04-24-2019, 11:07 AM
** I will not be giving a full breakdown of each player, but I'm willing to discuss each and why I placed them where I did. This was a last min thing for me and I wish I had more time this year to make it more detailed.
- Positional Need
- Scheme Fit / Flexibility
- Statistical Grading
- Athletic Testing
- Tape Review
- Eye Test
- Interviews
1. LINEBACKER
2. OFFENSIVE LINE
3. QUARTERBACK
4. DEFENSIVE END
5. TIGHT END
6. DEFENSIVE TACKLE
7. WIDE RECEIVER
8. CORNERBACK
9. SAFETY
10. KICKER
11. RUNNING BACK
* I packaged all offensive lineman into one package because honestly the whole unit is subpar and our best player on the line is on the last year of his contract and getting old.
** If you want to debate the need list I can give you my reasoning in the comments
1. DT QUINNEN WILLIAMS, ALABAMA
Maybe the best player I have ever scouted regardless of position. Generational prospect.
2. DE NICK BOSA, OHIO STATE -
Safest and best 4-3 pass rusher in the draft. Bloodline.
3. LB DEVIN WHITE, LSU
This was a hard pick because I almost value Devin Bush more at this point because of Positional IQ at this point. That said Devin White has the upside of potentially being a middle linebacker down the line and I love everything about him from a defensive captain perspective. Teammates love him, coaches love him, and he rides a horse. I will caution that he may never develop into a high IQ linebacker and could be a bust from a developmental perspective.
4. QB DWAYNE HASKINS, OHIO STATE
Reminds me of several Quarterbacks. Big Ben Body and Tom Brady arm and style of play, but he will need to develop to reach potential. What I like most about Haskins is that he takes what you give him and seems to have great reads on defenses. Still has work to do and only placed him this high because of positional importance/need.
5. TE T.J. HOCKENSON, IOWA
If I removed all positional need and importance on a team Hock would be my #2 in this entire draft. You simply cannot watch his tape without seeing the insane potential this kid has and he may be my favorite tight end prospect I've seen... ever. All pro potential. Great Blocker in run and pass. Some of the best hands in the draft regardless of position its almost like he has glue on his gloves. Great personality and Athlete. Extremely high character and work ethic. Yes, I totally have a man crush.
6. LB DEVIN BUSH, MICHIGAN
OLB with elite speed and nastiness. Great leader. Has the Bloodline. Out of the two Devin's I believe that Bush has the higher chance of being a perennial pro-bowler. He's basically Devin White with a lifetime of linebacker knowledge and a father who played the position in the NFL.
7. DT ED OLIVER, HOUSTON
Best 3-tech in the draft. The best first step of all defensive lineman in the draft. The only downside is we didn't consistently see it in college because of him playing out of position. Atkin's is getting old and he's a perfect future replacement.
8. DEXTER LAWRENCE, CLEMSON
I love Dexter Lawrence; He's big, he's nasty, and most athletic nose tackle I've ever seen coming out of college. He's basically more athletic version of Haloti Ngata which is kind of insane. I love his diversity to be a true nose or play 1-tech. Has the ability to collapse the pocket and the length to bring down quarterbacks without losing to the run. Dexter Lawrence is the perfect player to draw attention off of Atkins freeing him up for 1on1 situations. Athletically he ran as fast as Ndamukong Suh while being 40 pounds heavier and having a higher bench. [url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NgatHa20.htm#all_combine][/url]
9. OT JONAH WILLIAMS, ALABAMA
Jonah Williams is the most diverse lineman in this draft offering the most positional value across the offensive line. What he lacks athletically he makes up for being the most technically sound lineman in the draft. He can cover any holes we may have this season while offering us flexibility in future drafts.
10. DEFENSIVE END BRIAN BURNS, FLORIDA STATE
My second best pass rusher in this year's draft he probably has the best balance of all the prospects. Great spin mode, decent hands, and a great first step. With all that said Brian Burns is one of the few guys on my list that is a pure projection. He lacked consistency at the college level and most of what we saw on tape was him playing much lighter than he will at the NFL level. With all that said he does have the frame to carry the weight and he has a natural balance which could make him one of the best pass rushers in the NFL if he reaches his potential.
