Safety Would Be A Wasted Pick

[BFritz21]

I see a lot of mocks on here with us taking a safety in the first four rounds, which I think is a complete waste.

This safety class is very weak. Even the top few aren't that impressive, but we definitely aren't going to get anything after the first few safeties picked that would even play as well as any free agent we could pick up, so why not focus on positions that can improve our team?

I understand that we need an improved defense, but it's stupid to pick defense just to pick defense, especially when we can improve our team in other areas.

I'd rather pick a corner than a safety in this deep class because then we'd at least be getting value and not wasting a pick.


Edit: Winston could be a solid pick if he's fully recovered, but I think taking him early would definitely be a wasted pick.

[WhoDeyK]

I agree that as with all positions you don’t take take one just to take one. The value has to line up but I disagree with this being a weak safety class. I think our current starting duo of Stone and Battle is maybe the worst in the league and feel that Starks, Emmanwori, Watts, Winston, Makuba, Ransom, Bowman, Sanker and even Wohler could start for us and be an upgrade. I definitely have my favorites but regardless I would hardly see it as a wasted pick.

[*psychdoctor*]

The safety from Wisconsin (Wohler) is one of my favorites in this year's draft and can probably be picked in around 5.  His metrics are favorable and indicate an elite safety.

[*ochocincos*]

If Stone is going to be like he was last year, I firmly think a rookie can come in and perform better.
Besides that, Stone is set to hit FA next year, Battle the year after.
I don't think a safety HAS to be taken this year, but I would not call the pick a waste.
It's not exactly a good performing group going into 2025.

[Whatever]

(04-24-2025, 12:02 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: I see a lot of mocks on here with us taking a safety in the first four rounds, which I think is a complete waste.

This safety class is very weak. Even the top few aren't that impressive, but we definitely aren't going to get anything after the first few safeties picked that would even play as well as any free agent we could pick up, so why not focus on positions that can improve our team?

I understand that we need an improved defense, but it's stupid to pick defense just to pick defense, especially when we can improve our team in other areas.

I'd rather pick a corner than a safety in this deep class because then we'd at least be getting value and not wasting a pick.


Edit: Winston could be a solid pick if he's fully recovered, but I think taking him early would definitely be a wasted pick.

I mean, it's a bad OL class and most everyone has us taking OL in the first 4 rounds, too...

[Clark W Griswold]

Yeah I think Emmanwori, Starks or Watts would be instant starters and help the defense be better. And, unlike some of the DL prospects, none of them have any off field/character concerns that I am aware of.

I like a good safety because they can help vs the run and the pass.
They would be on the field more than a DT or an edge because, while not a great group, there is depth in numbers along the DL.

Brad I know you are big on Nolen but a safety would definitely not be a wasted pick at 17.

[*Synric*]

Xavier Watts is my Safety #1 so I wouldn't draft one in the first round.

[Clark W Griswold]

(04-24-2025, 01:06 PM)Synric Wrote: Xavier Watts is my Safety #1 so I wouldn't draft one in the first round.

Do you think he makes it to pick 49? I don’t and if a team wants him in the second they can move ahead of the Bengals or just take him before 49. Sucks because of his connection to Golden I think teams know the Bengals will want him (if they don’t go safety in the first).

You would be ok with trading down and taking Watts at the end of the first round? I don’t think I would mind this if they were sold on him and could get him in the late 20s.

[*Synric*]

(04-24-2025, 01:19 PM)Clark W Griswold Wrote: Do you think he makes it to pick 49?  I don’t and if a team wants him in the second they can move ahead of the Bengals or just take him before 49.  Sucks because of his connection to Golden I think teams know the Bengals will want him (if they don’t go safety in the first).

You would be ok with trading down and taking Watts at the end of the first round?  I don’t think I would mind this if they were sold on him and could get him in the late 20s.

If Watts ran a little faster I would say yea but it would still depend more who else on the board. 

