(03-07-2023, 10:39 PM)007BengalsFan Wrote: There are too many good TEs in this draft to use a 1st round pick on Mayer.  Given his subpar 40 time at the combine he may be there in the 2nd round when the Bengals pick

I said if, but we lose Hurst it will be more pressing also I'm not thrilled with what might be out there at tackle at our pick,  I actually think we go CB especially if we sign Hurst

(03-08-2023, 12:22 AM)Essex Johnson Wrote: I said if, but we lose Hurst it will be more pressing also I'm not thrilled with what might be out there at tackle at our pick,  I actually think we go CB especially if we sign Hurst

 I think good CBs are hard (and usually expensive) to land in free agency.  I wouldnt mind a CB with the first round pick.  That is a good value pick vs what it would take to land a good free agent.  I wouldnt mind the 1st being used on just about any position on defense depending who we re-sign.  Im just not a fan of taking a TE or RB with a 1st round draft pick unless you are getting a Travis Kelce or Barry Sanders and I dont think Mayer is Kelce. 

I would be more disappointed with the Bengals using a 1st round draft pick on Mayer than I was when they used the 2nd round draft pick on Drew Sample.  It seems a big waste of an opportunity.

(03-08-2023, 12:56 AM)007BengalsFan Wrote:  I think good CBs are hard (and usually expensive) to land in free agency.  I wouldnt mind a CB with the first round pick.  That is a good value pick vs what it would take to land a good free agent.  I wouldnt mind the 1st being used on just about any position on defense depending who we re-sign.  Im just not a fan of taking a TE or RB with a 1st round draft pick unless you are getting a Travis Kelce or Barry Sanders and I dont think Mayer is Kelce. 

I would be more disappointed with the Bengals using a 1st round draft pick on Mayer than I was when they used the 2nd round draft pick on Drew Sample.  It seems a big waste of an opportunity.

We disagree on need for a TE and Mayer especially if Hurst not signed. Will be a interesting FA and draft..

If it makes you happier Brad, Malik said if Mayer is there, he's a Bengal

(03-08-2023, 11:00 PM)WVUHomer Wrote: If it makes you happier Brad, Malik said if Mayer is there, he's a Bengal

The Yahoo mock that was emailed to me has us taking Mayer! Like I said, they noted that it's because of his poor 40 time. 

I think it will be pretty big for us.

(03-08-2023, 11:00 PM)WVUHomer Wrote: If it makes you happier Brad, Malik said if Mayer is there, he's a Bengal

Mike Brown is reading the board and Brad got him excited for the Cincinnati-area boy.  

I posted this in the TE thread but I believe it applies to this conversation as well. I am getting more and more onboard with waiting until the mid to late part of this draft and going after Brenton Strange...

The more I watch and research Brenton Strange the more I like him. He is extremely athletic and is an exceptional blocker. While the following are simple analytics consider them:

Hayden Hurst                  Brenton Strange
       6'5"          height                  6'4"
      250           weight                 253
      4.67             40                     4.70
      1.59          10 yd split           1.57
      31.5"           vertical              36"
       10'           broad jump         10'4"  
      7.19            3 cone                7.25
      4.37          20 yd shut.          4.46
        3            receiving TD*        10
      12.8          yds per rec.*        10.7

* stats taken from 3 latest seasons as Hurst played 3 and Strange played 4.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXueOhlfuhg

Strange has become lost in a very good class of TEs. Above the posted is a highlight video but watch how he makes himself visible to the QB when the QB is in trouble and watch his pure athletic ability, the football IQ he displays, and that he appears to be a pretty natural receiver.

(03-09-2023, 01:08 PM)OSUfan Wrote: I posted this in the TE thread but I believe it applies to this conversation as well. I am getting more and more onboard with waiting until the mid to late part of this draft and going after Brenton Strange...

