04-04-2025, 12:50 PM
(04-04-2025, 12:11 PM)OSUfan Wrote: The Draft:
When the Bengals went on the clock with the 17th overall selection on the board were the following:
#9 Tyler Warren - TE
#13 Shemar Stewart - DE
#14 Mykel Williams - DE
#15 Kelvin Williams - OT
#17 Jihaad Campbell - LB
#21 Malaki Starks - S
Of these players I felt that the highest value targets for the Bengals were Stewart, Mykel Williams, and Starks. Stewart is an anomaly in that his combine numbers and measurables do not match the lack of production. When you watch film on him he is just inches away from having vastly different production. With the proper coaching could he become more of a finisher? He very well could but when you look at the talent on the A&M line there just should have been more output from Stewart. Williams as well is a selection of could be production. I believe that both players could very well end up being outstanding edge players in the NFL but when investing a first round selection I believe most would agree that you are not looking for a project.
Starks to me looks to be the real deal at safety and when you compare him and Jessie Bates the similarities are eerie. I believe most would agree that Bates himself played like a first round safety even thought the Bengals were lucky enough to select him in the second round.
With the way the board lined up and with apparent needs and available players I felt safe in taking a trade presented by the Detroit Lions, the final trade was a counter by the Bengals, and that the Bengals would get a player that dropped or would still be looking at a high value selection at 28 while adding important capitol later in the draft. The trade is broke down as:
The Bengals and Lions swap first round selections with the Lions as well sending their 2nd and 3rd round selections to the Bengals with the Bengals sending Detroit their 4th round selection in 2026. When the values are calculated it ends up with the Lions giving up a low 4th round selection to move up to 17. With the 17th selection Detroit selected Derrick Harmon - DT.
With the 28th Selection the Cincinnati Bengals select:
I could get onboard with this draft in a heartbeat!
