What Would Your Draft Have Been?

[*ochocincos*]

Many of us (including myself) have been critical of this Bengals draft class.
Many national media sites are rating the Bengals draft one of the worst in the league.

So the question posed to you...looking at who was available at each pick, who would you have taken?
*Assume no trades because we don't know what was offered, only who was available.

Mine:
1) Derrick Harmon, DT Oregon
2) Tate Ratledge, OG Georgia
3) Xavier Watts, SAF Notre Dame
4) Kyle Kennard, DE South Carolina
5) Mitchell Evans, TE Notre Dame
6) Tahj Brooks, RB Texas Tech

Off-ball LB is one of the cheaper positions to address in FA, so I would have been perfectly ok not adding a LB in the draft. I would have been ok with just 1 LB though.

[Joelist]

I probably go like this:

I already had us going with Fairchild, Tahj Brooks and Knight. I'm probably taking Green in 1, Watts over Carter and still take Rivers now that I know more about him.

[TKUHL]

Think I would have liked to see Harmon and Zabel over Stewart and Knight. Stewart is the only guy I didn’t want in the first. I knew we would sit still as our guy goes right before us, as usual. 6 picks, not much to work with though in a draft when teams aren’t trading.
But we have these guys now so I will give the rooks 100% support till proven otherwise. I’m just glad we addressed both lines. Would have been fine with an all O & D line draft too. Let’s Go!

[NUGDUKWE]

I'd probably go
Harmon
Ratledge
Winston
Then just leave the rest the same although I could've gone edge or another LB in the Rivers spot.

[Soonerpeace]

(04-30-2025, 06:43 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Many of us (including myself) have been critical of this Bengals draft class.
Many national media sites are rating the Bengals draft one of the worst in the league.

So the question posed to you...looking at who was available at each pick, who would you have taken?
*Assume no trades because we don't know what was offered, only who was available.

Mine:
1) Derrick Harmon, DT Oregon
2) Tate Ratledge, OG Georgia
3) Xavier Watts, SAF Notre Dame
4) Kyle Kennard, DE South Carolina
5) Mitchell Evans, TE Notre Dame
6) Tahj Brooks, RB Texas Tech

Off-ball LB is one of the cheaper positions to address in FA, so I would have been perfectly ok not adding a LB in the draft. I would have been ok with just 1 LB though.

I’d stay with Stewart at 1. They need an edge more than DT. Would have gone with Ratledge at 2. I’d taken Watts too. Maybe moved up to get Knight after Watts or kept Barrett at 4 if Knight was gone. The rest I liked. I’m convinced there was a battle over Ratledge vs Knight in the war room. They don’t need a TE

[Soonerpeace]

(04-30-2025, 08:16 PM)TKUHL Wrote: Think I would have liked to see Harmon and Zabel over Stewart and Knight. Stewart is the only guy I didn’t want in the first. I knew we would sit still as our guy goes right before us, as usual. 6 picks, not much to work with though in a draft when teams aren’t trading.
But we have these guys now so I will give the rooks 100% support till proven otherwise. I’m just glad we addressed both lines. Would have been fine with an all O & D line draft too. Let’s Go!

I wanted Zabel at 1. I understand the DE was a greater worry. Zabel went next after Stewart

[J24]

1st Tate Ratledge RG Georgia- Day one starter at RG. Has all the data of a first RD pick.

2nd- Ashton Gillotte DE Louisville- Versatile Edge that can rush the pass rusher from the inside on third downs.

3rd- Jared Wilson C Georgia- eventual  plus starter at IOL.

4th- Shedure Sanders QB- Developmental QB that I probably can trade later for  significant draft capital.

5th- Jalen Rivers OT Miami- Only pick I really like what the Bengals  did.

6th- Hunter Wholer S Wisconsin- Goodberry had a first RD Grade on him and  grid iron grading was high on him as well.

Not a sexy draft but an effective one.

[NUGDUKWE]

(04-30-2025, 08:47 PM)J24 Wrote: 1st Tate Ratledge RG Georgia- Day one starter at RG. Has all the data of a first RD pick.
2nd- Ashton Gillotte DE Louisville- Versatile Edge that can rush the pass rusher from the inside on third downs.
3rd- Jared Wilson C Georgia- eventual  plus starter at IOL.
4th- Shedure Sanders QB- Developmental QB that I probably can trade later for  significant draft capital.
5th- Jalen Rivers OT Miami- Only pick I really like that the Bengals  did.
6th- Hunter Wholer S Wisconsin- Goodberry had a first RD Grade on him and so did the Anylitics Twitter account I follow.