The more I watch and research Brenton Strange the more I like him. He is extremely athletic and is an exceptional blocker. While the following are simple analytics consider them:

Hayden Hurst                  Brenton Strange
       6'5"          height                  6'4"
      250           weight                 253
      4.67             40                     4.70
      1.59          10 yd split           1.57
      31.5"           vertical              36"
       10'           broad jump         10'4"  
      7.19            3 cone                7.25
      4.37          20 yd shut.          4.46
        3            receiving TD*        10
      12.8          yds per rec.*        10.7

* stats taken from 3 latest seasons as Hurst played 3 and Strange played 4.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXueOhlfuhg

Strange has become lost in a very good class of TEs. Above the posted is a highlight video but watch how he makes himself visible to the QB when the QB is in trouble and watch his pure athletic ability, the football IQ he displays, and that he appears to be a pretty natural receiver.

For comparison, Drew Sample:
height - 6'4"
weight - 255 lb
40 - 4.71
10 split - 1.64
vert - 33.5"
broad - 9'7"
3-cone - 7.15
shuttle - 4.31
YPR - 10.6
TDs - 5

(03-08-2023, 10:42 PM)Essex Johnson Wrote: We disagree on need for a TE and Mayer especially if Hurst not signed. Will be a interesting FA and draft..

We won every game when Hurst was out with his injury including the K.C. game where he got injured in the 1st quarter.  So yes we disagree that Hurst or Mayer is some great need.  When Hurst was out with his injury we didnt have our #1 TE in Hurst or #2 Drew Sample.  We didnt need either of them to win games.  The problem we did see however is what happens when you dont have quality Offensive linemen and depth.  You can't win without them.  Depth at TE meant nothing, depth on the Oline did.   Using the 1st round draft pick on a TE would be a complete waste with the other more important needs this team has.  

(03-09-2023, 01:31 PM)ochocincos Wrote: For comparison, Drew Sample:
height - 6'4"
weight - 255 lb
40 - 4.71
10 split - 1.64
vert - 33.5"
broad - 9'7"
3-cone - 7.15
shuttle - 4.31
YPR - 10.6
TDs - 5

"...makes himself visible to the QB when the QB is in trouble and watch his pure athletic ability, the football IQ he displays, and that he appears to be a pretty natural receiver." 


This would be the major difference in comparing Sample to Hurst and Strange.

If the Bengals do go TE in the 1st, I sure as hell hope that it's Darnell Washington. With his blend of size and athleticism displayed at the combine, and when you watch his footage as a blocker, this guy could become the Bengals all-time great at TE. Red Zone nightmare for the next 12 years.

Yes, please.

(03-09-2023, 03:59 PM)007BengalsFan Wrote: We won every game when Hurst was out with his injury including the K.C. game where he got injured in the 1st quarter.  So yes we disagree that Hurst or Mayer is some great need.  When Hurst was out with his injury we didnt have our #1 TE in Hurst or #2 Drew Sample.  We didnt need either of them to win games.  The problem we did see however is what happens when you dont have quality Offensive linemen and depth.  You can't win without them.  Depth at TE meant nothing, depth on the Oline did.   Using the 1st round draft pick on a TE would be a complete waste with the other more important needs this team has.  

Really? Never thought about that Hurst W/L stuff. I know they sure didn't seem urgent in upgrading TE depth last year.

This one kind of feels like the Gresham draft. Which was a year 20 TEs were drafted.

4 times 2 have gone in the first since 2000
2 times 3 have gone in the first since 2000

Maxed out at 24 total TEs drafted in one year since 2000. Hit 20 total only two more times since 2000.

There were 20 invited to the combine this year it looks like.

(03-09-2023, 09:08 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: If the Bengals do go TE in the 1st, I sure as hell hope that it's Darnell Washington.  With his blend of size and athleticism displayed at the combine, and when you watch his footage as a blocker, this guy could become the Bengals all-time great at TE.  Red Zone nightmare for the next 12 years.

Yes, please.

I could not have stated it better. The Bengals need a TE that will make defenses pay when they give 
Chase and Higgins double coverage 
At 6'7 JB can throw it where only Washington 
Can grab it. Washington can be a real difference maker on those 3rd and whatever situations 

The Bengals haven't had a true difference maker 
At TE since who...Dan Ross?

(03-10-2023, 10:52 AM)impactplaya Wrote: I could not have stated it better. The Bengals need a TE that will make defenses pay when they give 
Chase and Higgins double coverage 
At 6'7 JB can throw it where only Washington 
Can grab it. Washington can be a real difference maker on those 3rd and whatever situations 

The Bengals haven't had a true difference maker 
At TE since who...Dan Ross?

