Before You Go Over Board Remember The Past

[*SHRacerX*]

(04-30-2017, 10:38 PM)GodFather Wrote: So far it seems like everyone thought we overwhelmingly hit a homer with this years draft giving the Bengals an A overall by the board poll. I absolutely remember though this being the case for the past few years and everyone getting so excited by the draft choices and thinking the Bengals were going far from such draft choices. (to be fair critic grades too)

But were they so great? Here is the past two years to reflect on the Bengal choices. Do you still give them that overwhelming "A" that was perceived in 2015/2016? (Im not talking individual posters but as a whole instead as it should be)

Why am I bringing this up? Because this is usually the reaction every year with very different outcomes as the season began on expectations.

Do I think we had a "great A grade" draft this year? No way, but I also don't think we had a bad one either. There are so many factors involved in the success of these players that its hard to see how they will perform this year, one being coaching and I don't even want to go there because it would warrant its own thread and has already been talked to death.



2015 Draft

1 Cedric Ogbuehi OT
2 Jake Fisher OT
3 Tyler Kroft TE
3 Paul Dawson LB
4 Josh Shaw DB
4 Marcus Hardison DL
5 C.J. Uzomah TE
6 Derron Smith S
7 Mario Alford WR

2016 Draft

1 William Jackson III CB
2 Tyler Boyd WR
3 Nick "Rattail" Vigil LB
4 Andrew Billings DT
5 Christian Westerman OG
6 Cody Core WR
7 Clayton Fejedelem S

I think I was pretty disappointed with the 2015 draft because of the lack of addressing the DE position.  Although he had vertical speed, I was not so sure about the Alford pick and was hoping for an earlier selection of a WR.  I also felt like they ignored the LB position and Burfict needed a faster option to pair with him in nickel packages.

2016 came and I was thrilled with the picks of WJIII, Billings, Core, and Fej.  Westerman made sense, but I figured he was more of a depth player and potential competition for Bodine.  Then, before the season began, injuries took WJIII, Billings, and Hardison (again).  I can't knock a draft due to injuries,  but I look at this upcoming season with such enthusiasm for a couple reasons. The talent haul from the 2017 draft combined with the return of WJIII, Billings, and Hardison gives the team a significant infusion of young, fast talent.  Special teams will be better.  There will be more competition at a number of position groups.  

If our players can stay healthy, we absolutely get an A for this draft.  Some was luck (Brandon Wilson at the end of the 6th, Carl Lawson at our pick in the 4th), some was smarts (taking Ross, Willis. Malone, Glasgow), and some disappointed me (Mixon, but I can't argue against the talent), but they have a nice group of young, fast, talented players that can improve our team in a number of position groups.