1 week to draft

[*ochocincos*]

I am so happy the draft is 1 week away.

I don't know if it's recency bias, but it feels like this draft class, where the Bengals are drafting, and where they need help based on current roster is resulting in SOOOO many ways the team can go without causing an uproar.

DL
Safety
OL
CB
TE
RB
LB

I, for one, am ready for this draft to come and see who they draft.
If anything to stop the back and forth we have in a lot of our mock drafts about go this way vs that way when probably most of the ways would be ok because of so many needs and no clear cut BPAs lol.

[NATI BENGALS]

Agreed. I have a feeling I'm going to love this draft class. I'd love to keep Trey but there are scenarios where I'd be comfortable moving on and getting more lottery tickets and maybe even adding picks for next year.

I think we are in a good spot to try to be flexible hopefully trading back to accumulate picks.

[*Synric*]

Bengals didnt meet with Kelvin Banks or Tyler Booker very common Bengals mock draft targets. I think they are only looking OL they think could be there at #49 or #81.

[*ochocincos*]

(04-18-2025, 08:36 AM)Synric Wrote: Bengals didnt meet with Kelvin Banks or Tyler Booker very common Bengals mock draft targets. I think they are only looking OL they think could be there at #49 or #81.

That's been my thought for a while now.
Feels like defense in Rd 1.
Get your new DC you were able to lure away from a cushy ND job and give him someone he feels can make a difference for his side.

[TecmoBengals]

This is the first draft in many years that I have no strong opinion for who they should pick. It also seems more challenging to try and guess the pick. I'm excited to see how it unfolds and fingers crossed they walk away with talent that, and this is the point I want to emphasize, can immediately contribute to winning football by playing significant snaps.

[*ochocincos*]

(04-18-2025, 09:22 AM)TecmoBengals Wrote: This is the first draft in many years that I have no strong opinion for who they should pick. It also seems more challenging to try and guess the pick. I'm excited to see how it unfolds and fingers crossed they walk away with talent that, and this is the point I want to emphasize, can immediately contribute to winning football by playing significant snaps.

I think my only frustration would be waiting until Rd 5 or 6 for DE, DT, or OL.
I see DE, DT, OL, and SAF to be the biggest priorities in the draft.
They could also use a RB, TE, and/or LB, but I don't see those as needing to be taken before the ones I had mentioned previously.
I've never personally been a fan of RBBC, at least to the point of using an early or mid-round pick for a guy who will be in a RBBC.
Just spend a 2nd rounder for a bell cow vs a 3rd or 4th to split time with someone else if not happy with the RB room you got.

[TecmoBengals]

(04-18-2025, 09:46 AM)ochocincos Wrote: I think my only frustration would be waiting until Rd 5 or 6 for DE, DT, or OL.
I see DE, DT, OL, and SAF to be the biggest priorities in the draft.
They could also use a RB, TE, and/or LB, but I don't see those as needing to be taken before the ones I had mentioned previously.
I've never personally been a fan of RBBC, at least to the point of using an early or mid-round pick for a guy who will be in a RBBC.
Just spend a 2nd rounder for a bell cow vs a 3rd or 4th to split time with someone else if not happy with the RB room you got.

I tend to lean toward the same viewpoint. I want them to invest in the trenches - DL & OL - and actually get it right with the talent they select. That's the worrisome part, especially with OL picks. I don't want to read a post-draft article about how Alexander or Willie gave their personal stamp of approval on the pick and the player is actually a known dud among the rest of the NFL front offices.

[Whatever]

(04-18-2025, 08:36 AM)Synric Wrote: Bengals didnt meet with Kelvin Banks or Tyler Booker very common Bengals mock draft targets. I think they are only looking OL they think could be there at #49 or #81.

They didn't meet with Donovan Jackson either, to my knowledge, another common target.  Or Zabel.  Or Campbell, who many have as a G.  So, basically, none of the Top 5 G prospects.  It would be a major shocker if 5 G's were drafted before #49, so I think it's 3rd round at the earliest.  

Interesting tidbit is that per PFR, the average pressure rate for a QB last year was 21.4%.  Joe was pressured on 21.5% of his drop backs.  It's very possible that the FO doesn't see OL as anywhere near the priority the fans do.  

