a JJ Watt type or a Frostee Rucker type, we will see.

Darius Phillips CB Western Michigan - A+ - Would of taken this guy in the 4th round, might be the best returner in
college and is a fine CB to boot. Only reason he fell is the small college, he can do it all, now we are damn deep at
CB and Safety and don't have to bring back Adam and these guys are insurance in case Dennard leaves. Still think
we better give Dennard an extension though.

So, so far an A. Hope to get some crazy talent that fell cause of off the field issues in the 7th and hope we can turn
them around.

Nate crushed this...so I will only add a few sentiments (and let Nate do the heavy lifting  )

What could I have done, even with hindsight to improve this draft?  Did we reach at any point? No.  Did we take players that will be character concerns?  No.  (At least not judging on their past)  Did we take athletes or players?  Players.  We didn't take ANY picks based on measurables, but on their game tape and abilities they have demonstrated.  Did we take players that are "maxed out" or are almost every one of these picks what you would call "ascending talents with tremendous upside"?  The latter.

I was puzzled by the RB pick in Rd 5, but they must have had him pretty highly ranked.  Maybe they weren't as high on Brian Hill.  I don't know.  This pick was very curious to me.  

One injury (which has seemingly happened every year) to a RB and this pick will make a ton of sense.  He is a playmaker.  

Overall, I am very pleased with this draft that may not have people running out and buying jerseys like after Green and Dalton were drafted, but each of the first four selections (five, when you include that we essentially got Glenn for the first pick as well as Price) should see significant playing time and will likely offer significant upgrades over previous players.  That is no small feat.