9 hours ago
I think it is silly to grade drafts before these rookies play 1 down.
My take is on paper the draft created a lot of questions. Stewart is not a boom or bust due to him being stout against the run. So, at worst in my opinion he will be Sam Hubbard who was not picked 17th and a 1st round pick. At best, he gets 8-10 sacks a year in 2 two 3 years with some explosive plays like strip sacks. The grade in 3 to 4 years for our 2025 draft will be based on Stewarrt hitting the floor or the ceiling. Stewart is obviously the most athletic DE in the 2025 draft, the question is can he use that atleticism to finish and get immense pressure or sacks. I don't see a comparision to Murphy simply because Stewart can also go inside and rush the passer on throwing downs from DT and he is also a stout run defender, something Murphy was not in college and has carried over hos first 2 years.
I liked Knight as we needed an upgrade over Pratt who forgot how to tackle. I wanted Campbell in round 1 and then a guard in round 2 since I felt DE/Edge was deep. But once Bengals went with a DE and had already decided likey defense would be pick and 1 to imrove a crappy defense, then since Knight was obviously 3rd best LB on their board, they either risk losing their choice to replace Pratt or draft him. The 2nd best LB was taken early in round 2 so very unlikely the 3rd best LB in the draft (Bengal's board) would last for 32 more picks. In fact Martin who was ranked worse than Knight was taken with pick 75 or 6 picks prior to our 3rd round pick. For those who say we could have traded up, it would have cost us ur 5th or 6th round pick and we only had 6 picks the entire draft. Obviously if the had a chrystal ball they would have known their second choice at LB would be available, but no way to know that would happen almost 70 picks later.
The more I read about Fairchid (many sites grade him a "C" pick or worse, I like him better than Rutledge who I wanted in round 2. It appears Peters liked him better than Ratledge as well. Zac was not confident he would be there at #81 telling me they had a higher grade on him that a lot of pundits. I love he was a wrestler and when you see him on tape, he displays the nastiness of a wrestler. He is about 8 to 10 lbs. bigger than last years starting guards. It is impressive 0 sacks in 2 years as a starter as well. I disagree with those saying this was a bad pick. I think he may be a solid NFL starter for the next 10 years.
Our 4th pick after a lot of thought was the biggest surprise to me since we grabbed Knight in round 2. I felt there were a lot of ways the team could have gone with the pick. I like the player, just not sure we needed to draft 2 guys to replace Pratt (who likely will be traded or cut). I am trying to trust Golden on this pick. It seems he may use more 3 LB looks than Lou who mostly used 2 LB's (Wilson and Pratt). Golden said they need to be 6 deep at LB, that tells me he picked another LB to get closer to 6 knowing Pratt is likely gone. In 3 years we will determine if this pick was needed (maybe this year) for Golden's scheme or if he is just a great special team player.
Our 5th pick I had no idea who he was when he was drafted. I learn after he is an actually a T/G who has started in college at both positions and last year played at tackle for one of the most potent offenses in collge football. It appears he has had some major injuries which dropped him to later rounds. This is one of those picks that could be boom or bust in my opinion. If he can't shake the injury bug, he will be a bust. But, if he can stay healthy it is valuable to have OL tht can back up the tackle position and compete for a starting guard position. This is a pick that was needed as our interior OL is a weakess, if we can get it to average versus poor, we keep JB from taking the hits he took in 2023 and 2024 (number of them) nd hopefully give JB an extra hlf second, we all know JB is dynamyte when given time to throw.
Our 6th round Pick Brooks in my opinion was a great pick. He is a compliment to our RB room, he is bigger than Brown, shifty and could be become our goal line back. He could beat out Perine as our 3rd down back. I like Sam, but this guy is younger and has the potential to be a 3 down RB in the NFL. He dropped to us only because the RB class in 2025 was insanely good. He can pass block, had a ton of yards the past 2 years and is a great receiving option.
The UFA class is being formulated. These rarely give us great players. I am hopeful the former Alabama and Ohio State center could be a great add. He is ranked number 1 UFA on a lot of boards. Karras is getting older so woul great to have his replacement on the roster.Karras is also in last year of his contract, so we now how 2 centers Peters can work with so in 2026 determine if Karras is deserving of another deal, if not can 1 of these 2 step in for him.
I don't do grades. I am hopeful Golden, Hodges, Montgomery and Peters got the guys they felt theu needed to get back to the playoffs. I may bein the minority, but feel an area the coaches are banking on CB is an unknown. I like the CB room, but Turner and Hill being hurt last year cost them experience and Hill recovering from an ACL can be tough only 1 year later.
Last, I see the team cutting/trading Pratt giving us an additional 5.2 million in cap space.If so, after injury funds, practice squad and going to 53 from 51, we should have a minimum of 18 million to spend in 2025 if they desire. I understand the team's position and feel it would be stupid to tear up the extension he sigened 2 years ago. However, I do hope the 2 sides can come to a reasonable extension increasing Trey's guaranteed money (right now only 15.8 million) give him. nice extra bonus in 2025, then give him his 30 million in 2026 and 2027, but only 40 to 50% guaranteed as he is 31 this year so hard for any team to give out guarantees like a guy is 27.
It will be intersting to see if we do sign a vet guard or roll with the draft picks and the existing guys. Will they look at a vet safety or CB? Or are they done with FA until final cutdowns or done period?
I think we have a playoff roster right now with no more moves. I hope this draft pans out, but as I said a lot of question marks.
