Grade our position groups going into the draft

[WeezyBengal]

Curious to see how everyone grades our position groups heading into the draft. Just trying to get a read on the roster talent we have, nothing else.

QB: A+
WR: A+
OL: C-
TE: B

DL: D
LB: B
Safety: C
DB: C+

[CJD]

(03-31-2025, 10:12 AM)WeezyBengal Wrote: Curious to see how everyone grades our position groups heading into the draft. Just trying to get a read on the roster talent we have, nothing else.

QB: A+
WR: A+
OL: C-
TE: B

DL: D
LB: B
Safety: C
DB: C+

My general scale:
A range = a genuine strength of the roster.
B range = No immediate upgrades needed. If someone is too good to pass up, go for it.
C range = Ideally, you upgrade one of the starters or principle backups, but if the value isn't there, don't reach.
D range = You need at least 1 starter from the draft. If reaching is necessary, this is the position you've put yourself in based on your free agency decisions.
F range = The entire position group needs to be replaced/upgraded.

QB: A+
WR: A+
RB: C+
OT: C+
OG: D-
C: B
TE: C

EDGE: C- (If Trey plays), D- (If Trey is traded or sits out the season)
DT: C
LB: B+ (depending on what happens with Pratt, may go down).
Safety: C-
CB: B-

QB and WR speak for themselves. I'm thrilled with both of those positions and don't see any picks necessary there for at least another season or two.

I could see us taking a RB, but Brown and Perine are at least a suitable 2. If they don't draft a RB, I could see them re-signing Herbert after the draft just to give them that rotation behind Brown.

I broke the OL out into groups because I was really tempted to give OG an F, but I think the Patrick signing saved it from that. Still, a D- needs urgent addressing. At the moment, I am not comfortable with either "starter" currently on the roster. 

At OT, I think we're pretty good with Brown and Mims as starters. We need a 3rd OT, but that can be found relatively cheap and I kind of hope we find an OG in the draft that can kick out to OT if required.

Center I think we're good. Matt Lee didn't play much, but he had a good pre-season last year and I think serves as a back up center to Karras, who I think is a quality center.

TE gets dinged because, while I like Gesicki, we do not have a TE that can start in line and consistently give you that disguise of run vs pass. We did draft McLachlan last year, so maybe his role expands, but a lot of unknowns here behind Gesicki, who is mostly a large slot receiver.

On defense, if Trey stays, I think we need a second pass rushing threat, but it doesn't necessarily have to be a 1st round edge. We have Murphy, Ossai, Johnson and Sample. I would still prefer we add someone to this group on day 2, but if the value isn't there, it wouldn't be an abject disaster. But if Trey goes, this becomes priority #1 on defense.

For DT, I think we need a legitimate pass rushing threat, but I think we're good in terms of run stopping players. We got Slaton to be our true NT that we lacked last year and Kris Jenkins and BJ Hill specialize as run stopping 3Ts (I personally didn't like the Jenkins pick, as he was not a good pass rusher in college, but maybe he can develop that too). I don't know what to make of Jackson, as I felt he was a pretty large reach in the 3rd round last year, but he showed some flashes of potential at rushing the passer. That was what he did well in college, with a great first step, so I hope he builds on that in his 2nd year. But we need a true penetrating 3T like Derrick Harmon, imo, to aid the pass rush. If we get to the 2nd and 3rd round and all the dominant pass rushers are gone, I think this position group may be better left alone, as adding another projection DT will just clutter the position group. We have our 2 starters (Hill and Slaton) and 2 reserves (Jenkins and Jackson) already.  At a certain point, you need to just let your draft picks develop.

I'm actually quite comfortable at LB. Wilson is great and Pratt is fine. I think Burks is a great 3rd LB with high upside given what he did in the playoffs. Njongmeta seems like a good special teamer at LB as well. Maybe he can develop further as that LB4? If we trade or cut Pratt, we may need to add here, but as it is, I would only invest a pick if someone takes a big fall into day 3.

I'm not happy with our safety group and, if Trey stays, I think this is our biggest need on defense. I was tempted to give it a D, but Stone showed a little bit of improvement at the end of the year. Was it a dead cat bounce? Who's to say? But I would really like to see a safety with true range drafted in the first two days, if a prospect of such quality is available at our pick.

