01-09-2018, 05:59 PM
(01-09-2018, 11:24 AM)ochocincos Wrote: I agree to some extent, but another problem is the Bengals don't utilize their players on rookie contracts enough and/or draft good enough players that can contribute within their first 1-2 years and be at least serviceable.
Meanwhile, you have the Saints and Falcons getting a TON of production from their recent draft picks from the past 2-3 years and it's why they've been as successful as they have been.
Bengals get as much, if not more, out of rookies and young players as the average NFL team.
These numbers do not include 2017, but they cover 10 years so it does not make much difference.
According to profootballreference over the last ten years there have been 227 different rookies who started at least 14 games. Since there are 32 teams that is an average of 7.1 per team. Over the last ten years the Bengals have 7 different rookies who have started at least 14 games.
When we expand it beyond just rookie seasons it does not change very much. Looking at the first three seasons of every player's career over the last 10 years there were 785 who had at least one season with at least 14 starts in his first three years. That is an average of 24.5 per team, and the Bengals have had 24.
233 players had two seasons with at least 14 starts in their first 3 years. That is an average of 7.6 per team and the Bengals have had 7.
Only 80 players started at least 14 games in each of their first three seasons. That is an average of 2.5 per team and the Bengals have had 3.
