The Draft you may not want but the Bengals Need

[OSUfan]

Many may not admit it but the Bengals have set themselves up well for this draft and the defense is not as bad as it appeared last season. I would think that most would agree that the need to address some areas such as interior offensive line, edge, and defensive backfield but may not agree on what the order of that importance is. This MDD simulation I think represents my priorities for this roster very well and I believe this is a draft that would serve them very well.

   
   

[Whatever]

There's not a G in this class that's worth a 1st round pick, imo. Booker is pure gap-power only and not a scheme fit. If you put a gun to my head and forced me to take a G in the first, it would be Jackson, not Booker.

Millum was so bad at the Senior Bowl, it would be tough to take him before Day 3, and I was a big fan of his early in the draft process. If you're taking a G on Day 2, to me, they need to be able to play immediately and Millum is at least a year away.

Between Dax, CTB, Turner, Ivey, and Newton, there's not room on the roster for two draft picks at CB.

[OSUfan]

When the Bengals went on the clock at 17 there were many directions that they could have went but ultimately I felt the best target for this franchise is on the interior of the offensive line. With the players that were still on the board and the needs of other teams below them I felt rather confident that the Bengals could make a trade that would still allow them to select their target as well as and vitally important capitol later in the draft.

Houston offered their 1st, 2nd, and a 7th round selection to move up to 17th which was equal to them giving up a low 3rd selection to move up. The Bengals accepted this trade and Houston used the selection to draft Josh Simmons OT from The Ohio State.


RD. 1 - 25th Selection:




Tyler Booker - G - Alabama - 6'5" 321


This selection is huge for the Bengals just like the stature of the player selected. Booker is dominant on the interior of the offensive line and this is a selection for the immediate health as well as longevity of Joe Burrow. The Bengals had two of the worst graded guards in the NFL starting for them in '24 and that has to change. The extensions of Chase and Higgins are for naught if Burrow cannot be kept upright.

Booker is long, strong, and large and has drawn comparison to John Simpson who graded out basically as a top 15 guard in the NFL last season. When you watch film on Booker you quickly realize that the player that is his responsibility is a non factor during the play. He plays with a nasty disposition and is not looking to just finish but to finish with his assignment on their backs. Booker plays with outstanding technique and has displayed an extremely high football IQ on the field. 

This may not be the first round selection that some want but it is the one that the Bengals need.

RD. 2 - 49th Selection:



Xavier Watts - S - Notre Dame - 6'0" 204


Watts should prove to be the tandem player the Bengals have been looking for to pair with Battle and provides the coverage presence that the Bengals lost with Bates. Watts brings elite ball skills to the safety position and should be the guy to help the Bengals neutralize the TEs and Backs that they notoriously have trouble covering. Watts is not a thumper and will need to continue to improve his tackling technique but should be a great addition to the backend of this defense. During his time for the Irish it was a rare occasion to see Watts draw a flag as he is absolutely sound in his techniques.

RD. 2 - 58th Selection:



Landon Jackson - DE - Arkansas - 6'6" 264


The Bengals need to look to the near future on the edge and in Jackson the land an ascending talent that has the size and speed that you cannot teach. Jackson has put on 40 solid pounds since arriving at Arkansas and while raw has traits and skills that lend themselves to success as a 4-3 edge rusher. Jackson plays with outstanding motor and has the speed to give tackles real problems in the NFL. Jackson will need to continue to develop but there is nothing that jumps out to make one believe he will not continue to rise. He is not a natural bender so his speed on the edge will need to be his strength over leverage at the next level.

RD. 3 - 81st Selection:



Wyatt Milum - G - West Virginia - 6'6.5" 313


Milum is a tough, strong, and high football IQ selection. While he played LT for West Virginia it seems that he is destined to move inside in the NFL due to his lack of length. However, he seems extremely open to this move from his interviews at the combine and at the Senior Bowl where he worked as a guard and he even stated that he was open to taking snaps at center if that is where a team needed him. The Bengals select him with the intent to move him inside to RG where his physical mauling style of football should serve them well. The Bengals acquiring Patrick in free agency give the Bengals an option if the feel Milum is not ready in the transition on opening day but from what he displayed at the Senior Bowl it should not be an issue.

RD. 4 - 119th Selection:



Jacob Parrish - CB - K State - 5'10" 191


Getting Parrish with the 119th selection could be a real steal for the Bengals. Parrish started two seasons for K State and brings outstanding speed and ball skills to the position. Parrish needs to continue to develop in the run game but he is willing to stick his nose in there and is not afraid of the physicality. Parrish has displayed really smooth hips and feet in transition as well as the ability to diagnose routes which allows him to stay in phase with the receiver. Excellent addition to the backfield of this defense and an extreme value in the 4th round.

RD. 5 - 153rd Selection:






Nohl Williams - CB - California - 6'0" 199


I had no intention of going to back to back on corners but I never expected a value such as Williams to be sitting there with the 153rd selection. Williams is a bona fide ball hawk who has amassed 14 INTs at Cal with 7 of them coming in '24. With that said he will need to clean up his technique to avoid PI penalties at the next level. Given the struggles the Bengals had last season in coverage this is a low risk high reward selection. His elite ball skills and play speed go along with physicality at the position. If they can clean up his hands in coverage he could be a real difference maker in the secondary.