I am torn at CB because, while I believe we lack a true #1 CB, I think we have pretty good depth overall. Turner and Hill were showing real improvement as the season went on before their unfortunate injuries. CTB is an enigma, but when he's on, he's a high quality CB. And Josh Newton, Marco Wilson and DJ Ivey showed to be decent options in a pinch. If there's a player where the value is just too good to pass up, like Benjamin Morrison in the 3rd round, then I think we could add a pick here, but I don't think it will be a necessity going into the draft.

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

For me:

Pos: Overall: Starters/Depth
QB: A: A+/B
RB: B: B+/B-
WR: A-: A/C- (Gesicki as TE)
TE: C-: D-/B
OT: C+: B/C-
OG: D-: D/F
C: B-: B/C
-------------
DE: B-: B/C-
DT: C: B-/C-
LB: B: B/B
CB: B-: B/C-
S: D: C-/F
-------
PK: C-
P: B
LS: B

[TJHoushmandzadeh's Shiny Shoes]

QB A (Burrow is A+ but lack of depth here brings it down)
WR A (starters A+but not much depth)
RB B+ (as it stands Chase Brown, Moss and Perine is a very strong trio but I expect Moss to be cut which will move this down)
TE B- (All’s injury moves this down. If we’re taking just 2025 it would be much lower).
OL C (they have the makings of a good OL with two starting T and a starting C, which is the more difficult/expensive bit to do)

Edge C+ (this was tricky to score. They are maybe one piece away from being very good but equally could be anaemic)
DT C- (should be much improved against the run but has virtually nothing against the pass)
LB C- (this unit seems old. If (when?) Pratt gets cut it drops further.)
CB B- (there’s young talent and this might be the position with the widest range of outcomes)
S C-

[Soonerpeace]

(03-31-2025, 10:12 AM)WeezyBengal Wrote: Curious to see how everyone grades our position groups heading into the draft. Just trying to get a read on the roster talent we have, nothing else.

QB: A+
WR: A+
OL: C-
TE: B

DL: D
LB: B
Safety: C
DB: C+

Good job. I think OL will find a guard in the draft. So it’ll get I hope to C+. I don’t think WR is A+ but an A. RB did you do? I’d say C+. DL with Trey better than D. But great job.

[2MinutesHate]

QB: A+  (Burrow is the best QB in the NFL.  Period.)
WR: A  (Would be an A+ but WR3 has been a disappointment so far)
OL: D+ (This unit doesn't do much well in either the passing game or the running game)
RB: B  (Perine should really help, especially on 3rd down.   Zack Moss was not good at all last year.  Took half a year for Zac to figure out that C. Brown was something special)
TE: C  (Gesicki is pretty damn good, but the others don't do anything for me.  I'd prefer that they would stop calling routes for Sample/Hudson.  Too bad about All)

DL: D  (This grade could get much worse as we get closer to camp obviously.  Not sure if we will get the BJ Hill we're used to next year.  Miles Murphy?  Hello?)
LB: C  (Pratt is not good.  Nobody else really stands out)
Safety: C- (This could improve if Geno Stone pulls his head out like he did at the end of the season)
DB: C (Meh group.  CTB seemed like he regressed last year)

P: B-  (I really like Rehkow.  Hopefully he keeps it up and gets better.)
K: D (Money Mac, I want my money back!  He was terrible last year and could've been even worse had Zac given him more opportunities.  I would bring in another kicker for TC and see if Evan is still suffering from the yips.)

[puddycat]

(03-31-2025, 01:14 PM)TJHoushmandzadeh Wrote: QB A (Burrow is A+ but lack of depth here brings it down)
WR A (starters A+but not much depth)
RB B+ (as it stands Chase Brown, Moss and Perine is a very strong trio but I expect Moss to be cut which will move this down)
TE B- (All’s injury moves this down. If we’re taking just 2025 it would be much lower).
OL C (they have the makings of a good OL with two starting T and a starting C, which is the more difficult/expensive bit to do)

Edge C+ (this was tricky to score. They are maybe one piece away from being very good but equally could be anaemic)
DT C- (should be much improved against the run but has virtually nothing against the pass)
LB C- (this unit seems old. If (when?) Pratt gets cut it drops further.)
CB B- (there’s young talent and this might be the position with the widest range of outcomes)
S C-

Agree with most.
TE:C ('cause Gesicki is a WR3.)
DE: B. I can't ignore Trey, even if the other side's a question mark.
LB: B I don't look at this unit and think MUST draft a LB.
S: Never am confident when see an opposing player take on one of our Safeties.

