(03-12-2025, 05:49 PM)Bilbo Saggins Wrote: It's a salient point about the 80s. Looks like OL played at ~275, bulking up to ~300 in the 90s. Modern day depends on the team. The Eagles starting OL last year averaged 338 lbs - very, very heavy.

But there's also a salient point to what people are saying about TJ Watt, Parsons, Goldsmith, etc. The Bengals just don't seem interested in drafting ends without prototypical size until round 3 or later. I don't see how they're ever going to draft a double digit sack type of guy if they refuse to spend early round draft capital on smaller ends. How often does a player like Carlos Dunlap fall into the second? Where did the Bengals have guys like Watt and Parsons on their board? They did well to find Dunlap, they did well to find Hendrickson, but some amount of luck was involved in both acquisitions. One fell in the draft. One said, "Hey my wife wants to go to school here. I want to sign with a team that's close." Good thing she didn't take classes in Maine!

It's not that I'm upset about Ojulari. It's good that they put out feelers. It's that they seem set in their ways despite plenty of evidence to suggest that they ought to change their processes with regard to trench players. 

(03-13-2025, 09:56 AM)higgy100 Wrote: Hey, I don't disagree with you. I'll extend you one further. They haven't drafted a LB in round 1 since Keith Rivers 17 years ago. Think about that for a minute.In my opinion, a stud versatile LB is the most important position on the field, a guy you can lineup anywhere, on the LOS, drop back in coverage,etc., a player that an offense has to scheme for every game. Yes, Vontaze was first round talent but with all his issues he went undrafted. 

I would venture to say there's not another team in the NFL that's gone that long or maybe not even 10 years without drafting a LB in round 1. 

(03-13-2025, 01:06 PM)TJHoushmandzadeh Wrote: I looked up six teams and found two examples of teams going longer than that since they last drafted a LB in the first.

Rams 2002
Giants 1984

I presume you mean most important position not including QB.

(03-13-2025, 02:53 PM)higgy100 Wrote: Rams took LB Alec Ogletree in the 1st round in 2013 as they had two 1st round picks that year.

Ironically, both the Rams and Giants just in the past 12/13 years have each taken multiple LB's in round 2 (Rams-2, Giants -4) while Cinci. has only taken one in the last 15 years (Maulaluga 2009) in round 2.