The bFirst Mock (21)

[*bfine32*]

(01-22-2021, 01:21 AM)Whatever Wrote: Preston Smith had 4 sacks this year.  He's paid like a stud, but didn't play like it this year.

If the top DE in the draft only has 11.5 sacks in 4 years, I would say 20's, as it's pretty obviously a terrible DE class, and that's only if they're an athletic freak.  Now, somebody will likely reach based on need and positional value, but do you want to be the team that spent a Top 5 pick on a player that would be drafted much lower in a normal year.  Would you take a QB with 2500 passing yards in 4 years at 5 because he's the best QB in the class and you need one?

Our reality is that the Bengals franchise cornerstones have gotten old and need to be replaced.  AJ, Geno, Dunlap, Whit, Dalton, and Burfict have all hit the wall and/or left.  The need for a franchise cornerstone type of player at 5 is much bigger than any positional need.  Paye isn't that type of player.

Funny how sack total becomes the biggest factor now.

Ziggy Ansah had 4.5 sacks in 3 years, Aaron Rodgers had 2500 passing yards his last year in college and never topped 3,000 in his career, Jalen Ramsey had 3 INTs in his college career and 0 in his last.

The kid only played 4 games this year and still had 22 pressures and over an 87 pass rush grade by PFF.

He's not "only" an athletic freak.