Wasn't a fan. With draft grades!

[Whatever]

(04-30-2017, 09:56 PM)Benton Wrote: I thought it would be easier and less of a derailment for other existing Draft Grade threads to go with my own post draft thread. I made no bones before the draft of how I felt about a few people, and I haven't hidden the fact after the draft that I'm disappointed with the direction we went.
Sooo... I'll go pick by pick on why this wasn't a draft I cared much for. The grades are mostly low, but I'll explain why with each.

Pick 1 — John Ross. My Grade: D
This one is a mix of reasons, moreso than most of the rest.
First up is just overall team need. We needed DL and there were several good ones on the board. We could've gone with a standout LB, even though I don't think it's a huge need. We could've gone safety and improved that spot. We could've gone TE given the question mark there.
But instead we went wide receiver. Despite having several recent picks there, a re-signed FA and one of the leagues best. As far as picking to fill a need, this was an F.
Then there's Ross himself. He's not a bad receiver, but he is reliant on his speed at this point (cutting him some slack, he is a rookie) and doesn't have a lot outside of that. That's not a bad thing as speed is touchdowns. It is a bad thing with a guy who has a history of injuries that could hinder the speed.
In other words, he's a boom or bust pick. Just like Ogbuehi a couple years ago. I hated that pick, too, not because he was injured, but because the injury meant he was going to be years away from contirbuting. It takes time to condition and learn. Ogbeuhi was nowhere near ready, or worthy of the pick.
Ross is similar in that regard.
If he stays healthy (long-term), he's got a short window to get healthy (there was already draft  talk of PUP), learn the spot, and contribute... and learn how to be more than just a fast guy. Because that window will be short. Oh, and lots of guys have injury concerns. But this is the Bengals... our injury history with guys isn't glowing.
And yeah, when that window is open, he could be a game changer as far as opening up the long ball. Looking back over the Marvin years, it will be a surprise if he's used that way.

Pick 2 — Joe Mixon: C
A mix here, too.
There is not a better back who fit the Bengals scheme than Joe Mixon. The biggest problem was, again, he wasn't a huge need. And, like Ross, probably a reach for when he was picked. The team could've dropped back and picked him up later... just like Ross.
With the needs we had and who was available, he wasn't a good pick.
As far as Who is Joe Mixon and the divisiveness that comes with it, I'll say this: people who complain about the crap the Bengals get for being a team of thugs, but cheer the Mixon pick... you can't have your cake and eat it, too. If we're going to keep Pacman, Mixon, Vontez and others who stumble along the way, we're going to keep that reputation.
Personally, I don't have a big issue with it. Just realize, Joe Mixon is no different than Ray Rice. And only one team took the high ground there.

Pick 3 — Jordan Willis: (not a shocker to many) A
Finally, a pick at a place where we're woefully short on talent. Willis is a good player who should have gone earlier in the draft. He should see some considerable playing time in a season or two, and could get worked into the mix some next season. Probably the only player I really felt improved the team at a position that needed improving.

Pick 4 — Carl Lawson: C
Position of need, so it goes up a bit. But another with a history of injury.
I took some flack a few years ago when I criticized taking Luigs. At the time I said I doubted he would ever play in the NFL for much the same reason I doubt Lawson will: his hips.
Unlike Ross, I'm not overly worried about his knee. But Lawson plays with stiff hips.
Which is too bad. If it's a lingering injury issue, that doesn't bode well for becoming a pro. If not, then it's (hopefully) something that be coached out of him.

Pick 5 — Josh Malone: D
Not a bad player, but it's like our approach to corners. We're just trhowing darts and hoarding players. Malone will probably make the team given the position of his pick, but unless there's an injury, it's doubtful he makes it too far up the depth chart.
We aren't going five wide. We won't see Malone if everyone stays healthy. Why not take a pick at a spot of need?
Just a head scratcher.

Pick 6 — Ryan Glasgow: B
Another position of need. Most likely a rotational guy, but not bad depth. Most likely will give Billings a breather, but I'm not sold on Billings, either.

Pick 7— Jake Elliot: C
We needed a kicker, we took a kicker. Seemed high as he doesn't seem like a standout... even for a kicker... but at least we did something to fill a need.

Pick 8 — JJ Deilman: F
Another big need, another guy with injury concerns. Not entirely surprised with picking a guy who is projected to be a C/G. I just thought they'd pick a better one.
I will be surprised if he's here in 3 years.

Pick 9, 10, 11 — D
Camp bodies. Not much to get excited about. Given the laundry list of linemen, TE, WR and CB, doubtful any of these guys are here next year.



Soooo, there ya go. I felt good about last year's draft. I hated the year before and I liked this one even left. We didn't address needs, we took some gambles (health-wise) for the future and we added another target for league/media scorn. All in all, not what I was expecting in a draft where we had high picks and a lot of talent at areas of need.

1.I would make the argument here that DL being a bigger need than WR is a highly subjective point of view.  In fact, it is impossible to make that argument statistically.  We were tied for 19th in sacks last year and 26th in passing TD's.  To further that point, we were 8th in scoring defense last year and 24th in scoring offense.  I realise that some favor the "build through the trenches" philosophy or the "build a dominant defense" philosophy, but unbiased statistical analysis would indicate that offense was a bigger need than defense.  Your critique of this pick also fails to take into account larger draft strategy.  This draft was very deep with pass rushers, and they took the WR that would have a great immediate impact over the pass rusher because they knew they could get a quality DE later and would not be able to get an impact player at WR later.

As far as the critique of Ross as a player, I see some valid concerns and some false statements.  He led the nation in red zone TD's last year with 12, which debunks the "he's nothing but speed" critique.  He has great agility and quickness, and does a great job of using jab steps to get DB's out of position.  His knees are currently healthy, although I understand some degree of concern going forward.  He played through his shoulder injury since week 5 and waited until after his Pro Day to have surgery, and he said in his news conference after the draft that he will be ready for TC.  It should also be noted that the top rated LB and S at that pick have also had shoulder surgery during the off-season.

2.I can't really see how RB wasn't a need with Burkhead's departure, Gio's injury, Hill's decline, and the overall poor performance of the offense last year.  We traded back once in 2nd round and there is no guarantee Mixon would have been there had we done so again or if anyone was even interested in moving up into that spot.  If we're going to talk "having our cake and eating it too," I think it's a little unfair to bag on Ross and Lawson over long term health concerns, but say RB isn't a big need when our best one is coming off of major knee surgery.

3.The fact that a player of Willis' caliber was available here goes a long way to validate the Bengals going offense with the first two picks.  Their draft strategy worked.

4.Lawson is a great talent who fell due to his health concerns.  However, with the Bengals drafting him after Willis, they hedged their bets with him.  If he stays healthy, we have a monster DE rotation.  If he doesn't, we still have Willis.  With 12 picks, they could afford to spend a 4th on a high risk/high reward prospect at a position of need.

5.Our WR depth was frankly poor going into the draft.  James Wright was good enough to make the team last year, for pete's sake, and he contributed nothing.  Our #3 through #6 WR's combined for one TD over 16 games, and that's with missing the #1 WR for a month.  Malone has the physical tools to be a big time contributer if they can polish his route running.  Quality competition at any position group is never a bad thing.

6.Noticing a trend, here.  

7.Simply put, there wasn't a player at another position that would have the impact as a rookie that Elliott will if he beats out Bullock.

8.Dielman is probably my least favorite pick, but if you honestly thought there was a C in this draft that was going to be able to come in and upgrade Bodine, you either vastly overrated this C class or vastly underrated Bodine.