My take is on paper the draft created a lot of questions. Stewart is not a boom or bust due to him being stout against the run. So, at worst in my opinion he will be Sam Hubbard who was not picked 17th and a 1st round pick. At best, he gets 8-10 sacks a year in 2 two 3 years with some explosive plays like strip sacks. The grade in 3 to 4 years for our 2025 draft will be based on Stewarrt hitting the floor or the ceiling. Stewart is obviously the most athletic DE in the 2025 draft, the question is can he use that atleticism to finish and get immense pressure or sacks. I don't see a comparision to Murphy simply because Stewart can also go inside and rush the passer on throwing downs from DT and he is also a stout run defender, something Murphy was not in college and has carried over hos first 2 years.
I liked Knight as we needed an upgrade over Pratt who forgot how to tackle. I wanted Campbell in round 1 and then a guard in round 2 since I felt DE/Edge was deep. But once Bengals went with a DE and had already decided likey defense would be pick and 1 to imrove a crappy defense, then since Knight was obviously 3rd best LB on their board, they either risk losing their choice to replace Pratt or draft him. The 2nd best LB was taken early in round 2 so very unlikely the 3rd best LB in the draft (Bengal's board) would last for 32 more picks. In fact Martin who was ranked worse than Knight was taken with pick 75 or 6 picks prior to our 3rd round pick. For those who say we could have traded up, it would have cost us ur 5th or 6th round pick and we only had 6 picks the entire draft. Obviously if the had a chrystal ball they would have known their second choice at LB would be available, but no way to know that would happen almost 70 picks later.
The more I read about Fairchid (many sites grade him a "C" pick or worse, I like him better than Rutledge who I wanted in round 2. It appears Peters liked him better than Ratledge as well. Zac was not confident he would be there at #81 telling me they had a higher grade on him that a lot of pundits. I love he was a wrestler and when you see him on tape, he displays the nastiness of a wrestler. He is about 8 to 10 lbs. bigger than last years starting guards. It is impressive 0 sacks in 2 years as a starter as well. I disagree with those saying this was a bad pick. I think he may be a solid NFL starter for the next 10 years.
Our 4th pick after a lot of thought was the biggest surprise to me since we grabbed Knight in round 2. I felt there were a lot of ways the team could have gone with the pick. I like the player, just not sure we needed to draft 2 guys to replace Pratt (who likely will be traded or cut). I am trying to trust Golden on this pick. It seems he may use more 3 LB looks than Lou who mostly used 2 LB's (Wilson and Pratt). Golden said they need to be 6 deep at LB, that tells me he picked another LB to get closer to 6 knowing Pratt is likely gone. In 3 years we will determine if this pick was needed (maybe this year) for Golden's scheme or if he is just a great special team player.
Our 5th pick I had no idea who he was when he was drafted. I learn after he is an actually a T/G who has started in college at both positions and last year played at tackle for one of the most potent offenses in collge football. It appears he has had some major injuries which dropped him to later rounds. This is one of those picks that could be boom or bust in my opinion. If he can't shake the injury bug, he will be a bust. But, if he can stay healthy it is valuable to have OL tht can back up the tackle position and compete for a starting guard position. This is a pick that was needed as our interior OL is a weakess, if we can get it to average versus poor, we keep JB from taking the hits he took in 2023 and 2024 (number of them) nd hopefully give JB an extra hlf second, we all know JB is dynamyte when given time to throw.
Our 6th round Pick Brooks in my opinion was a great pick. He is a compliment to our RB room, he is bigger than Brown, shifty and could be become our goal line back. He could beat out Perine as our 3rd down back. I like Sam, but this guy is younger and has the potential to be a 3 down RB in the NFL. He dropped to us only because the RB class in 2025 was insanely good. He can pass block, had a ton of yards the past 2 years and is a great receiving option.
The UFA class is being formulated. These rarely give us great players. I am hopeful the former Alabama and Ohio State center could be a great add. He is ranked number 1 UFA on a lot of boards. Karras is getting older so woul great to have his replacement on the roster.Karras is also in last year of his contract, so we now how 2 centers Peters can work with so in 2026 determine if Karras is deserving of another deal, if not can 1 of these 2 step in for him.
I don't do grades. I am hopeful Golden, Hodges, Montgomery and Peters got the guys they felt theu needed to get back to the playoffs. I may bein the minority, but feel an area the coaches are banking on CB is an unknown. I like the CB room, but Turner and Hill being hurt last year cost them experience and Hill recovering from an ACL can be tough only 1 year later.
Last, I see the team cutting/trading Pratt giving us an additional 5.2 million in cap space.If so, after injury funds, practice squad and going to 53 from 51, we should have a minimum of 18 million to spend in 2025 if they desire. I understand the team's position and feel it would be stupid to tear up the extension he sigened 2 years ago. However, I do hope the 2 sides can come to a reasonable extension increasing Trey's guaranteed money (right now only 15.8 million) give him. nice extra bonus in 2025, then give him his 30 million in 2026 and 2027, but only 40 to 50% guaranteed as he is 31 this year so hard for any team to give out guarantees like a guy is 27.
It will be intersting to see if we do sign a vet guard or roll with the draft picks and the existing guys. Will they look at a vet safety or CB? Or are they done with FA until final cutdowns or done period?
I think we have a playoff roster right now with no more moves. I hope this draft pans out, but as I said a lot of question marks.
![[Image: 4CV0TeR.png]](https://i.imgur.com/4CV0TeR.png)
Please use 2025 free agency to fix the trenches, not the draft!!!!!!!!
