Your 2025 Draft Grade: The Poll

[Whatever]

(9 hours ago)Luvnit2 Wrote: I know many fans think we are worse after free agency. It is just one take and of course not the know all about 2025. NFL.com power rankins has us 12th after the draft.

https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-power-rankings-post-2025-nfl-draft-who-s-up-down

"I think the theme is they love football, all six of these guys," head coach Zac Taylor said of his 2025 draft class. And the comment didn't come off as typical post-draft fodder to me; it felt more like an indirect statement on what happened in 2024, which was a cavalcade of drama, disputes and unrealized expectations in what became a more chaotic situation in Cincinnati. The Bengals were Super Bowl contenders, except for the winning part, and that was part of the problem. The team spent the offseason focused on players who wanted to be there and players the front office and coaches wanted there, and the draft carried that forward with a haul of hungry, talented and motivated players at need positions. We'll see what happens with reigning NFL sack king Trey Hendrickson, because the last thing Cincy needs is another protracted contract squabble entering training camp, but the Bengals can't be forgotten as one of the more talented outfits out there.

I'm not really sure how we could logically say we are worse than last year.

QB=No change 

RB=Lost Williams and Herbert, added Perrine and Brooks.  Arguably, slightly better, as Williams was a liability as a position player.

WR=No change

TE=Slightly worse, due to All's injury and no real replacement.

T=Lost Brown and Smith, added Rivers.  On paper, this looks like we're worse, but then when you factor in the fact that Smith was on IR all year and Brown was injured early, it really seems to be zero sum.

G=Lost Cappa, added Patrick and Fairchild.  Honestly, it would be tough for Patrick or anyone else to be as bad as Cappa was last year. Tough to say how much of an upgrade Fairchild will be over Volson as a rookie, but overall, this group is at least slightly better on paper, arguably significantly better.

C=No change 

DE=Lost Hubbard, added Stewart.  All the respect in the world to Sam, but it was painfully obvious he had nothing left to give last year.  The play at LDE improved significantly as Ossai and Murphy got more snaps.  Stewart struggled to get sacks in college, but tough to imagine him being as bad as Hubbard was.  Slightly better, potentially a lot better if Stewart can be coached up to finish.

DT=Lost Rankins, Tufele, added Slayton.  Slayton I feel is an underrated add simply from the standpoint that he will allow Hill to move back to his more natural 3 tech spot.  Rankins was a non-entity before getting injured and Tufele was a low end rotation guy.  My gut says they will be better, but I'll call it a push for now due to the group appearing thinner on paper.

LB=Lost ADG, Bachie, added Burks, Knight, Carter.  ADG was a solid sub package player and spot starter.  Bachie primarily played on ST's.  To me, we look significantly better on paper, with how much so being determined by how quickly the rookies catch on.

CB=Lost Hilton.  This is one position that looks worse on paper, but it's also important to note that this group was ravaged by injuries last year, and may play better on the whole if they can stay healthy.  

S=Lost Bell.  This group is slightly worse on paper.  Bell, much like Hubbard, looked like a shell of himself last year and will only be missed from a depth perspective.

Specialists=No change