RD. 6 - 193rd Selection:






Nick Nash - WR - San Jose State - 6'2.5" 203


Nash comes out of San Jose State with a wealth of production and was finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, which many say he should have won over Travis Hunter, as well Nash had the collegiate triple crown. He led the nation with 16 receiving TDs while still learning the position as he came to college as a QB. Nash has displayed outstanding ball skills and competitiveness at the position and is talked about as a high character and his peers speak of him as a natural leader and as a player that has the "it" factor. This is an ascending talent that there was no way to pass on at this point in the draft because I really do not see him falling this far in the draft.

RD. 7 - 236th Selection:






Howard Cross III - DT - Notre Dame - 6'1" 285


I have made this selection in other simulations because it makes great sense for the Bengals. Al Golden gets a pivotal part of his Irish defense in Cross who brings NFL pedigree to is outstanding interior pash rush skills. Cross may not be a three down interior player but he brings inside passing down production that the Bengals could sorely use. Jenkins and Cross on the interior on passing downs could be the duo that helps elevate this defense. Cross wins with explosion and twitch that are translatable to the NFL. 

[OSUfan]

(03-22-2025, 04:24 PM)Whatever Wrote: There's not a G in this class that's worth a 1st round pick, imo.  Booker is pure gap-power only and not a scheme fit.  If you put a gun to my head and forced me to take a G in the first, it would be Jackson, not Booker.  

Millum was so bad at the Senior Bowl, it would be tough to take him before Day 3, and I was a big fan of his early in the draft process.  If you're taking a G on Day 2, to me, they need to be able to play immediately and Millum is at least a year away.  

Between Dax, CTB, Turner, Ivey, and Newton, there's not room on the roster for two draft picks at CB.

Film would absolutely disagree with you on your assessment of Booker. You appear to be translating size to scheme fit. I am as big an Ohio State fan as you can find but I am taking Booker over Jackson. This mentality that guards are not worth a first round selection are what will get Burrow injured.

There is not a corner on the Bengals roster that has shown themselves to be exempt from replacement. Without competition a roster never improves. If you wish to elevate a roster then you have to draft or sign player to push those on your roster.

I would hope that several seasons of tape provide more data for a player than a Senior Bowl performance does.

[sandwedge]

I like it a lot, I was actually watching video on Landon Jackson this morning.
I get you like Parrish, I see him in most of your mocks. Nothing wrong with having another Parrish in our defensive backfield again!

[Whatever]

(03-22-2025, 05:04 PM)OSUfan Wrote: Film would absolutely disagree with you on your assessment of Booker. You appear to be translating size to scheme fit. I am as big an Ohio State fan as you can find but I am taking Booker over Jackson. This mentality that guards are not worth a first round selection are what will get Burrow injured.

There is not a corner on the Bengals roster that has shown themselves to be exempt from replacement. Without competition a roster never improves. If you wish to elevate a roster then you have to draft or sign player to push those on your roster.

I would hope that several seasons of tape provide more data for a player than a Senior Bowl performance does.

Booker's film backs up the fact that he's a pure gap-power only prospect.  I'm not saying that a G is never worth a 1st.  I'm saying there is no G in this class worth a 1st, especially one with a pathetic 3.93 RAS.  You can't just draft a G because you want to draft a player for that position group.  They have to fit what you're doing, offensively.  Booker doesn't.  

How much competition do you really expect out of a pair of Day 3 picks versus guys with years of NFL experience and a number of starts under their belts?


WVU runs a no-huddle offense and runs 57% of the time, which is nothing like a pro style offense.  When forced into true pass set reps at the Senior Bowl, Millum got eaten alive at both T and G.  I think he's talented and could develop into a good player, but he's going to be a project.  

[OSUfan]

(03-22-2025, 05:37 PM)Whatever Wrote: Booker's film backs up the fact that he's a pure gap-power only prospect.  I'm not saying that a G is never worth a 1st.  I'm saying there is no G in this class worth a 1st, especially one with a pathetic 3.93 RAS.  You can't just draft a G because you want to draft a player for that position group.  They have to fit what you're doing, offensively.  Booker doesn't.  

How much competition do you really expect out of a pair of Day 3 picks versus guys with years of NFL experience and a number of starts under their belts?


WVU runs a no-huddle offense and runs 57% of the time, which is nothing like a pro style offense.  When forced into true pass set reps at the Senior Bowl, Millum got eaten alive at both T and G.  I think he's talented and could develop into a good player, but he's going to be a project.  

I totally get what you are saying and I am getting ready to post a new simulation taking your critique into account. I look forward to seeing what you think of it.

[BFritz21]

Not a Booker fan and I'd go interior defensive line earlier because I think stopping the run should be a top priority this season because it stops the other team from controlling the game.

Not bad otherwise.