[*ochocincos*]

(04-18-2025, 10:27 AM)Whatever Wrote: They didn't meet with Donovan Jackson either, to my knowledge, another common target.  Or Zabel.  Or Campbell, who many have as a G.  So, basically, none of the Top 5 G prospects.  It would be a major shocker if 5 G's were drafted before #49, so I think it's 3rd round at the earliest.  

Interesting tidbit is that per PFR, the average pressure rate for a QB last year was 21.4%.  Joe was pressured on 21.5% of his drop backs.  It's very possible that the FO doesn't see OL as anywhere near the priority the fans do.  

Can you find the metrics for those QBs who played in the AFCCG/NFCCG?

I have to wonder if for Mahomes, Allen, Hurts, and Daniels it was a lower percentage.

With the offense running through Burrow, we need him pressured as little as possible, unless they want to morph the offense to a more balanced/run-heavy attack (which I haven't seen Taylor ever try to do in the 6 seasons he's been with CIN).

[*Synric*]

(04-18-2025, 10:27 AM)Whatever Wrote: They didn't meet with Donovan Jackson either, to my knowledge, another common target.  Or Zabel.  Or Campbell, who many have as a G.  So, basically, none of the Top 5 G prospects.  It would be a major shocker if 5 G's were drafted before #49, so I think it's 3rd round at the earliest.  

Interesting tidbit is that per PFR, the average pressure rate for a QB last year was 21.4%.  Joe was pressured on 21.5% of his drop backs.  It's very possible that the FO doesn't see OL as anywhere near the priority the fans do.  

I don't think the base statistics for the offense show how really bad they were at Situational Football specifically the OL but I absolutely  see where they think going Defense early will win them more games overall. 

[Whatever]

(04-18-2025, 11:35 AM)ochocincos Wrote: Can you find the metrics for those QBs who played in the AFCCG/NFCCG?

I have to wonder if for Mahomes, Allen, Hurts, and Daniels it was a lower percentage.

With the offense running through Burrow, we need him pressured as little as possible, unless they want to morph the offense to a more balanced/run-heavy attack (which I haven't seen Taylor ever try to do in the 6 seasons he's been with CIN).

Mahomes 23.3%
Allen 16.4%
Hurts 20.5%
Daniels 18.5%

Also, keep in mind that Burrow was the most effective QB in the league under pressure last year.  

https://theanalyst.com/2025/01/nfl-quarterback-performance-under-pressure

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(04-17-2025, 06:00 PM)ochocincos Wrote: I am so happy the draft is 1 week away.

I don't know if it's recency bias, but it feels like this draft class, where the Bengals are drafting, and where they need help based on current roster is resulting in SOOOO many ways the team can go without causing an uproar.

DL
Safety
OL
CB
TE
RB
LB

I, for one, am ready for this draft to come and see who they draft.
If anything to stop the back and forth we have in a lot of our mock drafts about go this way vs that way when probably most of the ways would be ok because of so many needs and no clear cut BPAs lol.

Excited to say the least and agree that there are so many ways to go to improve this team into a contender once again. We brought 
back the pieces we needed to keep us solid, now need to get better especially on Defense and namely the trenches. If we can get a 
playmaker or two as well we are in a great spot. 

[*ochocincos*]

(04-18-2025, 01:31 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Excited to say the least and agree that there are so many ways to go to improve this team into a contender once again. We brought 
back the pieces we needed to keep us solid, now need to get better especially on Defense and namely the trenches. If we can get a 
playmaker or two as well we are in a great spot. 

That's my worry - staying stagnant at good, not great.
The team finished great and that December team could/would have been championship-caliber based on how they played for those 4-5 weeks, but was that false hope?
I'd hate to look back at the end of this season saying, "Wish they would have done more in the offseason because they fell short again."

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(04-18-2025, 01:36 PM)ochocincos Wrote: That's my worry - staying stagnant at good, not great.
The team finished great and that December team could/would have been championship-caliber based on how they played for those 4-5 weeks, but was that false hope?
I'd hate to look back at the end of this season saying, "Wish they would have done more in the offseason because they fell short again."