With Safety, specially top 20, you want them to have really racked up the big plays like a Xavier Watts. Which makes it hard for me to stack Starks and Emmanwori to high. 

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(04-24-2025, 12:02 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: I see a lot of mocks on here with us taking a safety in the first four rounds, which I think is a complete waste.

This safety class is very weak. Even the top few aren't that impressive, but we definitely aren't going to get anything after the first few safeties picked that would even play as well as any free agent we could pick up, so why not focus on positions that can improve our team?

I understand that we need an improved defense, but it's stupid to pick defense just to pick defense, especially when we can improve our team in other areas.

I'd rather pick a corner than a safety in this deep class because then we'd at least be getting value and not wasting a pick.


Edit: Winston could be a solid pick if he's fully recovered, but I think taking him early would definitely be a wasted pick.

Depends on the Safety and if you think Geno Stone improves. Would love Emmanwori, Starks or Xavier Watts and I doubt either one of these guys 
would be a wasted pick at all. Might play more than our guy Walter Nolen as a rookie for all we know. Nolen would only be playing in a rotation at
most after all. I don't think Geno Stone will improve enough to make Safety a wasted pick, but this is just my opinion.

[BFritz21]

(04-24-2025, 12:34 PM)Whatever Wrote: I mean, it's a bad OL class and most everyone has us taking OL in the first 4 rounds, too...

Because we can't score if we can't block for Burrow and Burrow's career will be short and wasted if we don't start blocking for him.

I kind of agree though and I'm really hoping some good guards get released.

(04-24-2025, 01:00 PM)Clark W Griswold Wrote: Yeah I think Emmanwori, Starks or Watts would be instant starters and help the defense be better. And, unlike some of the DL prospects, none of them have any off field/character concerns that I am aware of.

I like a good safety because they can help vs the run and the pass.  
They would be on the field more than a DT or an edge because, while not a great group, there is depth in numbers along the DL.

Brad I know you are big on Nolen but a safety would definitely not be a wasted pick at 17.

I just don't think a safety could have the impact that Nolen (or even a guard) would have and protecting Burrow and improving the d line (makes the secondaries' lives easier) should be top priorities.

(04-24-2025, 04:11 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Depends on the Safety and if you think Geno Stone improves. Would love Emmanwori, Starks or Xavier Watts and I doubt either one of these guys 
would be a wasted pick at all. Might play more than our guy Walter Nolen as a rookie for all we know. Nolen would only be playing in a rotation at
most after all. I don't think Geno Stone will improve enough to make Safety a wasted pick, but this is just my opinion.

You bring up good points but, like I type above, I just don't think that they'd improve the defense more than Nolen, one of the guards, or even Harmon.

[Stewy]

Damn man.  You do fall in love with prospects and set yourself up for disappointment.

Just sit back, enjoy the show....have some wings and brews and accept that you don't know shyt compared to the professionals....just like me and everyone else on this board.

[SunsetBengal]

(04-24-2025, 06:37 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: You bring up good points but, like I type above, I just don't think that they'd improve the defense more than Nolen, one of the guards, or even Harmon.

After the team re-signed BJ Hill, added a big fella in Slaton, and spent two quality draft picks on good DT prospects last year, I'm honestly not expecting them to go interior DL early tonight. I don't see any of the Guards that will likely be available at #17 to be worthy of that high of a pick. Unless they deal Trey tonight, I don't see them going Edge in the 1st round. They signed Ossai because they believe in him, and they just spent a 1st round pick on Murphy (still waiting for launch) two years ago, so I think they might be leery of going DE in the 1st.

Nick Emmanwori is a guy that could make the biggest impact as a rookie. Yeah, I know that they drafted Dax Hill in the first to "replace" Jesse Bates III, but they have moved Dax around so much that he hasn't been able to build up any consistency, anywhere. You can put Emmanwori down low to cover TEs and Slot, or put him in back to handle deep stuff, he does it all. Lowest missed Tackle rate of any noteworthy Safety (7.8%) and highest RAS of anyone this year (10.0). Might even be able to trade back a few slots and pick him up, but if they are firm on picking at 17? I don't see him as a reach.

