Sunday MDD Simulation

[OSUfan]

It seems to be a consensus with Bengals fans that improving the defensive front on the edge and offensive line are the two biggest concerns at this point. It also appears that the prospects at guard in the first round are not a strong group. As physical as Booker from Bama is he may not be a great fit for a scheme outside of a power blocking front. Being a diehard Buckeyes fan I still would not take Donovan Jackson in the first round. With these things considered the following is how the  Mock Draft Database simulation played out...

When the Bengals went on the clock there were several targets on the board to include Will Johnson, Mike Green, James Pearce Jr., and Colston Loveland. Detroit offered very good trade package which amounted in the Lions giving up a high 4th round selection to move up. The Bengals accepted the trade and this is how it went.

   

[OSUfan]

RD. 1 - 28th Selection:



Donavan Ezeiruka - DE - Boston College - 6'2.5" 248

When this selection was made Mike Green was as well still in play. These guys are almost identical players with Green maybe a bit stronger but Donovan having more length. What made this decision for me was Donovan being a team captain at Boston College and Mike Green being dismissed from Virginia with two allegations of sexual assault. I am not saying he was guilty but I believe that decision making can put you in a position for such allegations to be made or not made.

When I watch film on Ezeiruka it takes me back to watching Dwight Freeney playing the edge for the Colts. Donovan won the Ted Hendricks Award, ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and was voted 1st Team All ACC. He was in the top 3 for every major defensive category for defensive linemen and he led all edge rushers at the combine in the short shuttle and 3 cone drill. His explosion and quickness can make for matchup nightmares for offensive tackles. Donovan should add some strength and bulk naturally with an NFL training program and should see passing rushing snaps early.

RD. 2 - 49th Selection:





Tate Ratledge - G - Georgia - 6'6.5" 308

As much as I like Booker and Jackson as guard prospects I would put Ratledge right there with them. With this selection the Bengals add a really good pure guard prospect while teaming him up with his former RT in Mims. Ratledge brings a physical finisher mentality to the position and should slide in day 1 at RG. His football IQ, toughness, physicality, and technique should provide the Bengals with a long term solution at RG for the Bengals.

RD. 2 - 60th Selection:





Quinshon Judkins - RB - The Ohio State - 6'0" 221

I had no intention of selecting a RB at this point in the draft but Judkins was the highest rated prospect on the board and was a better value than others that were available. With that said I really like the selection of Judkins and I believe he makes for an outstanding tandem with Chase Brown. Judkins is a complete back who runs with great physicality and is an outstanding pass protector. Judkins gives the Bengals an imposing presence in short yardage and goal line situations. I look forward to seeing play options with Judkins and Brown on the field together.

RD. 3 - 81st Selection:





Darien Porter - CB - Iowa State - 6'3" 195

Porter brings size and speed to the position that cannot be taught. Porter has elite size, length, and speed to go along with being fluid in the hips when turning to run. Porter is slender and needs to get stronger in the run game but that is not uncommon for most corners making the transition to the NFL game. Porter played in a heavy zone scheme but his traits and skills that should allow him to play more man coverage. '24 was his first year as a starter which is probably the only reason he is still on the board at this point.

RD. 3 - 102nd Selection:





Emery Jones Jr. - G/T - LSU - 6'5" 315

Jones has guard and tackle experience and the Bengals select him here to transition to LG. Jones has elite length and good athleticism but struggled some playing in space which a move inside should help to remedy. While Jones shows some weaknesses on the edge he has displayed a skillset that lends to him being a good interior player at the NFL level. Jones has a very strong grip and plays with a high motor. Jones has a very good initial strike and punch off the snap and generates good power. Having experience at T is a benefit to the Bengals in case of emergency.

RD. 4 - 119th Selection:





Ty Robinson - DL - Nebraska - 6'5" 288

Big strong physical bully that can play inside on passing downs or set the edge on running downs. Robinson brings an elite motor and elite physicality to the DL and plays with very violent hands. Robinson is lacking in length for his size so he will need to learn to play with better leverage taking on NFL linemen but he can beat them with explosion and violence off the snap. Robinson should add a rotational piece to the Bengals D line that can be used in multiple ways by Al Golden.

