Worse draft in the Burrow Era

[*PhilHos*]

(04-29-2025, 10:12 PM)reuben.ahmed Wrote: Mel Kiper agrees with you, Bengals were the worst team in the draft.
Blame Duke Tobin, or our new D-coordinator Albert. 

But nobody takes blame when nobody takes responsibility. That is why the Bengals are not successful.

So you also assume that Shadeur Sanders was the 2nd best QB in the draft, that he should've gone in the 1st round and that NFL teams don't know how to evaluate QBS?

[Housh]

(04-29-2025, 10:12 PM)reuben.ahmed Wrote: Mel Kiper agrees with you, Bengals were the worst team in the draft.
Blame Duke Tobin, or our new D-coordinator Albert. 

But nobody takes blame when nobody takes responsibility. That is why the Bengals are not successful.

Kiper ain’t nobody dawg

F*** Kiper

Our draft could easily have 4 starters in it

For sure got a starting guard, for sure got a starting linebacker and Stewart as his worst is likely gonna be our top
Run stop DE year 1

If the Chiefs did this same shit they’d be saying it was the greatest chess move of all time

[PCB Bengal Fan]

(04-30-2025, 10:34 AM)PhilHos Wrote: So you also assume that Shadeur Sanders was the 2nd best QB in the draft, that he should've gone in the 1st round and that NFL teams don't know how to evaluate QBS?

So a guy who's made a living off evaluating talent for the NFL for 45 years can't be wrong? WTS, I don't like him & never have, but I'll take his opinion over anyone on this board.

[BrownAssClown]

Is Mel Kiper ever right about anything? Once in a blue moon he may hit on something but for the life of me I don't know how the man still draws a paycheck. As far as this being the worst draft since Burrow got here. I don't know? I liked the picks but we'll have to see how the rookies play. I try not to judge a draft until a few years down the road. I do wish we would've traded back in the 1st or 2nd to pick up some additional picks.

[BFritz21]

Everyone, including a lot of people on here and in the area, are calling the draft a flop and saying we're screwed, even when most drafts can't usually can't be graded after the first year or two, much-less this soon after the draft.

I wasn't happy with all the picks, but I thought we did pretty well and I'm trusting the coaches on this one.

1. Stewart- I'm growing more and more on this pick. He's a good run stopper and a solid pass rusher, he just has troubles finishing. Hopefully, being a former player, Montgomery can help him with that and, even if he doesn't finish, hopefully he can help other rushers get sacks or rush throws, which is sometimes better than a sack because it can lead to interceptions.

2. Knight- I was confused by this pick and not happy about it, but he fills a need and might be the best player in the draft that we could have gotten at a position of need. He's a physical backer that plays downhill but is athletic enough to play the pass like a safety. I think we'll all end up pleasantly surprised by this pick.

3. Fairchild- this guy's physical and aggressive and I love the pick.

4. Carter was projected to be an early round pick early in his career at Clemson, so I think getting him in the fourth could be a steal. His weakness seems to be his ability to take on/shed blocks, but, being a weak side backer, he will be asked to do that less. He's skilled in pass coverage and can cover backs and tight ends, and given that it's more of a passing league, I like this pick.

5. Rivers is good at tackle or guard, and I think he'll excel at guard for us. I think this was an A+ pick.

6. Brooks- wasn't big on this pick, but he offers good pass protection and can get through the line and onto the second level. Not much big play ability, but hopefully he's working on improving as a receiver to make him more of a weapon.

I think that, when you first glance at this, people are rightly grading it low, but this isn't the Mike Brown run drafts where you think "WTF is he smoking," so I feel confident in our coaches and I think this draft could turn out good for us.

[*PhilHos*]

(04-30-2025, 10:40 AM)PCB Bengal Fan Wrote: So a guy who's made a living off evaluating talent for the NFL for 45 years can't be wrong? WTS, I don't like him & never have, but I'll take his opinion over anyone on this board.

The question isn't if Mel Kiper is allowed to be wrong. The question is if Mel Kiper is ever actually right. lol

[THE PISTONS]

In any draft, if you got 2 quality starters you did good. Who knows?

[Soonerpeace]

(04-30-2025, 01:50 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: Everyone, including a lot of people on here and in the area, are calling the draft a flop and saying we're screwed, even when most drafts can't usually can't be graded after the first year or two, much-less this soon after the draft.

I wasn't happy with all the picks, but I thought we did pretty well and I'm trusting the coaches on this one.

1. Stewart- I'm growing more and more on this pick. He's a good run stopper and a solid pass rusher, he just has troubles finishing. Hopefully, being a former player, Montgomery can help him with that and, even if he doesn't finish, hopefully he can help other rushers get sacks or rush throws, which is sometimes better than a sack because it can lead to interceptions.

2. Knight- I was confused by this pick and not happy about it, but he fills a need and might be the best player in the draft that we could have gotten at a position of need. He's a physical backer that plays downhill but is athletic enough to play the pass like a safety. I think we'll all end up pleasantly surprised by this pick.