11. OT CODY FORD, OKLAHOMA
Cody Ford played RT on the best offensive line in college football this year and has probably the highest ceiling of all the Tackles in this year's draft. Big, Nasty, and Athletic; he has all the traits you want in a starting right tackle in the NFL with ideal Height, Weight, and Length. If he doesn't pan out then you kick him inside to guard and lose little to no value.
12. OT DALTON RISNER, KANSAS STATE
I really like Dalton Risner because of his versatility he's basically Jonah Williams 2.0, but nastier and more physicality to his game. The guy is a total stud offensive lineman. Maybe he should be my #2 OL heck maybe he should be my #1. Do not be surprised when the Patriots select him and he becomes a hall of fame offensive lineman.
13. CB BYRON MURPHY, WASHINGTON
I value good corners in the NFL and Murphy is one of the best in the draft. Doesn't have ideal long speed, but is great against the run and has that quick burst speed. He can play man, but is an ideal fit for zone coverage with the upside of versatility.
14. OT JAWAAN TAYLOR, FLORIDA
15. DT CHRISTIAN WILKINS, CLEMSON
16. G CHRIS LINDSTROM, BOSTON COLLEGE
If I'm drafting a pure guard in this year's draft Lindstrom is my guy.
17. C GARRETT BRADBURY, NC STATE
18. WR J.J. ARCEGA-WHITESIDE, STANFORD
Ideal WR #2 for the team with ideal measurables. Tested great at his pro day while having some of the best tapes considering the team he played on. I like guys who can catch everything thrown their way and he reminds me a lot of Housh in that way.
19. CB GREEDY WILLIAMS, LSU
Scheme fit is semi-questionable because he's primarily a man cover corner, but he can play zone as well. You just can't find guys with his measurables and athletic traits every day so he's my corner #2. LSU produces quality corner's but I question his mental toughness.
20. DT JEFFERY SIMMONS, MISSISSIPPI STATE
Full disclaimer I like Simmons a lot higher than this ranking would lead you to believe. I think he's every bit a top 10 talent in this year's draft, but he has an injury coming into his rookie season and you know how that usually ends up for the Bengals. Simmons is probably the most versatile defensive tackle on this list because he can possibly play in any formation anywhere along the line and still be productive.
21. QB DREW LOCK, MISSOURI
The highest ceiling of any quarterback in this year's draft, but that boom or bust factor pushes him down my list. He doesn't show up in big games and just doesn't seem like a winner. If it wasn't for positional value and his ceiling he wouldn't even be on the list.
22. CB ROCK YA-SIN, TEMPLE
I really like Rock as a man corner at the next level. Depending on our schemes next year he may be a guy to look at in the second round.
23. S DARNELL SAVAGE, MARYLAND
My favorite safety in the draft and a position we don't have a ton of depth at. Williams is getting older and Savage is an upgrade at every level for SS. Fits perfectly within a 4-2-5 scheme. He's also really fast and hits really hard... yeah I like those guys.
24. DT JERRY TILLERY, NOTRE DAME
25. CB DEANDRE BAKER, GEORGIA
26. G HJALTE FROHOLDT, ARKANSAS
27. EDGE CHASE WINOVICH, MICHIGAN
I cannot explain why I like Chase so much, but I really do. I think he's athletic enough you could play him standing up at OLB and he has an insane work ethic. Just to put this into perspective he played at the same position as Rashan Gary who may be one of the most athletic guys ever drafted and consistently outperformed him. I like his tape a lot and I like him as a person even more.
28. S JOHNATHAN ABRAM, MISSISSIPPI STATE
Darnell Savage but larger. These guys are really really close on my board.
29. ANDRE DILLARD, WASHINGTON STATE
What can I say about Dillard... I don't like him. The only reason I have him on my board at all is athletically he is gifted and he had great college stats, but I think of all the top offensive tackles in this year's draft he has the biggest bust potential. I am going against my own principals by even putting him on this list, but he has just enough physical traits and production at LT that I would draft him late in the second round.
