History of #31 pick

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(04-27-2022, 05:44 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Bengals have a very interesting history with the #31 pick

1969...MLB Bill Bergey.  One of the greatest picks ever.  He fell out with Mike Brown over money and was traded.  Bergey was so good that we got 2 first round picks and a second round pick in return.  And this was before free agency when draft picks had more value.  He was the Defensive Rookie of the Year, 2 time All-Pro, and 5 time Pro Bowl.  At one time he was the highest paid defensive player in the NFL.  Before stats were an official stat he was credited with over 200 in a 14 game season with the Eagles.

1980...Kirby Criswell.  Never played a snap for the Bengals.  This was when I was in high school and obsessed with the Bengals, yet I do not do not remember anything about this guy.  I don't even recall being upset over a second round pick getting cut before his rookie season.

1988...RB Ickey Woods.  Home run pick.

1992...WR Carl Pickens.  Another home run.  Offensive Rookie of the Year.  2 time Pro Bowl. Holds Bengal season record for receiving tds (17).  From '94 through '96 averaged 90 rec, 1180 yds, and 13 tds.  Also had 82 for 1023 in '98.

Three elite players in 4 shots.  Not bad.  Let's look at the league overall.

Hall of Fame...Flanker Tommy McDonald, 1957, Eagles.  DT Durley Culp, 1968, Chiefs

All-Pro...There have been 10 All-Pro players selected at #31.  The most recent was OC Travis Frederick, 2013, Dallas.  Five of the ten earned All-Pro multiple times.  1953 LB Bill Forester (3 times)... 1968 Bergey (twice)... 1977 DB Nolan Cromwell (3 times)... 2003 DB Nnamdi Asomugha (twice)... 2011 DE Cameron Heywood (3 times)

Pro-Bowl...20 players.  Most recent was Frederick in 2013.  There have been 16 players taken at #31 that were selected to multiple Pro Bowls, but only 7 since Pickens, who went to 2, in 1992.  1999 LB Al Wilson (5 times)... 2001 TE Todd Heap (twice)... 2003 Asomugha (3 times)... 2007 TE Greg Olsen (3 times)... 2011 Heyward (5 times)... 2012 RD Doug Martin (twice)... 2013 Frederick (5 times)

So plenty of history of great players selected at #31.

Was he, though? I know we all love the shuffle and the '88 team reaching the SB, but he only had 459 career rushing yards (at 3.6 YPC) after his rookie year. 

If the Bengals draft a player at #31 in 2022 who is good for 1 year, then injured+bad for 3 years, then promptly out of the league... are we really going to call that a home run pick?