Hey, the Bengals drafted a Center!

[SunsetBengal]

(05-01-2021, 05:42 PM)bamseventy1 Wrote: It's ok bro, you will be rewarded one day for your fandom. Get that negativity out of you.

Well, I apologize if I'm coming off as negative during this draft class, as I'm typically one of the more optimistic personalities on this board.  I've been a fan since I was old enough to understand what football was.  I was blessed with a couple of Superbowl teams put together by Paul Brown in my youth, and have been ever disappointed since controlling ownership passed onto Mike.

I survived the dismal 90's, fully embraced the transition to the Marvin Lewis era, along with it's two complete cycles of highs and lows.  I've always held onto hope that once Katie assumed the controlling nod that things would change for the better.  I even got excited about the uptick in free agency play in the past two years.  However, one relic remains, Duke Tobin.  It's time for him to be relieved of his duty, and a proper GM installed.

Duke's drafts, particularly at the top end, have really been lacking in the past 5-8 years.  I'm tired of it.  We don't need a VP over player personnel that needs to call a former player that's been retired for 14 years to get his opinion on taking a Tackle that just had back surgery..  Enough already, let's just hire a true NFL GM to manage the roster and partner with Katie on making the deals happen.

This draft?  I wanted Sewell, as I thought it would make a definitive statement on the direction the team wants to go, as well as affirm their commitment to protecting the franchise QB.  That didn't happen, but I'm totally fine with Ja'Marr Chase.  He's going to be a super star in the league, and I love that he's now a Bengal.

Now, taking Jackson freakin' Carman at least a round early, after trading 8 spots back and watching really good OL get swooped up?  That is one of those "only the Bengals" moments.  I mean, I could have almost gotten on board with taking the overweight big man with short arms, until I learned about the recent back surgery.  Egad!  I know that many on here are enamored with him, and I suspect it's because he's a "local product" more than anything.

I'm completely fine with the skinny Tackle taken from ECU in the 4th.  He's going to grow and develop into a fine player, in two to three years.

I started to get excited about taking the big Center from Georgia, until I realized that he's coming off of double knee surgeries.  He also has weight issues, and needs intense work on flexibility once he's healed up.  I hope he regains the confidence to go hard in the next couple years.

Noticing a trend here?  The unit responsible for Joe Burrows demise last season, gets bolstered with two IR guys and a developmental guy.  After the lack of OL action in free agency, I'm not very convinced about the Bengals commitment to protecting Joe Burrow, and developing a rushing attack to take some of the load off of his shoulders.

This team needs a true, football GM.  It's about 30 years past time.  THAT, is why I seem pissy during this year's draft.