30. LB BLAKE CASHMAN, MINNESOTA
31. WR ANDY ISABELLA, MASSACHUSETTS
32. RB DAVID MONTGOMERY, IOWA STATE
33. OT MAX SCHARPING, NORTHERN ILLINOIS
34. OT TYTUS HOWARD, ALABAMA STATE
35. S NASIR ADDERLEY, DELAWARE
36. S JUAN THORNHILL, VIRGINIA
37. EDGE MONTEZ SWEAT, MISSISSIPPI STATE
38. EDGE RASHAN GARY, MICHIGAN
39. TE NOAH FANT, IOWA
40. EDGE L.J. COLLIER, TCU
KYLER MURRAY - As you can see I did not include Kyler Murray on this list because under no circumstance would I draft him. First I don't think Murray would be a safe pick because of his status with baseball and the Bengals being a small market team; I highly doubt that he would continue playing football for our team after a couple losing seasons and would pursue a career in Baseball. The more important factor is that I have a bad gut feeling about him throughout the entire process leading up to the draft and I don't think he has the personality to be a leader.
JOSH ALLEN - I don't project him as highly going into the draft as nearly anyone, but my main reason for not listing him is he doesn't remotely fit a 4-3 defense and is truly a 3-4 OLB by my projection. I also feel that his college career will be much better than his NFL career and I wasn't necessarily impressed by the 2018 schedule and the offensive lineman he lined up against consistently.
To be continued...
MONTEZ SWEAT - This is a tough one for me because based on his physical traits alone he screams a more athletic Julius Peppers to me. The reason I have him falling is because of his tape which lacks technique and his medical concerns. I want him to be better with his hands and I want him to have a bend, but it doesn't show up on tape. He reminds me a lot of Michael Johnson in body type and you're hoping that his frame can fill out at a faster pace than MJ while retaining that speed. I just don't like any player with major medical concerns coming to the Bengals because we have such terrible luck with these players. The last thing I will mention is that while he was very productive in college he also played on the best defense in college football last year so a lot of his stats after review were the result of other players on the team.
RASHAN GARY - His tape is so ugly I'm considering dropping him from the list altogether. If it wasn't for his absolute freakish athleticism he would be a 6th round pick. I would take him in the 3rd round at most.
To be continued...
To be continued...
HOW I MADE MY SELECTIONS
- Positional Need
- Scheme Fit / Flexibility
- Statistical Grading
- Athletic Testing
- Tape Review
- Eye Test
- Interviews
TOP POSITIONS OF NEED
1. LINEBACKER
2. OFFENSIVE LINE
3. QUARTERBACK
4. DEFENSIVE END
5. TIGHT END
6. DEFENSIVE TACKLE
7. WIDE RECEIVER
8. CORNERBACK
9. SAFETY
10. KICKER
11. RUNNING BACK
* I packaged all offensive lineman into one package because honestly the whole unit is subpar and our best player on the line is on the last year of his contract and getting old.
** If you want to debate the need list I can give you my reasoning in the comments
THE LIST
**THIS LIST WILL NOT INCLUDE ALL PLAYERS FOR A MULTITUDE OF REASONS, BUT MOST HAVE TO DO WITH SCHEME FIT. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK ABOUT ANY SPECIFIC PLAYER AND I WILL EXPLAIN MY REASONING WHY THEY DID NOT MAKE THE LIST. THIS LIST ONLY INCLUDES MY TOP 40 AND DOESN'T GO INTO THE LATER PICKS. IF I HAVE TIME I WILL GO BACK AND HIGHLIGHT SOME GUYS LATER IN THE DRAFT THAT IM HIGH ON OUTSIDE OF THE LIST.
1. DT QUINNEN WILLIAMS, ALABAMA
Maybe the best player I have ever scouted regardless of position. Generational prospect.
2. DE NICK BOSA, OHIO STATE -
Safest and best 4-3 pass rusher in the draft. Bloodline.
3. LB DEVIN WHITE, LSU
This was a hard pick because I almost value Devin Bush more at this point because of Positional IQ at this point. That said Devin White has the upside of potentially being a middle linebacker down the line and I love everything about him from a defensive captain perspective. Teammates love him, coaches love him, and he rides a horse. I will caution that he may never develop into a high IQ linebacker and could be a bust from a developmental perspective.
4. QB DWAYNE HASKINS, OHIO STATE
Reminds me of several Quarterbacks. Big Ben Body and Tom Brady arm and style of play, but he will need to develop to reach potential. What I like most about Haskins is that he takes what you give him and seems to have great reads on defenses. Still has work to do and only placed him this high because of positional importance/need.
