Looking ahead to 2017 draft

[SunsetBengal]

(05-15-2016, 03:34 PM)RagnarLothbrok Wrote: I think finding a suitable back up to warm up the pine is a good idea because you are right about there being absolutely no depth behind the starting pair, I don't think that it needs to be priority #1. There are a few variables that I think might warrant equal or greater consideration next year. 

We don't know who we are replacing Reggie Nelson with, though it is likely to be Williams. There is definitely going to be a drop off in production between Nelson and Williams and that is to be expected, but Williams might not be our long term answer. Then we turn our attention to center. We are in desperate need of an elite center and I hope Westerman can come in and challenge Bodine for the starting roll.

In conclusion, I can live with a few more seasons of Michael Johnson playing at a middle of the pack production. What we need to worry about is the drop off at safety and the lackluster production at center. Then again, I don't want to over draft for a need regardless of how much of a need it is.

I agree with most of what you say.  However, we all know that the Bengals haven't put a high draft pick value on the Safety position, in recent years.  They do, however consider DE to be a "premium" position, just below QB, OT, CB, and WR.  And let's not forget how screwed the team would be if Dunlap or Johnson were to go down with any sort of serious injury..