http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/tracker#dt-tabs:dt-by-grade

Some interesting things here. Taco Charlton hype is gaining steam. I really liked him a couple months back and it appears so does NFL.com. It happens every draft they have to create legit QB prospects and this year is no different, Trubisky the 3rd highest graded player? Not a chance. Also interesting that Njoku graded above Howard at TE.

One I found interesting, I have been a big Darboh fan and their comparison is Sanu. I'd be okay with that if we got him in the 3rd like Sanu.

Tanoh Kpassagnon is one that stood out to me because I've seen various scouting reports comparing him to Carlos Dunlap. However, I think NFL.com's comparison to Margus Hunt is more telling. Kpassagnon is a raw prospect with great measurements. He is (somewhat of) a project. If everything clicks, Kpassagnon's ceiling is Dunlap. But he also very well could be Margus Hunt. I don't have faith that these coaches can properly coach up a project to the point that player is a pro bowler. I think the Bengals cannot take on such a risk unless he's available in the fourth round.

(01-30-2017, 02:24 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Tanoh Kpassagnon is one that stood out to me because I've seen various scouting reports comparing him to Carlos Dunlap. However, I think NFL.com's comparison to Margus Hunt is more telling. Kpassagnon is a raw prospect with great measurements. He is (somewhat of) a project. If everything clicks, Kpassagnon's ceiling is Dunlap. But he also very well could be Margus Hunt. I don't have faith that these coaches can properly coach up a project to the point that player is a pro bowler. I think the Bengals cannot take on such a risk unless he's available in the fourth round.

I think Charlton reminds me of Dunlap, something about his body type and his sometimes on and sometimes off effort that Dunlap had in college.

I like Lance Zeirlein more than Bucky Brooks or Daniel Jeremiah. And Lance put out his first mock draft today and has Taco going 6th to the Jets. By far the earliest I have seen.

(01-30-2017, 04:00 PM)NATI BENGALS Wrote: I like Lance Zeirlein more than Bucky Brooks or Daniel Jeremiah. And Lance put out his first mock draft today and has Taco going 6th to the Jets. By far the earliest I have seen.

I'd be okay with us taking him at 9, but I'm sure many would freak out and say it was too early. The issue is either you take him there or he is gone by round two. The whole trade back, trade up thing, sounds great on paper but you have to find people to make it work. If that is your guy you take him and be happy you got him.

(01-30-2017, 03:24 PM)Au165 Wrote: I think Charlton reminds me of Dunlap, something about his body type and his sometimes on and sometimes off effort that Dunlap had in college.

That seems fair. Charlton has a high ceiling just like Dunlap. Both also had good final years in college, but both still left stats on the table so to speak. However, whereas Dunlap had 9.0 sacks in his final two seasons at Florida, Charlton had production more in line with MJ and Hunt in college. This type of production was mediocre stats every year until their final years in college where each individual had 8.0+ sacks.

It's clear the Bengals have a mold they desire in their ends, which is 6'6"+ and 265+lb. Big and long. They also seems to go for those early-mid round rushers who haven't quite had a stellar full collegiate career but did have a big jump in production their final year in college. This likely has prompted the Bengals to think, "Gee, this player made a big improvement by the time their final season in college, so they should be able to make similar growth in the NFL." And so while the drafted player doesn't contribute right away, they think they can get that player to be a very good DE by Year 3 in the NFL.

I hope that the Bengals get a DE that can contribute immediately in the rushing department, but a big and tall DE that they plan to groom for 2016-2017 and become an eventual starter in 2018 seems more Bengal-esque.

(01-30-2017, 04:34 PM)ochocincos Wrote: That seems fair. Charlton has a high ceiling just like Dunlap. Both also had good final years in college, but both still left stats on the table so to speak. However, whereas Dunlap had 9.0 sacks in his final two seasons at Florida, Charlton had production more in line with MJ and Hunt in college. This type of production was mediocre stats every year until their final years in college where each individual had 8.0+ sacks.

It's clear the Bengals have a mold they desire in their ends, which is 6'6"+ and 265+lb. Big and long. They also seems to go for those early-mid round rushers who haven't quite had a stellar full collegiate career but did have a big jump in production their final year in college. This likely has prompted the Bengals to think, "Gee, this player made a big improvement by the time their final season in college, so they should be able to make similar growth in the NFL." And so while the drafted player doesn't contribute right away, they think they can get that player to be a very good DE by Year 3 in the NFL.

I hope that the Bengals get a DE that can contribute immediately in the rushing department, but a big and tall DE that they plan to groom for 2016-2017 and become an eventual starter in 2018 seems more Bengal-esque.

I think Thomas gives us production year 1, but don't think he fits the mold of our DE. The only Caveat there is he can kick inside and outside so they make a concession there ala Wallace Gillberry.

I think Charlton is better than stats may show. He did get 5.5 sacks his junior year while only playing in 10 games instead of 13. I like him if we are going for our "mold", but I can see him not being more than a pass rush specialist year one and eventually replacing Johnson the following year.

(01-30-2017, 04:40 PM)Au165 Wrote: I think Thomas gives us production year 1, but don't think he fits the mold of our DE. The only Caveat there is he can kick inside and outside so they make a concession there ala Wallace Gillberry.

I think Charlton is better than stats may show. He did get 5.5 sacks his junior year while only playing in 10 games instead of 13. I like him if we are going for our "mold", but I can see him not being more than a pass rush specialist year one and eventually replacing Johnson the following year.

I'm with you. Solomon Thomas doesn't fit the Bengals mold of drafted DEs, but he fits the mold of Wallace Gilberry. Thomas could be used as a base DE and moved inside next to Atkins on third down.

I wouldn't be opposed to Thomas in the first and a more "traditional" Bengals 4-3 DE in the middle rounds (e.g. Daeshon Hall, Deatrich Wise, or even Kpassagnon if he's available in 4th).
Malik McDowell may also be in consideration, as he's got the size of a Bengals 4-3 DE, but has played more DT in college.

I don't think a DE should be the selection at 9 though unless one of Garret, Allen, or Thomas is there. If a different DE is selected in the first round, I hope it's because the Bengals were able to trade back to the 15-20 range.