5. TE T.J. HOCKENSON, IOWA
If I removed all positional need and importance on a team Hock would be my #2 in this entire draft. You simply cannot watch his tape without seeing the insane potential this kid has and he may be my favorite tight end prospect I've seen... ever. All pro potential. Great Blocker in run and pass. Some of the best hands in the draft regardless of position its almost like he has glue on his gloves. Great personality and Athlete. Extremely high character and work ethic. Yes, I totally have a man crush.
6. LB DEVIN BUSH, MICHIGAN
OLB with elite speed and nastiness. Great leader. Has the Bloodline. Out of the two Devin's I believe that Bush has the higher chance of being a perennial pro-bowler. He's basically Devin White with a lifetime of linebacker knowledge and a father who played the position in the NFL.
7. DT ED OLIVER, HOUSTON
Best 3-tech in the draft. The best first step of all defensive lineman in the draft. The only downside is we didn't consistently see it in college because of him playing out of position. Atkin's is getting old and he's a perfect future replacement.
8. DEXTER LAWRENCE, CLEMSON
I love Dexter Lawrence; He's big, he's nasty, and most athletic nose tackle I've ever seen coming out of college. He's basically more athletic version of Haloti Ngata which is kind of insane. I love his diversity to be a true nose or play 1-tech. Has the ability to collapse the pocket and the length to bring down quarterbacks without losing to the run. Dexter Lawrence is the perfect player to draw attention off of Atkins freeing him up for 1on1 situations. Athletically he ran as fast as Ndamukong Suh while being 40 pounds heavier and having a higher bench. [url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NgatHa20.htm#all_combine][/url]
9. OT JONAH WILLIAMS, ALABAMA
Jonah Williams is the most diverse lineman in this draft offering the most positional value across the offensive line. What he lacks athletically he makes up for being the most technically sound lineman in the draft. He can cover any holes we may have this season while offering us flexibility in future drafts.
10. DEFENSIVE END BRIAN BURNS, FLORIDA STATE
My second best pass rusher in this year's draft he probably has the best balance of all the prospects. Great spin mode, decent hands, and a great first step. With all that said Brian Burns is one of the few guys on my list that is a pure projection. He lacked consistency at the college level and most of what we saw on tape was him playing much lighter than he will at the NFL level. With all that said he does have the frame to carry the weight and he has a natural balance which could make him one of the best pass rushers in the NFL if he reaches his potential.
11. OT CODY FORD, OKLAHOMA
Cody Ford played RT on the best offensive line in college football this year and has probably the highest ceiling of all the Tackles in this year's draft. Big, Nasty, and Athletic; he has all the traits you want in a starting right tackle in the NFL with ideal Height, Weight, and Length. If he doesn't pan out then you kick him inside to guard and lose little to no value.
12. OT DALTON RISNER, KANSAS STATE
I really like Dalton Risner because of his versatility he's basically Jonah Williams 2.0, but nastier and more physicality to his game. The guy is a total stud offensive lineman. Maybe he should be my #2 OL heck maybe he should be my #1. Do not be surprised when the Patriots select him and he becomes a hall of fame offensive lineman.
13. CB BYRON MURPHY, WASHINGTON
I value good corners in the NFL and Murphy is one of the best in the draft. Doesn't have ideal long speed, but is great against the run and has that quick burst speed. He can play man, but is an ideal fit for zone coverage with the upside of versatility.
14. OT JAWAAN TAYLOR, FLORIDA
15. DT CHRISTIAN WILKINS, CLEMSON
16. G CHRIS LINDSTROM, BOSTON COLLEGE
If I'm drafting a pure guard in this year's draft Lindstrom is my guy.
17. C GARRETT BRADBURY, NC STATE
18. WR J.J. ARCEGA-WHITESIDE, STANFORD
Ideal WR #2 for the team with ideal measurables. Tested great at his pro day while having some of the best tapes considering the team he played on. I like guys who can catch everything thrown their way and he reminds me a lot of Housh in that way.
19. CB GREEDY WILLIAMS, LSU
Scheme fit is semi-questionable because he's primarily a man cover corner, but he can play zone as well. You just can't find guys with his measurables and athletic traits every day so he's my corner #2. LSU produces quality corner's but I question his mental toughness.
20. DT JEFFERY SIMMONS, MISSISSIPPI STATE
Full disclaimer I like Simmons a lot higher than this ranking would lead you to believe. I think he's every bit a top 10 talent in this year's draft, but he has an injury coming into his rookie season and you know how that usually ends up for the Bengals. Simmons is probably the most versatile defensive tackle on this list because he can possibly play in any formation anywhere along the line and still be productive.