[samhain]

QB: A+
RB: B
WR: A+
TE: C+
OT: B+
OG: F-
C: B-

DT: D
DE: C
LB: C
S: D+
CB: B-

RB: I want another guy that can be useful,  I don't trust Perine to be the every down back if Brown misses time.  Trayveon needs to go.  He might be a hell of a locker room guy, but he's hard not to look at as a glorified mascot sometimes.

The OL needs work.  OT and C are just fine but the horrific personnel at guard really drags them down.

TE is meh as well, as Mike G is basically a slot WR.  The rest of the bunch leave something to be desired.

Had to short arm the DTs.  Just not enough good production and zero pass rush ability.  

DE would be an F without Trey.  All signs point to Ossai getting a real shot this year.  His contract wasn't exactly chump change.  He can make himself a very wealthy man if he comes through this season.

LB: still unclear to me what happens with Pratt.  Wilson is fine.  Burks is a cheaper ADG.  Nothing here to get excited about, but it's been worse.  if Logan goes down again, we have big problems.

S: I think our safeties suck.  Battle gets a lot of trust, but until I see him get it done for a season, I'm skeptical.  He got bumped down a few notches with me for eating himself to the bottom of the depth chart in 24.  Stone is a 3rd stringer stealing money.  He'd be functional as just that, but more talent is needed here overall.  He's just not a higher end athlete for that position.

CB: I was charitable.  I think a lot of these guys can do the job if their heads are on straight.  CTB, Turner and Hill have all shown flashes.  Newton was decent for where they picked him.  If I had to pick a group to ascend this year, it would be the corners.  There's a lot of physical ability there.

[THE PISTONS]

(03-31-2025, 01:14 PM)TJHoushmandzadeh Wrote: QB A (Burrow is A+ but lack of depth here brings it down)
WR A (starters A+but not much depth)
RB B+ (as it stands Chase Brown, Moss and Perine is a very strong trio but I expect Moss to be cut which will move this down)
TE B- (All’s injury moves this down. If we’re taking just 2025 it would be much lower).
OL C (they have the makings of a good OL with two starting T and a starting C, which is the more difficult/expensive bit to do)

Edge C+ (this was tricky to score. They are maybe one piece away from being very good but equally could be anaemic)
DT C- (should be much improved against the run but has virtually nothing against the pass)
LB C- (this unit seems old. If (when?) Pratt gets cut it drops further.)
CB B- (there’s young talent and this might be the position with the widest range of outcomes)
S C-

Everyone in this thread did a good job on grades. Hard to really argue with any.

WR is interesting. Chase and Higgins are as good as a 1-2 in the league. From really 3 on though, we have question marks. Yoshi was decent last year, but kind of underperformed. And the rest didn't do much.

[*bengalfan74*]

(04-01-2025, 09:27 AM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Everyone in this thread did a good job on grades. Hard to really argue with any.

WR is interesting. Chase and Higgins are as good as a 1-2 in the league. From really 3 on though, we have question marks. Yoshi was decent last year, but kind of underperformed. And the rest didn't do much.

YUP

Right 1 and 2 we're good to go. But then it starts crumbling a good bit. Yoshi tops out at like  #4 should he have to step up our level goes down a bit. Burton I have no faith in until he proves he's growing up. And the rest umm.....

I think we need a late round WR just in case

[kalibengal]

(03-31-2025, 10:12 AM)WeezyBengal Wrote: Curious to see how everyone grades our position groups heading into the draft. Just trying to get a read on the roster talent we have, nothing else.

QB: A+
WR: A+
OL: C-
TE: B

DL: D
LB: B
Safety: C
DB: C+

only edits I would have are
TE; C -Mike G is not an all around NFL TE, and more like a big slot guy and the rest of the room is average at best 
LB; C - Pratt is past prime and Wilson looked slow last season and seems injury prone and we dont know what we really have with Burks. Need to add some depth and or a starter in Draft

[Goalpost]

I think LB is "C" at best. We are not athletic there. Below average. Zero sacks combined out of last year's top 3. And Golden likely wants to, at least, rush one of them more often.