3. Fairchild- this guy's physical and aggressive and I love the pick.

4. Carter was projected to be an early round pick early in his career at Clemson, so I think getting him in the fourth could be a steal. His weakness seems to be his ability to take on/shed blocks, but, being a weak side backer, he will be asked to do that less. He's skilled in pass coverage and can cover backs and tight ends, and given that it's more of a passing league, I like this pick.

5. Rivers is good at tackle or guard, and I think he'll excel at guard for us. I think this was an A+ pick.

6. Brooks- wasn't big on this pick, but he offers good pass protection and can get through the line and onto the second level. Not much big play ability, but hopefully he's working on improving as a receiver to make him more of a weapon.

I think that, when you first glance at this, people are rightly grading it low, but this isn't the Mike Brown run drafts where you think "WTF is he smoking," so I feel confident in our coaches and I think this draft could turn out good for us.

Very good take. But I’m a broken record. I’ve said this time after time. We’ve had 12 picks (1-3) the last 4 years. Who has made a very significant impact? Chase & Mims. Maybe sort of CTB. Dax Hill hasn’t so far. We’ve done poorly. So Stewart,Knight, and Fairchild will determine this for me. But I think they are drafting for the Ravens and that’s smart. But safety is still a huge concern.

[SunsetBengal]

(04-30-2025, 10:40 AM)PCB Bengal Fan Wrote: So a guy who's made a living off evaluating talent for the NFL for 45 years can't be wrong? WTS, I don't like him & never have, but I'll take his opinion over anyone on this board.

Personally, aside from how off the mark he generally is, I find the sound of Kiper's voice and his banter to be rather irritating. 

[reuben.ahmed]

(04-30-2025, 12:03 AM)sandwedge Wrote: Kiper your new Mesiah? This is the worst take.

(04-30-2025, 12:11 AM)MTBengalsFan Wrote: Mel Kiper is jealous of our local weatherman's weather forecasting abilities. And our weatherman is wrong more often than he's right.

(04-30-2025, 10:34 AM)PhilHos Wrote: So you also assume that Shadeur Sanders was the 2nd best QB in the draft, that he should've gone in the 1st round and that NFL teams don't know how to evaluate QBS?

(04-30-2025, 10:39 AM)Housh Wrote: Kiper ain’t nobody dawg

F*** Kiper

Our draft could easily have 4 starters in it

For sure got a starting guard, for sure got a starting linebacker and Stewart as his worst is likely gonna be our top
Run stop DE year 1

If the Chiefs did this same shit they’d be saying it was the greatest chess move of all time

All I said was Mel Kiper agrees (Sandwedge trying to say something else, per usual); the Bengals had the worst draft. And also that it's not abnormal for the Bengals to draft poorly, tell me you disagree.

Their 2 best players were only received because they fielded one of the worst teams in football. This is not a stretch, they haven't won a superbowl lol.

Joey Goodberry gave the Bengals a D; go argue with him your points lol. "One of the worst drafts they've ever had."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0P6bcaZgjY

Imagine not being critical of a team that has never won a superbowl, especially as a fan. 

Duke Tobin's leash is too long, we have poor scouting department, Albert the D coordinator should not have a long leash either. Just killing Burrow's years.

[MTBengalsFan]

Mel Kiper said the Bengals '99 draft was one of the 5 best that year, and gave us an A-. Mel makes a nice living being wrong more often than not.

[NUGDUKWE]

(04-30-2025, 10:24 PM)reuben.ahmed Wrote: All I said was Mel Kiper agrees (Sandwedge trying to say something else, per usual); the Bengals had the worst draft. And also that it's not abnormal for the Bengals to draft poorly, tell me you disagree.

Their 2 best players were only received because they fielded one of the worst teams in football. This is not a stretch, they haven't won a superbowl lol.

Joey Goodberry gave the Bengals a D; go argue with him your points lol. "One of the worst drafts they've ever had."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0P6bcaZgjY

Imagine not being critical of a team that has never won a superbowl, especially as a fan. 

Duke Tobin's leash is too long, we have poor scouting department, Albert the D coordinator should not have a long leash either. Just killing Burrow's years.

Looking at PFF's bottom 12 offensive lines from the end of last season to see what those teams did to bring in new talent.

4 of those teams spent First Round picks on the OL.
2 more of those teams spent Second Round picks on the OL.

5 teams added at least $8M in cap dollars on…

— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) May 1, 2025

 


This aggravates me as well. We have Burrow, Chase and Higgins probably the only reason we have a chance to win anything. Yet we are at the bottom of teams of capital put in to fix the oline.

[*Synric*]

I like the players the Bengals drafted but because of how the Bengals forced themselves to draft I was likely never going to be happy with the results as a whole.


I will explain.

Goodberry is reporting that the Bengals draft board at #49 looked like (in the room with Lapham) Demetrius Knight > Tate Ratledge > Kevin Winston Jr > Barrett Carter. Which I won't even argue with how they had them stacked and the board is reasonable that is not the issue... The issue is they had a second round grade on Kevin Winston Jr but had to pass on him at #81 because they tied themselves into specific positions.

