04-07-2021, 09:36 AM
(04-07-2021, 07:00 AM)sonofstat Wrote: Agreed, its not just about one good draft you need 2/3 in a row where you find ideally 3 quality starters (not just roster filler).
That run of drafts we had from 2009 to 2012/2013 really set us up to be competitive for the much of that decade.
Really need to hit on that first round selection...somehow we always do good with our 2nd round pick but in the years when we consistently did well on first two picks really starts to set things up (Eifert/Bernard, Green/Dalton, Gresham/Dunlap, Smith/Mauluaga)
Got curious and looked at our drafts for the last 20 years and it hasn’t been THAT bad. John Ross and Billy Price were picked back to back and the last guys we can label as busts. Before that it’s Akili Smith. I’d even say besides those 3 ALL our first round picks became productive starters. Our second round drafting as you stated have been superb. Rounds 4 and beyond I can’t really identify a glaring lack of production in relevance to other teams.
Our Achilles heel is we don’t draft SUPERSTARS often and if we do they don’t hang around long or get injured. Every team that makes noise in the playoffs have SUPERSTARS. Players that are top 3 in their position. Since 2001 we have Chad Johnson, Andrew Witworth, Geno Atkins, AJ Green, and Jesse Bates. In 20 years to draft only 5 players(6 if you count Carson Palmer) that were top 3 at their position the years they played in Cincy is BAD.
-Housh