Definitely understand. The main thing is we didn't regress and with the new coaches and the way we finished the season we could hopefully
pick up right where we left off if Zac Taylor could actually have this team humming leading up to the opener for once. With the Draft upon us 
and us making some good picks and recognizing the urgency of starting fast this season things could change for the better.

All I know is this is one of the few teams other good teams do not want to face in December/January. Let's just make it one teams don't want
to face in September for once eh?

[Clark W Griswold]

(04-18-2025, 01:46 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Definitely understand. The main thing is we didn't regress and with the new coaches and the way we finished the season we could hopefully
pick up right where we left off if Zac Taylor could actually have this team humming leading up to the opener for once. With the Draft upon us 
and us making some good picks and recognizing the urgency of starting fast this season things could change for the better.

All I know is this is one of the few teams other good teams do not want to face in December/January. Let's just make it one teams don't want
to face in September for once eh?

Spot on. As bad as the defense was all year, if they beat the Patriots in week 1 then they are a playoff team. I didn’t look this up but I would assume their head to head win vs Denver would have gotten them in the post season.

That loss vs a terrible team in week 1 ended up costing them big time.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(04-18-2025, 03:04 PM)Clark W Griswold Wrote: Spot on. As bad as the defense was all year, if they beat the Patriots in week 1 then they are a playoff team.  I didn’t look this up but I would assume their head to head win vs Denver would have gotten them in the post season.

That loss vs a terrible team in week 1 ended up costing them big time.

You know it Clark, I know it and the team knows it. Cannot have one of those lame duck games to start the season again.

They would of made the Playoffs if they won the opener against a pretty crappy Pats team.

[*ochocincos*]

(04-18-2025, 03:04 PM)Clark W Griswold Wrote: Spot on. As bad as the defense was all year, if they beat the Patriots in week 1 then they are a playoff team.  I didn’t look this up but I would assume their head to head win vs Denver would have gotten them in the post season.

That loss vs a terrible team in week 1 ended up costing them big time.

It would have, but that team would have gone against BUF I believe had they gotten in.
Was last year's team really good enough to not only get through BUF but also KC and BAL to get back to the Super Bowl?
I'm not confident they would have.
And to me, getting to 9-8 just missing the playoffs vs a 1st round exit is basically the same.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(04-18-2025, 05:02 PM)ochocincos Wrote: It would have, but that team would have gone against BUF I believe had they gotten in.
Was last year's team really good enough to not only get through BUF but also KC and BAL to get back to the Super Bowl?
I'm not confident they would have.
And to me, getting to 9-8 just missing the playoffs vs a 1st round exit is basically the same.

I think we would of beaten the Bills, we have their number and we were about the hottest team in the NFL at the time.

Probably would of lost to the Chiefs though, the Ravens are just not the same in the Playoffs. 

All hypothetical about us beating the Bills if we would of got in though.

[Clark W Griswold]

(04-18-2025, 05:06 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: I think we would of beaten the Bills, we have their number and we were about the hottest team in the NFL at the time.

Probably would of lost to the Chiefs though, the Ravens are just not the same in the Playoffs. 

All hypothetical about us beating the Bills if we would of got in though.

No guarantees but as we learned a few years ago - you never know what can happen. This is a team with a top 3 QB and some playoff experience/recent postseason success. If you make the playoffs with Burrow and company then you have a good shot at winning some playoff games.

But no they were not a SB team last year

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(04-18-2025, 06:19 PM)Clark W Griswold Wrote: No guarantees but as we learned a few years ago - you never know what can happen. This is a team with a top 3 QB and some playoff experience/recent postseason success.  If you make the playoffs with Burrow and company then you have a good shot at winning some playoff games.

But no they were not a SB team last year

All true. Doesn't even matter how you play in the regular season, it matters how you play in the Playoffs once you get in as we have seen
with the Bills, Ravens and stealers who just don't look the same in the Playoffs. With Burrow and an opportunistic Defense we can beat any
team if the ball goes our way. Would be nice if our Defense could actually tackle and not rely on turnovers to help us win though.

Maybe the Defense improves a bit under Golden, I think it will, sure would help our chances of winning the entire thing.