I will say it looks like the Bengals stacked the Linebacker class higher than most of the NFL. It was 26 picks between Knight and Nick Martin. 62 picks between Knight and Cody Simon. Bengals took Carter 4 picks after Simon. They were really high on the class.

[Lucius Cincinnatus]

(04-30-2025, 10:39 AM)Housh Wrote: Kiper ain’t nobody dawg

F*** Kiper

Our draft could easily have 4 starters in it

For sure got a starting guard, for sure got a starting linebacker and Stewart as his worst is likely gonna be our top
Run stop DE year 1

If the Chiefs did this same shit they’d be saying it was the greatest chess move of all time

Evaluating a draft based on if the player starts or not is a foolish way to do so when you have glaring holes to fill. 

Cordell Volson has started since he was a rookie...he has also been terrible. 
Zach Carter started 9 games as a rookie...he wasn't good and was cut last year
Jackson Carman started 6 games as a rookie....he isn't good
Hakeem Adeniji started 14 games over his 1st two seasons....he is a bad player

I could go on and on. So, since those players started games early on, does that mean they were good draft picks? No. They were given the chance to start due to holes on the roster, not because they were good players. 

[Hammerstripes]

I hate to be the "wet blanket" but let's see how all these guys perform before saying this is a good or bad draft.

Kiper and all these other experts have their opinions. Nobody knows who is going "a round too early" or "is a bust"

I can go down the list of guys that were taken "a round too early" that ended up being a great. I can also go down the list of "can't miss" or "Gold Jacket" players that were absolute trash.

We needed to address pass rush, interior o line and 3rd down defense. We did that. Maybe not with the players we preferred, but time will tell.

[Whatever]

(05-01-2025, 08:17 AM)Synric Wrote: I like the players the Bengals drafted but because of how the Bengals forced themselves to draft I was likely never going to be happy with the results as a whole.


I will explain.

Goodberry is reporting that the Bengals draft board at #49 looked like (in the room with Lapham) Demetrius Knight > Tate Ratledge > Kevin Winston Jr > Barrett Carter. Which I won't even argue with how they had them stacked and the board is reasonable that is not the issue... The issue is they had a second round grade on Kevin Winston Jr but had to pass on him at #81 because they tied themselves into specific positions.

I will say it looks like the Bengals stacked the Linebacker class higher than most of the NFL. It was 26 picks between Knight and Nick Martin. 62 picks between Knight and Cody Simon. Bengals took Carter 4 picks after Simon. They were really high on the class.

Especially bad, if true, when you have quality guards like Scherff and Risner still unsigned.  

I guess folks can take some solace in the buzz from Georgia being surprise that Fairchild declared and the belief that he would have been a 1st round pick next year if he had stayed in school another year.

At least they lucked out in Carter still being there in the 4th.  

[PCB Bengal Fan]

(04-30-2025, 05:00 PM)PhilHos Wrote: The question isn't if Mel Kiper is allowed to be wrong. The question is if Mel Kiper is ever actually right. lol

Again, I'll take his opinion over anyone on this board & the Bengals FO, the same FO that turned down the Saints entire draft for Akili F!cking Smith. I get that Kiper is wrong quite a bit, but it's still what he does for a living. I honestly think the Bengals best pick ever was Geno & he was what a 4th rounder, I wish Marvin was our GM. He should've been moved from HC to defacto GM, but Mikey & family are the true experts of NFL football.

[Stewy]

Whether I like the picks or not I never look at draft grades because they are absolutely stupid.

Here is what it boils down to....did the evaluator like the pick. That's it. Period.

Call me back in 4 years.

[NUGDUKWE]

(05-01-2025, 12:20 PM)Stewy Wrote: Whether I like the picks or not I never look at draft grades because they are absolutely stupid.

Here is what it boils down to....did the evaluator like the pick.  That's it.  Period.

Call me back in 4 years.

I get the sentiment and certainly any evaluator can be wrong. But there is or should be a bit more that goes into it than if they like a player or not. A grading system that you are holding all players to as well as using the consensus rankings to try and get value at each pick.

Take the Bengals draft whether you really like it, hate it or somewhere in the middle. They clearly drafted on need or let need effect there rankings. Which everyone always says we need to go best player available not need. Well the Bengals aren't doing that so I would say it doesn't look like a good process. May or may not work out but they have the 32nd rated draft for very good reason.

[Soonerpeace]

(05-01-2025, 01:17 PM)NUGDUKWE Wrote: I get the sentiment and certainly any evaluator can be wrong. But there is or should be a bit more that goes into it than if they like a player or not. A grading system that you are holding all players to as well as using the consensus rankings to try and get value at each pick.

Take the Bengals draft whether you really like it, hate it or somewhere in the middle. They clearly drafted on need or let need effect there rankings. Which everyone always says we need to go best player available not need. Well the Bengals aren't doing that so I would say it doesn't look like a good process. May or may not work out but they have the 32nd rated draft for very good reason.

Their propensity to draft a 25 year old LB. Their propensity to reach for him and Carter smacks of liking the person more than the player. There’s a happy balance. Zac uses the term we want player s that love ball. You need players that win games and also love ball. Not sure the ratio was right this draft.