04-27-2019, 09:35 AM
(04-27-2019, 12:55 AM)Bengalholic Wrote: I don't think it's just that Sample is a terrific inline blocker, which will be an important element - and specific need - in Taylor's offense. It's also that he's a very high character and work ethic guy, as well as being a film room junkie and a self proclaimed perfectionist in practice. I think all those things combined made Sample the pick. He fits what Taylor needs from a schematic point of view, but also from a locker room / culture mentality as well.
I can agree that he was picked too high based the on projections. He might have well been there in the 3rd. Hell, he might have still been available in the 4th. But, if Taylor views him as an important cog in his system and wanted to make sure he got him, I personally don't have an issue with them trading back and taking him in the 2nd, even if it's too high for him based on rankings.
While trading back seems to be the biggest gripe obviously The Bengals feel that Sample will give the team a new dynamic they didn't have last year. They also got an extra pick in round four. The total improvement that Sample and the other pick they got in the trade back will determine how this compared to just taking one player. Did they have this pick already penciled in and traded back for value? Smart. I think if we would get the #1 OT at #11 ahead of time we would be ecstatic. I believe having Sample will give the team a new type of threat that opposing defenses will have to adjust to. The third pick is going to shore up the weak linebacking corps. They are knocking it out of the park so far IMO.