[BFritz21]

(04-24-2025, 07:15 PM)Stewy Wrote: Damn man.  You do fall in love with prospects and set yourself up for disappointment.

Just sit back, enjoy the show....have some wings and brews and accept that you don't know shyt compared to the professionals....just like me and everyone else on this board.

I definitely do, but it all makes sense in my head.........



Haven't drank in a month or two because trying to eat healthier and lift harder (actually helping some), but I might go get some wings.

I would stay out and watch it and just not drink but I'm presenting to a few classes tomorrow (it's actually where Shaun Alexander went to high school) and don't know if I even feel like staying out after getting wings (might bring them home).

[Bengalstripes9]

I think a safety would be a wasted pick if the player doesn't turn out to be any good.

You could say that about any other position group too.

Bottom line is they need to draft a great player in the 1st.

[BFritz21]

(04-24-2025, 07:27 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: After the team re-signed BJ Hill, added a big fella in Slaton, and spent two quality draft picks on good DT prospects last year, I'm honestly not expecting them to go interior DL early tonight. I don't see any of the Guards that will likely be available at #17 to be worthy of that high of a pick. Unless they deal Trey tonight, I don't see them going Edge in the 1st round. They signed Ossai because they believe in him, and they just spent a 1st round pick on Murphy (still waiting for launch) two years ago, so I think they might be leery of going DE in the 1st.

Nick Emmanwori is a guy that could make the biggest impact as a rookie. Yeah, I know that they drafted Dax Hill in the first to "replace" Jesse Bates III, but they have moved Dax around so much that he hasn't been able to build up any consistency, anywhere. You can put Emmanwori down low to cover TEs and Slot, or put him in back to handle deep stuff, he does it all. Lowest missed Tackle rate of any noteworthy Safety (7.8%) and highest RAS of anyone this year (10.0). Might even be able to trade back a few slots and pick him up, but if they are firm on picking at 17? I don't see him as a reach.

Hell of a post.

I did realize that about Hill and the two picks last year, but I just don't think that you can pass on a prospect like Nolen.

Emmanwori would be a good pick since he can cover tight ends since this division is usually pretty big on the stats to the tight ends.

[SunsetBengal]

(04-24-2025, 07:36 PM)Bengalstripes9 Wrote: I think a safety would be a wasted pick if the player doesn't turn out to be any good.

You could say that about any other position group too.

Bottom line is they need to draft a great player in the 1st.

No kidding? WR was generally a great pick in the first, until the chose John Ross, OT was generally a great pick for the Bengals, until they chose Cedric Ogbuehi.

[Stewy]

(04-24-2025, 07:30 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: I definitely do, but it all makes sense in my head.........



Haven't drank in a month or two because trying to eat healthier and lift harder (actually helping some), but I might go get some wings.

I would stay out and watch it and just not drink but I'm presenting to a few classes tomorrow (it's actually where Shaun Alexander went to high school) and don't know if I even feel like staying out after getting wings (might bring them home).

Well....at least wings, right?

[Stewy]

(04-24-2025, 07:41 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: No kidding? WR was generally a great pick in the first, until the chose John Ross, OT was generally a great pick for the Bengals, until they chose Cedric Ogbuehi.

GD it, let's just give the pick to Pittsburgh for a chicken wing, and just avoid the inevitable dumpster fire at 17.

[BFritz21]

(04-24-2025, 07:48 PM)Stewy Wrote: Well....at least wings, right?

Thinking I might roll down to get some wings and then bring them home. I'd stay at the bar and just not drink, but I feel like I'll want to be able to get on my computer to chat about the picks (I know we only have one) and see what everyone else thinks. It's not as easy on my phone.