09-16-2019, 12:18 PM
(09-16-2019, 01:18 AM)t3r3e3 Wrote: Under Mike in the “GM” salaried role, the Bengals have generally focused on the shiny toy positions in the first few rounds. Lots of WR/RB/CB/QB selections under Mike. Under Mike it’s inarguable that the team has ignored the interior o-line in the early rounds, preferring to draft centers and guards from the 4th onward. When they do hit on quality interior guys they also generally avoid paying them 2nd or 3rd contracts. The lack of postseason results speak for themselves.
Is CB really a shiny toy position?
Since 2000 they've:
drafted more Offensive Tackles in first two rounds than WRs.
drafted as many guards as QBs in the first two rounds.
drafted as many Centers in the first round as running backs.
They've definitely drafted too many second round running backs but the problem isn't that they haven't invested draft picks in the O-line but that they've drafted badly. In the last 5 drafts they've drafted three first round O-lineman and a second rounder (and traded down their 1st round pick for another O-lineman) - but none of them are now starting for them. That's where the problem is.
You say that when they hit on interior guys they avoid paying them 2nd or 3rd contracts yet this also happened at your shiny toy positions WR when we let Marvin Jones and Sanu go the same year; it happened at CB with Jonathan Joseph so I don't think it's an issue about valuing the position.
They need to draft better and they need to stop overpaying mediocre talent so they can afford to pay above average players - both those on the roster and in free agency.