COULD be a real difference maker. There is still a ton of projection for Darnell Washington as a receiver. Washington has 2 less catches in his 27 game career than Luke Musgrave in his 20 game career.


Testing is fun and we get to see players showcase their skillset but it always goes back to the tape. I hope Kincaid and Washington go first to let the best TE in the class fall into their hands at 28... Michael Mayer.

(03-10-2023, 11:15 AM)Synric Wrote: COULD be a real difference maker. There is still a ton of projection for Darnell Washington as a receiver. Washington has 2 less catches in his 27 game career than Luke Musgrave in his 20 game career.


Testing is fun and we get to see players showcase their skillset but it always goes back to the tape. I hope Kincaid and Washington go first to let the best TE in the class fall into their hands at 28... Michael Mayer.

Yeah, just imagine what Washington's stats could have been, had he not had to share the role with a phenom like Brock Bowers?  Washington's low number of receptions isn't due to a lack of talent on his part, just not enough balls to go around is more like it.

(03-10-2023, 11:24 AM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Yeah, just imagine what Washington's stats could have been, had he not had to share the role with a phenom like Brock Bowers?  Washington's low number of receptions isn't due to a lack of talent on his part, just not enough balls to go around is more like it.

And think of what Luke Musgrave's final year would have been like if he hadn't been injured. 

Both of these guys you have to go find tape see what they do as a receiver and project that skill set into the NFL. Michael Mayer there is way less projection dude is polished has a great release package understands defenses and has been the dude in this offense for 2 seasons.


I'm a fan of Washington, Musgrave, and Kincaid but Mayer is the top TE in the class. Prospect fatigue is what we are seeing lately.

Washington's height and catch radius is what
Makes him my number 1 TE in this draft.
If a player has certain intangibles that you cannot
Simply coach then in some aspects that's a huge
Huge bonus. And it doesn't hurt he comes
From a university that is really a NFL minor league
Football roster. Those Bulldogs get drafted and they are
Ready to produce Day 1. Not year 3.

Regardless of which player is the best, if the Bengals want a TE in round 1 there is a good possibility Mayer, Musgrave, or Washington make it to pick 28.

(03-10-2023, 12:05 PM)impactplaya Wrote: Washington's height and catch radius is what
Makes him my number 1 TE in this draft.
If a player has certain intangibles that you cannot
Simply coach then in some aspects that's a huge
Huge bonus. And it doesn't hurt he comes
From a university that is really a NFL minor league
Football roster. Those Bulldogs get drafted and they are
Ready to produce Day 1. Not year 3.

Players produce when they play he has 27 games as a college player. His height and length make him more intriguing as a receiver but because of his size he might be forced inside in a 12 heavy personnel play action offense. His size makes it hard for him to snap off quick breaking routes he will run a ton of in a 11 personnel heavy spread. 

I was a Jelani Woods fan last year same type of player but I was also thinking heavy wide zone where a big move blocking TE would be a major weapon... in the offense we seen last year I would lean heavier toward Mayer Kincaid Musgrave and LaPorta... Kraft is interesting because I still havent seen him drop his hips.



Edit: This reminds me of the Faalele argument I had with people last year. Measurements are only part of the info you get on these guys and tape is the most important peice. Michael Mayer has the best tape of any TE in this draft class and up there with any player in the draft class.

(03-10-2023, 12:13 PM)Synric Wrote: Players produce when they play he has 27 games as a college player. His height and length make him more intriguing as a receiver but because of his size he might be forced inside in a 12 heavy personnel play action offense. His size makes it hard for him to snap off quick breaking routes he will run a ton of in a 11 personnel heavy spread. 

I was a Jelani Woods fan last year same type of player but I was also thinking heavy wide zone where a big move blocking TE would be a major weapon... in the offense we seen last year I would lean heavier toward Mayer Kincaid Musgrave and LaPorta... Kraft is interesting because I still havent seen him drop his hips.



Edit: This reminds me of the Faalele argument I had with people last year. Measurements are only part of the info you get on these guys and tape is the most important peice. Michael Mayer has the best tape of any TE in this draft class and up there with any player in the draft class.

A little disappointed you didn't list Durham but its all good lol.