Bengals have contacted Dede Westbrook

[*ochocincos*]

(05-10-2021, 07:33 PM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: It's probably too late to add anyone of real note at this point. 

The last LB we took in the first two rounds was Ray Mauluga (round 2) 12 years ago in 2009.  Since that time we've tried to fill out the position group with middle round picks and bargain bin FA's.

Look, if you want to agree with that approach then that's your choice.  But I don't think anyone can refute that the team clearly doesn't value LB's like they do with other positions.  Nor do they value the position as much as other teams do.

People keep pointing to last years draft but I think that only strengthens my argument.  They immediately handed meaningful PT to a 3rd and 4th round rookie, signed a scrub in FA and pretended like they were perfectly fine there.

Here are the Top 30 LBs in the NFL last year according to PFF in order, and the round they were drafted:
- Fred Warner (Rd 3)
- Bobby Wagner (Rd 2)
- Eric Kendricks (Rd 2)
- Lavonte David (Rd 2)
- Demario Davis (Rd 3)
- Blake Martinez (Rd 4)
- KJ Wright (Rd 4)
- Mykal Walker (Rd 4)
- LJ Fort (UDFA)
- Darius Leonard (Rd 2)
- Myles Jack (Rd 2)
- Deion Jones (Rd 2)
- Josey Jewell (Rd 4)
- Kevin Pierre Louis (Rd 4)
- Malcolm Smith (Rd 7)
- Sione Takitaki (Rd 3)
- Roquan Smith (Rd 1)
- Nick Kwiatkoski (Rd 4)
- TJ Edwards (UDFA)
- Jayon Brown (Rd 5)
- BJ Goodson (Rd 4)
- Alexander Johnson (UDFA)
- Cole Holcomb (Rd 5)
- Jamie Collins (Rd 2)
- Nicholas Morrow (UDFA)
- Kyle Van Noy (Rd 2)
- Troy Reeder (UDFA)
- Zach Cunningham (Rd 2)
- Isaiah Simmons (Rd 1)
- Dre Greenlaw (Rd 5)

Most of the players in the Top 30 were drafted in Rds 2-4.
The Bengals have drafted Pratt and Wilson in Rd 3, ADG in Rd 4.

I think Rd 2 might be a sweet spot for the Bengals to take a new LB next year if they don't get good enough performance from at least two guys, but no way would I spend a 1st rounder on LB.
OL in Rd 1, LB in Rd 2.
If the OL actually comes a long way this year, I'd also be game for TE in Rd 1 (if there was a TE worth taking).