RD . 5 - 153rd Selection:





Will Howard - QB - The Ohio State - 6'4" 236

Howard has really good size, toughness, arm strength, and accuracy. While he is not a natural playmaker like Joe Burrow is he does have the ability to extend the play with his legs if he has to. His performance in the playoffs and for the National Championship show the upside that he has at the position and there seems to be a good foundation to develop into at least a really strong QB2 at the NFL level. 

RD. 6 - 193rd Selection:





Nick Nash - WR - San Jose St. - 6'2.5" 203

Being a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award and taking the collegiate receiving triple crown in only your second season as starting WR speaks a bit to the talent level that Nash has. He comes from NFL lineage with his father playing WR in college and for the Chiefs. Nash brings elite competitiveness, explosiveness, and football IQ to the WR position and is only scratching the surface of how good he can be. Most of the weaknesses of Nash come from a player just beginning to learn the nuances of playing the WR position and should correct themselves naturally with experience. Team members speak of his natural leadership and his ultra high character. If he is still on the board there is no way you pass this selection.

RD. 7 - 228th Selection:





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

Cross is a rotational piece that brings a natural pash rush element on the interior that the Bengals have missed since Geno Atkins. Al Golden gets a key member of his defensive line from the Irish with this selection. Cross plays with great leverage and with his first step he fires off of the snap. Has a natural ability to get skinny and exploit linemen with his speed and quickness. Cross lack anchor and is a situational piece if he can prove valuable enough to make the 53.

[Whatever]

Ezeruika is an interesting prospect due to the short height, but great 34" arm length. Very productive player and has done well in the testing he's done thus far. He seems like he'll be a good, solid pass rusher at the next level.

Ratledge, I wouldn't personally want to take this high, but that's where we would have to take him after he blew up at the Combine. It's a bad OL class, and even though I'm not as high on him as others, he's probably one of only a handful of guys that could start year one.

Most won't want a RB this high, but I have little faith in Perrine or Moss carrying the load if Brown goes down. The talent justifies the pick and you can always allocate touches for RB's

Porter is a gamble, but 6'3" CB's with 4.3 speed are tough to come by. Could be a special player, but patience will be required.

We can use a #4 T that can play G in a pinch, but honestly, I wouldn't take one this high, especially in this class

It would be interesting to see where they slot Robinson, as an Edge or a 3 tech. They would likely have to keep him as an edge to open a DT slot up for Cross to make the 53. Howard is a solid backup QB prospect that I feel could win some games if needed. Nash, I like as a project WR on Day 3.

[pulses]

Take out Emery Jones and add to the D.....a LB or safety

[*Synric*]

(03-23-2025, 11:00 PM)Whatever Wrote: Ezeruika is an interesting prospect due to the short height, but great 34" arm length.  Very productive player and has done well in the testing he's done thus far.  He seems like he'll be a good, solid pass rusher at the next level.

Ratledge, I wouldn't personally want to take this high, but that's where we would have to take him after he blew up at the Combine.  It's a bad OL class, and even though I'm not as high on him as others, he's probably one of only a handful of guys that could start year one.  

Most won't want a RB this high, but I have little faith in Perrine or Moss carrying the load if Brown goes down.  The talent justifies the pick and you can always allocate touches for RB's

Porter is a gamble, but 6'3" CB's with 4.3 speed are tough to come by.  Could be a special player, but patience will be required.  

We can use a #4 T that can play G in a pinch, but honestly, I wouldn't take one this high, especially in this class

It would be interesting to see where they slot Robinson, as an Edge or a 3 tech.  They would likely have to keep him as an edge to open a DT slot up for Cross to make the 53.  Howard is a solid backup QB prospect that I feel could win some games if needed.  Nash, I like as a project WR on Day 3.

Bad Offensive Tackle & Center class. Solid to Good Guard class. Day 3 Guard class isn't great but it looks like Day 2 will be rhe sweet spot for Guard.

[Whatever]

(03-24-2025, 06:58 AM)Synric Wrote: Bad Offensive Tackle & Center class. Solid to Good Guard class. Day 3 Guard class isn't great but it looks like Day 2 will be rhe sweet spot for Guard.

Hmmm...I agree to disagree, there.

Jackson is a good G prospect and Ratledge is solid.  Throw in Booker if you're heavy gap-power, but that's it.

It seems better than it is because the T class is so bad that a lot of them are being projected as G's, but who knows how well they will actually translate.