21. QB DREW LOCK, MISSOURI
The highest ceiling of any quarterback in this year's draft, but that boom or bust factor pushes him down my list. He doesn't show up in big games and just doesn't seem like a winner. If it wasn't for positional value and his ceiling he wouldn't even be on the list.
22. CB ROCK YA-SIN, TEMPLE
I really like Rock as a man corner at the next level. Depending on our schemes next year he may be a guy to look at in the second round.
23. S DARNELL SAVAGE, MARYLAND
My favorite safety in the draft and a position we don't have a ton of depth at. Williams is getting older and Savage is an upgrade at every level for SS. Fits perfectly within a 4-2-5 scheme. He's also really fast and hits really hard... yeah I like those guys.
24. DT JERRY TILLERY, NOTRE DAME
25. CB DEANDRE BAKER, GEORGIA
26. G HJALTE FROHOLDT, ARKANSAS
27. EDGE CHASE WINOVICH, MICHIGAN
I cannot explain why I like Chase so much, but I really do. I think he's athletic enough you could play him standing up at OLB and he has an insane work ethic. Just to put this into perspective he played at the same position as Rashan Gary who may be one of the most athletic guys ever drafted and consistently outperformed him. I like his tape a lot and I like him as a person even more.
28. S JOHNATHAN ABRAM, MISSISSIPPI STATE
Darnell Savage but larger. These guys are really really close on my board.
29. ANDRE DILLARD, WASHINGTON STATE
What can I say about Dillard... I don't like him. The only reason I have him on my board at all is athletically he is gifted and he had great college stats, but I think of all the top offensive tackles in this year's draft he has the biggest bust potential. I am going against my own principals by even putting him on this list, but he has just enough physical traits and production at LT that I would draft him late in the second round.
30. LB BLAKE CASHMAN, MINNESOTA
31. WR ANDY ISABELLA, MASSACHUSETTS
32. RB DAVID MONTGOMERY, IOWA STATE
33. OT MAX SCHARPING, NORTHERN ILLINOIS
34. OT TYTUS HOWARD, ALABAMA STATE
35. S NASIR ADDERLEY, DELAWARE
36. S JUAN THORNHILL, VIRGINIA
37. EDGE MONTEZ SWEAT, MISSISSIPPI STATE
38. EDGE RASHAN GARY, MICHIGAN
39. TE NOAH FANT, IOWA
40. EDGE L.J. COLLIER, TCU
PLAYERS OFF THE LIST
KYLER MURRAY - As you can see I did not include Kyler Murray on this list because under no circumstance would I draft him. First I don't think Murray would be a safe pick because of his status with baseball and the Bengals being a small market team; I highly doubt that he would continue playing football for our team after a couple losing seasons and would pursue a career in Baseball. The more important factor is that I have a bad gut feeling about him throughout the entire process leading up to the draft and I don't think he has the personality to be a leader.
JOSH ALLEN - I don't project him as highly going into the draft as nearly anyone, but my main reason for not listing him is he doesn't remotely fit a 4-3 defense and is truly a 3-4 OLB by my projection. I also feel that his college career will be much better than his NFL career and I wasn't necessarily impressed by the 2018 schedule and the offensive lineman he lined up against consistently.
To be continued...
PLAYERS WHO I HAVE RANKED REALLY LOW
MONTEZ SWEAT - This is a tough one for me because based on his physical traits alone he screams a more athletic Julius Peppers to me. The reason I have him falling is because of his tape which lacks technique and his medical concerns. I want him to be better with his hands and I want him to have a bend, but it doesn't show up on tape. He reminds me a lot of Michael Johnson in body type and you're hoping that his frame can fill out at a faster pace than MJ while retaining that speed. I just don't like any player with major medical concerns coming to the Bengals because we have such terrible luck with these players. The last thing I will mention is that while he was very productive in college he also played on the best defense in college football last year so a lot of his stats after review were the result of other players on the team.
RASHAN GARY - His tape is so ugly I'm considering dropping him from the list altogether. If it wasn't for his absolute freakish athleticism he would be a 6th round pick. I would take him in the 3rd round at most.
To be continued...
STANDOUT PLAYERS
To be continued...
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