What Would Your Draft Have Been?

[BleedNOrange]

Based on how the draft actually fell & who was available in each round, the picks would be something like this:

1. Derrick Harmon
2. Mike Green
3. Cam Skattebo
4. Teddye Buchanan
5. Jalen Rivers
6. Hunter Wohler
   

Could also be convinced of Jihaad Campbell, Gillote, D. Walker, Winston Jr.

[3wt]

(05-02-2025, 06:43 PM)Gdale_Bengal Wrote: The first 3 picks going

Harmon
Ratledge
Fairchild

Would have SIGNIFICANTLY helped this team.

That's what I would have done when Nolan was picked.

But I will be interested to see how the picks they went with unfolds.   I was livid at 17 and 49.   But it's not like I know that much.  I was going totally on draft web sites.

Hope I was wrong and they were right.  The potential seems to be there.

I have a friend who is a smart guy and a Pittsburgh fan - I know... - but he said Harmon was like a 2nd Cam Heyward (a number of other said the same thing) and was better suited to their defense than ours.

[Soonerpeace]

I get the Derrick Harmon sentiment. But you have to match your needs. Oh there are several. But their need was bigger at DE. Their other DE options? Green had sexual abuse issues in his past. Stewart was the best option. I mean the guy was a great run stuffer in the SEC. Can you say AFC North? I think he can chase down Lamar. He was highly disruptive with 33 hurries. That’s a lot. So then there’s Knight. Well last it looked like Pratt & the staff aren’t long for the Bengal world. They had to have a linebacker and he’s athletic and good in the run and pass coverage. Third pick was Fairchild. Most like that pick. He definitely is good at pass protection. Carter’s pick must signal our backups at linebacker are questionable. I’d have picked Watts but to me that means they’ve got plans there. And Golden knows everything about Watts. Most like the Rivers and Brooks picks.

[Luvnit2]

I see a lot of fans do not like the Stewart pick and say Bengals blew it. Here is your chance to tell us your pick in round 1 of those available.  let us know why your pick and how they fit better on the 2025 Bengals than Stewart.

Edit: For the record, I liked the pick. but I would have picked Campbell

Then we can circle back and see if your pick was better, same or worse.

This is just for fun and not an I gotha thread.

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

This thread was already made, you even posted in it, and you contradicted yourself compared to this thread title.

https://thebengalsboard.com/thread-40479.html

Quote:Luvnit2 post #47: "Stewart - Best true DE in the draft"

[THE PISTONS]

There's a fallacy about doing this as a guy may turn out good in his situation, but not here and vice versa.

[c766]

(05-16-2025, 12:13 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: This thread was already made, you even posted in it, and you contradicted yourself compared to this thread title.

https://thebengalsboard.com/thread-40479.html

lol

[Bengalitis]

By game 3, you can reinforce how you feel, for now, let's wait and see...same for the rest... a few will fit in right away, others not so much, and if we're lucky, one will be a game changer player.. that's usually how it works in the draft...

[Goalpost]

Jihaad Campbell. The fact the Bengals chose two lb's shows the need was real to them. And right now, I don't doubt much Philly's track record, who ended up getting him.

[Nicomo Cosca]

Most fans would have been pretty happy with Harmon or Campbell. So ofc the Bengals didn’t take either of them.

[WeezyBengal]

I have more of an issue with the second round pick.

They reached on a LB when Ratleridge was sitting there for the taking.

[Luvnit2]

(05-16-2025, 12:13 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: This thread was already made, you even posted in it, and you contradicted yourself compared to this thread title.

https://thebengalsboard.com/thread-40479.html

I was not saying I hated Stewart pick, I like it. I was referring to others not liking it.

[jj22]

All of the 1st round pass rushers had warts so no option would have been perfect. I would have just went with Zabel or Harmon though as we needed production and a solid pick even if the ceiling wasn't as high. We need a first round pick with a high floor after missing on high ceiling / low floor "potential" in the last couple drafts in Murphy and Hill.

I agree with Weezy though it's the 2nd round pick that threw the draft off. Stewart isn't really the issue of the draft. He is taking heat for the prior years gambles that failed. He can cover 2 needs at end and pass rushing tackle. If it wasn't for Murphy it wouldn't be a bad pick. 

[*rfaulk34*]

(05-16-2025, 11:56 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: I see a lot of fans do not like the Stewart pick and say Bengals blew it. Here is your chance to tell us your pick in round 1 of those available.  let us know why your pick and how they fit better on the 2025 Bengals than Stewart.

Edit: For the record, I liked the pick.