[THE PISTONS]

(04-01-2025, 10:33 AM)kalibengal Wrote: only edits I would have are
TE; C -Mike G is not an all around NFL TE, and more like a big slot guy and the rest of the room is average at best 
LB; C - Pratt is past prime and Wilson looked slow last season and seems injury prone and we dont know what we really have with Burks. Need to add some depth and or a starter in Draft

On LB, I agree. They look slow and bad. Take bad angles, etc.

But, some of it is how bad our D-Line was.

[Luvnit2]

(04-01-2025, 09:27 AM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Everyone in this thread did a good job on grades. Hard to really argue with any.

WR is interesting. Chase and Higgins are as good as a 1-2 in the league. From really 3 on though, we have question marks. Yoshi was decent last year, but kind of underperformed. And the rest didn't do much.

I get a little confused when some same Gesiscki is a WR and then knock our WR's.

If Gesicki is a WR, then on our team based on production, he is our #3 WR which makes Yoshi our 4th WR. How many 3rd or 4th WR's had 6 TD's last year?

Our WR room is A+++++++

Our QB os A+++++++++

Our starting RB is a B+ and our 3rd down back is a C, overall due to needing more bodies, we are a C at RB making it a draft need.

We are an "F" at guard, B at center and B- at OT, so our OL overall is a C- and guard is a major draft need

Our DL may not be as bad or a priority (Trey is staying) as some say. Trey led the NFL in sacks and last year and is not a 1 year wonder. I like our rookie DT's and BJ Hill and Slayton are solid. I am not as worried at LDE and back ups as others. I like at least one emerging from Murphy,  Ossai, Sample or Johnson. I think our DL is a B- if we don't draft anyone at that position.

I am not a fan of Geno Stone, I think he is a "D" and I think Battle is average or a C. No backups have shown they can start if needed, so I think the safety room needs addressed. I give safety room a D+.

I don't consider Gesicki a TE, so I say our TE room is a B.

I like our young CB room and think they will progress a lot on 2025, I say they are a B and capable of being an A.

LB is a C+ with Pratt on notice.

Mac had a bad year for him, but I think he is a solid B to B+ and so is our punter.

So for me draft need priorities are Guard and safety 1A and 1B. Running back is a B priority. Then DE/Edge is a B- piority. LB is also a C+.

[reuben.ahmed]

(03-31-2025, 11:13 AM)CJD Wrote: My general scale:
A range = a genuine strength of the roster.
B range = No immediate upgrades needed. If someone is too good to pass up, go for it.
C range = Ideally, you upgrade one of the starters or principle backups, but if the value isn't there, don't reach.
D range = You need at least 1 starter from the draft. If reaching is necessary, this is the position you've put yourself in based on your free agency decisions.
F range = The entire position group needs to be replaced/upgraded.

QB: A+
WR: A+
RB: C+
OT: C+
OG: D-
C: B
TE: C

EDGE: C- (If Trey plays), D- (If Trey is traded or sits out the season)
DT: C
LB: B+ (depending on what happens with Pratt, may go down).
Safety: C-
CB: B-

QB and WR speak for themselves. I'm thrilled with both of those positions and don't see any picks necessary there for at least another season or two.

I could see us taking a RB, but Brown and Perine are at least a suitable 2. If they don't draft a RB, I could see them re-signing Herbert after the draft just to give them that rotation behind Brown.

I broke the OL out into groups because I was really tempted to give OG an F, but I think the Patrick signing saved it from that. Still, a D- needs urgent addressing. At the moment, I am not comfortable with either "starter" currently on the roster. 

At OT, I think we're pretty good with Brown and Mims as starters. We need a 3rd OT, but that can be found relatively cheap and I kind of hope we find an OG in the draft that can kick out to OT if required.

Center I think we're good. Matt Lee didn't play much, but he had a good pre-season last year and I think serves as a back up center to Karras, who I think is a quality center.

TE gets dinged because, while I like Gesicki, we do not have a TE that can start in line and consistently give you that disguise of run vs pass. We did draft McLachlan last year, so maybe his role expands, but a lot of unknowns here behind Gesicki, who is mostly a large slot receiver.

On defense, if Trey stays, I think we need a second pass rushing threat, but it doesn't necessarily have to be a 1st round edge. We have Murphy, Ossai, Johnson and Sample. I would still prefer we add someone to this group on day 2, but if the value isn't there, it wouldn't be an abject disaster. But if Trey goes, this becomes priority #1 on defense.

