Jawann Taylor or Jonah Williams to Bengals in Round 1

[3wt]

(04-16-2019, 07:34 AM)Crazyjdawg Wrote: I think we've needed to draft an actually talented LB every year for the last 10 years, but we've talked ourselves out of it with a similar mindset as this every time haha.

Linebackers are a really weird position because they aren't in the trenches, they don't typically rush the passer (in the 4-3) and they don't create a ton of turnovers/shut down top receiving targets.

Their primary stat is something that doesn't really jump off the page as an impact play: tackles.
So they just aren't "sexy" picks, especially in the first round.

It's why it's so easy to ignore the position. But it's definitely our #1 need.

When it comes to draft pick safety (vs riskiness), LBs rate among the highest in the first round. Meaning: If you draft a LB in the first round, they have the highest chance of being an all pro and the 3rd highest chance of being a pro bowler compared to other positions being drafted in the first round.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2441018-which-positions-are-the-safest-riskiest-at-the-top-of-the-nfl-draft

As long as the team doesn't ignore production statistics.  For example Keith Rivers had really good measurable but poor production statistics.

Both White (especially) and Bush have really good production statistics to go along with great measurable (other than size)


And We have given up a large percentage of 3rd down conversions (every down conversions really) because we have had such a large hole at the 2nd level.

We could use an upgrade on the line as well, and I feel we could upgrade at corner as well.  But the biggest need by far is at linebacker.