Then we can circle back and see if your pick was better, same or worse.

This is just for fun and not an I gotha thread.

Looking back, i was hoping for a S and G in rds 1 and 2. My next option would have been LB. One thing i did NOT want was a DT and i wasn't too thrilled at DE either. Jalon Walker was a guy i liked but he was taken 2 picks before the Bengals. 

With who was picked, i'd say my preference would be for Starks or Emmanwori, though E seemes like a boom or bust kind of guy so...

With that said, i'll choose Starks. 

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

The Ends all had character concerns besides Shemar. Starks fit as a FS to replace the crappy play of Stone last year. We drafted 2 DT's last
season so Harmon would of probably never even seen the field especially with BJ's extension. I liked Emmanwori a lot but did he fit our need?

Hard to say if he would of been able to be our FS next to Battle...

The Guards were reaches, especially Zabel and I cannot believe Bengals fans wanting another NDSU O-lineman after Volson.

Starks is my vote, but I think Stewart may be better as a pro if the coaches can coach him up and we DO have new Defensive coaches.

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(05-16-2025, 12:17 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: There's a fallacy about doing this as a guy may turn out good in his situation, but not here and vice versa.

I wonder what their careers would have been like if Phillip Rivers went to the Giants and Eli Manning went to the Chargers as originally set up.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(05-16-2025, 12:39 PM)WeezyBengal Wrote: I have more of an issue with the second round pick.

They reached on a LB when Ratleridge was sitting there for the taking.

Dylan Fairchild has longer arms and plays lower than Ratledge. He is starting with the 1's already.

We very well may have added the better Georgia Guard.

[TJHoushmandzadeh's Shiny Shoes]

I wanted Walter Nolen or Jihaad Campbell. Nolen was gone so Campbell would have been my pick.

I don’t love the Stewart pick but I don’t hate the player and think he’ll contribute. There’s value in a DE who can set the edge and be more disruptive against the pass than Hubbard. Even if he can’t finish - and there are alarm bells with both college (lack of) production and lack of agility lateral testing - if he can divert QBs into Trey’s lap that would work. Ideally at 17 though we’d be getting more of an impact player who’d give this D an identity so it’s more a question of not liking the value.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(05-16-2025, 02:49 PM)TJHoushmandzadeh Wrote: I wanted Walter Nolen or Jihaad Campbell. Nolen was gone so Campbell would have been my pick.

I don’t love the Stewart pick but I don’t hate the player and think he’ll contribute. There’s value in a DE who can set the edge and be more disruptive against the pass than Hubbard. Even if he can’t finish - and there are alarm bells with both college (lack of) production and lack of  agility lateral testing - if he can divert QBs into Trey’s lap that would work. Ideally at 17 though we’d be getting more of an impact player who’d give this D an identity so it’s more a question of not liking the value.

I definitely liked both Nolen and Jihaad Campbell. I don't know if Nolen would play a ton as a rookie, but I think he would of been our best
pass rushing DT right off the bat. So he would at least of played on passing downs, but like you said was taken right in front of us. Jihaad is
coming off a bad shoulder injury and shouldn't even be able to practice until the start of the season so, both would be questions as well.

Completely agree on the value of an End that can set the edge in the running game and be so much more athletic than Hubbard. I know 
people hate the lack of sacks with Stewart, but I am personally excited about the athleticism compared to the lack of the last few years 
opposite of Trey.

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

I hated the pick. And still do. All the DEs had risk/flags and there was excellent DE depth in this draft. I'd have gone another direction in round 1 and gotten my DE later.

1. Zabel, OG/OL
2. Jackson, OG/OT
3. Campbell, LB
4. Harmon, DT
5. Emmanwori, S
6. Starks, S
7. Barron, CB
8. Trade down

I'd have taken all of the above before Stewart. And more. Too risky when we needed to be risk averse. And too raw when we need help ASAP. And a poor read of the position group strengths in the draft.

I hated/hate the Knight pick as well. For many of the same reasons. Plus it was a reach/wasted trade down opportunity and we ran to the podium. And we already have Wilson & Burks here. And Pratt.

Having said all that. Stewart has massive upside. If he can actually figure out how to tackle someone/play football, it will look brilliant. But I am not optimistic, especially in Year 1. 

Additionally  this smacks of Burton/Higgins. Swinging big on a potential replacement for a stud vet we should be locking up. 

Lastly, we make a lot of picks that smack of coaching arrogance. Trying to prove we are the smartest guys in the room. We can fix this guy. Switch his position. It rarely works out. So, we think we can fix Stewart, but not Murphy?