Top Draft Class

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(12-10-2022, 07:48 PM)jorev5 Wrote: This has probably been discussed before, but I was listening to Dan Hoard's Bengals Booth Podcast and he mentioned the 2020 class with Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins, and Logan Wilson.  Which is the Bengals best Draft class of all time

2020 Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins, Logan Wilson, Akeem Davis Gaither, Marcus Bailey

2001 Justin Smith, Chad Johnson, Rudi Johnson, TJ Houshmandzadeh

Any old timers want to chime in?  I was born in the 80s so I don't know as much from the earlier decades.  

How about this one as the WHAT IF class:
2005 David Pollack, Chris Henry, Odell Thurman

In 2020, they also had Khalid Kareem, who although isn't a starter or even on the team any longer, he did make a huge play to help beat Denver last year.

They also drafted Akeem Adeniji, who seems to be excelling now that they are leaving him at tackle.  

The 2021 draft class is pretty amazing as well:

Ja'Marr Chase-  I think will go down as the greatest WR of all time.  He will break all the records he said he would.  

Jackson Carman- Backup Guard, a disappointment.  

Joseph Ossai- Quality depth pass rusher

Cam Sample- Quality depth hybrid that can rotate inside

Tyler Shelvin- Fat but did carry Burrow off the field one time

D'Ante Smith-  Qualtiy depth at OT if he can stay healthy

Money Mac-  Maybe the second best kicker in the league only to Justin Tucker.

Trey Hill-  No longer with team, I think.  Held a lot.

Chris Evans-  Quality rotational back

Wyatt Huber-  Injured then retired.  

It doesn't have the top end star power starters like the 2020 draft with Burrow, Higgins, and Wilson, but has two top tier starters in Chase and Money Mac, and four quality rotational players.  But for me, 2020 is their best ever. 

That 2005 draft always comes up and makes me grit my teeth.  The "what could have been" draft is exactly right.  They also stole Fanane in round 7 of that draft who was a solid rotational player on the defensive line.  Oddly, his sister is the woman that had a child with Chris Henry that has been offered at OSU as a freshman in HS.