02-16-2022, 05:58 PM
I'm one of the biggest draftniks I know but even I don't think they can afford to design their draft around the line. It'd be missing the point. They need production, not potential. They just drafted three kids who were relegated to jumbo packages and teams, almost like specialists. And they weren't even that raw. It's clear that Pollack doesn't feel comfortable with rookies.
I still wonder why Smith didn't get a sniff ahead of Adeniji, who struggled all year. I get the need for stability and the "devil you know," but only to a point. Was Smith still hurt? I know they began grooming him behind Jonah, but I also know he vaulted past Carman at RG during camp, which underlines his versatility. Was it not worth a try? In the snaps that he did play (albeit out wide) he looked mobile and competent. Yet Adeniji kept getting the call... mobile and competent are not words I would use to describe him.
I'm hoping for one major FA plus two other starters. I don't know who the stud is (Armstead's too injury-prone for me... same with Tyron Smith... we'd risk Cordy Glenn 2.0) but an elite talent like that. Then two rocks. Ben Jones, maybe. Connor W. They don't have to be kids either. I don't care about 2-3 years from now. We can groom draft and develop projects behind them (ala Stacy Andrews). But we need Day 1s... like three Riley Reiffs. Preferably from good teams. No time to waste. The Bengals are in win-now mode.
I still wonder why Smith didn't get a sniff ahead of Adeniji, who struggled all year. I get the need for stability and the "devil you know," but only to a point. Was Smith still hurt? I know they began grooming him behind Jonah, but I also know he vaulted past Carman at RG during camp, which underlines his versatility. Was it not worth a try? In the snaps that he did play (albeit out wide) he looked mobile and competent. Yet Adeniji kept getting the call... mobile and competent are not words I would use to describe him.
I'm hoping for one major FA plus two other starters. I don't know who the stud is (Armstead's too injury-prone for me... same with Tyron Smith... we'd risk Cordy Glenn 2.0) but an elite talent like that. Then two rocks. Ben Jones, maybe. Connor W. They don't have to be kids either. I don't care about 2-3 years from now. We can groom draft and develop projects behind them (ala Stacy Andrews). But we need Day 1s... like three Riley Reiffs. Preferably from good teams. No time to waste. The Bengals are in win-now mode.