For DT, I think we need a legitimate pass rushing threat, but I think we're good in terms of run stopping players. We got Slaton to be our true NT that we lacked last year and Kris Jenkins and BJ Hill specialize as run stopping 3Ts (I personally didn't like the Jenkins pick, as he was not a good pass rusher in college, but maybe he can develop that too). I don't know what to make of Jackson, as I felt he was a pretty large reach in the 3rd round last year, but he showed some flashes of potential at rushing the passer. That was what he did well in college, with a great first step, so I hope he builds on that in his 2nd year. But we need a true penetrating 3T like Derrick Harmon, imo, to aid the pass rush. If we get to the 2nd and 3rd round and all the dominant pass rushers are gone, I think this position group may be better left alone, as adding another projection DT will just clutter the position group. We have our 2 starters (Hill and Slaton) and 2 reserves (Jenkins and Jackson) already.  At a certain point, you need to just let your draft picks develop.

I'm actually quite comfortable at LB. Wilson is great and Pratt is fine. I think Burks is a great 3rd LB with high upside given what he did in the playoffs. Njongmeta seems like a good special teamer at LB as well. Maybe he can develop further as that LB4? If we trade or cut Pratt, we may need to add here, but as it is, I would only invest a pick if someone takes a big fall into day 3.

I'm not happy with our safety group and, if Trey stays, I think this is our biggest need on defense. I was tempted to give it a D, but Stone showed a little bit of improvement at the end of the year. Was it a dead cat bounce? Who's to say? But I would really like to see a safety with true range drafted in the first two days, if a prospect of such quality is available at our pick.

I am torn at CB because, while I believe we lack a true #1 CB, I think we have pretty good depth overall. Turner and Hill were showing real improvement as the season went on before their unfortunate injuries. CTB is an enigma, but when he's on, he's a high quality CB. And Josh Newton, Marco Wilson and DJ Ivey showed to be decent options in a pinch. If there's a player where the value is just too good to pass up, like Benjamin Morrison in the 3rd round, then I think we could add a pick here, but I don't think it will be a necessity going into the draft.

What about kicker

[CJD]

(04-01-2025, 04:12 PM)reuben.ahmed Wrote: What about kicker

Either a B or C, I guess. Regardless, I don't see us spending a pick on kicker in this draft.

[*ochocincos*]

The positions I am still concerned with are:
OG
DE
DT
SAF
CB

If they don't get a Guard early in the draft who can start immediately and be an upgrade over what they got, that's putting Burrow at risk, as it's just as bad of an IOL as last year.
In my eyes, none of the Guards they have are preferred starters. One of them will inevitably start, but I hope not two of them.

DE the best we can hope for is Ossai's December is who he will be moving forward, not a blip then back to the norm.
Murphy showed nothing last year to warrant getting any increase in snaps.

DT needs another pass rusher.
Run defense should be solid, but the only guy that can rush the passer is Hill.

At Safety, Stone in a contract year and his post-Thanksgiving performance did not sway my opinion that he's too slow to be effective on this defense. The only way I can see him being ok is if they really bolster the pass rush, but I can't imagine it jumping that much more from just a draft pick or two.
We've heard whispers they may not be thrilled with Battle either, so potentially either safety spot could need a replacement this year or next.

CB I want to see more of Dax and Turner, but CTB last year really seemed like he declined compared to rookie performance in more limited snaps. CTB gave me Kirkpatrick vibes of just giving up some really big plays. I expect all 3 of these guys to start at the outside and nickel CB spots. Improved pass rush will help these guys like it will the safety coverage.

I'm not overly concerned about RB or LB, personally.
LB I get the frustrations with Pratt, but I like Burks as LB2/3.
Brown is a good RB1 for this offense, and Perine covers the RB2 duties. If Moss recovers fully, he's an ok backup too.

[Luvnit2]

I feel many forget Hubbard was not an asset in 2024, Murphy, Ossai and at time Johnson played better. They still need to et better, but it helps when your defense and your starting LDE are at the bottom of the heap, only option is looking up.

[J24]

QB- A+
RB-A-
WR-A
IOL- D-
OT- A
Sppecial-'B
Edge- B
DT- F
LB D
CB- C
S- D