Not a sexy draft but an effective one.

Interesting draft. I do like the idea of taking a QB falling like that because if he turns into something it can change your team from a trade value aspect. 

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

Fair enough. Lets go with...

1. Jihaad Campbell, LB
2. Tate Ratledge, OG
3. Josiah Stewart, LB (he would be our 2-down guy who can also give us potential 5-man fronts out of base defense to rush the passer)
4. Jack Sawyer, DE
5. Zah Frazier, CB
6. Ricky White, WR (6th rounders make the team for ST and he was ST PoY for his conference, also productive at WR)

Was tempted to put Quinn Ewers in the 6th because that's just great value and I think he'll have one of those great backups that occasionally is a starter-for-a-year type careers), but we need WR depth and good ST guys more than we need a new backup QB.

[Soonerpeace]

(04-30-2025, 08:47 PM)J24 Wrote: 1st Tate Ratledge RG Georgia- Day one starter at RG. Has all the data of a first RD pick.
2nd- Ashton Gillotte DE Louisville- Versatile Edge that can rush the pass rusher from the inside on third downs.
3rd- Jared Wilson C Georgia- eventual plus starter at IOL.
4th- Shedure Sanders QB- Developmental QB that I probably can trade later for significant draft capital.
5th- Jalen Rivers OT Miami- Only pick I really like that the Bengals did.
6th- Hunter Wholer S Wisconsin- Goodberry had a first RD Grade on him and so did the Anylitics Twitter account I follow.

Not a sexy draft but an effective one.

Sanders LMAO

[jj22]

This thread just frustrates me all over again. I have no doubt many on this board could draft better than Tobin.

Even his best picks we had sniffed out and knew was coming. What he has t done is draft a gem. A name we weren’t familiar with. And that name turn into a special player. That’s what he gets paid to do.

[*bfine32*]

RD 1: Shemar Stewart

RD2: Tate Ratledge

RD3: Xavier Watts

RD4: Rylie Myles

RD5: Smael Mourton

RD6: Hayden Conner

[NATI BENGALS]

1. Shemar - now that I know who/what he is. I didn't bother to look into him with all the hate i saw. I'm still in shock after seeing him play that we got him at 17, just absolutely wrecking an offense looking like Myles Garret. 
2. mike green DE - would have had to double down with the value here. 
3. xavier watts S - Going against Al is probably stupid since he should know, but it may have been an O vs D choice that determined the pick.
4. Chris Paul Jr LB - Sean Mcvay liked him enough. I know I did. 
5. Miles Frazier G - Dan Campbell picked him. I liked the LSU Burrow link plug and play RG. 
6. Cameron Williams T/G - Eagles picked the giant true junior that started for Texas at RT who is loaded with potential. 

[phil413]

(04-30-2025, 06:43 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Many of us (including myself) have been critical of this Bengals draft class.
Many national media sites are rating the Bengals draft one of the worst in the league.

So the question posed to you...looking at who was available at each pick, who would you have taken?
*Assume no trades because we don't know what was offered, only who was available.

Mine:
1) Derrick Harmon, DT Oregon
2) Tate Ratledge, OG Georgia
3) Xavier Watts, SAF Notre Dame
4) Kyle Kennard, DE South Carolina
5) Mitchell Evans, TE Notre Dame
6) Tahj Brooks, RB Texas Tech

Off-ball LB is one of the cheaper positions to address in FA, so I would have been perfectly ok not adding a LB in the draft. I would have been ok with just 1 LB though.

Your picks 2 and 3 are what I had in NY only mock.  I'm going to assume the Bengals had Harmon as the next guy up if no trade so that's mint too. Probably would have had Sawyer in the 4th.  

[TecmoBengals]

(04-30-2025, 08:32 PM)NUGDUKWE Wrote: I'd probably go
Harmon
Ratledge
Winston
Then just leave the rest the same although I could've gone edge or another LB in the Rivers spot.

 I agree, this would have been a great use of the top three picks.

[CJD]

1. Harmon
2. Ratledge
3. Watts/Winston (Coaches' choice)
4. Carter
5. Mbow (though I do like the Rivers pick too).
6. Brooks

Our day 3 really was fantastic. I only change Rivers to Mbow because that's who I was more familiar with. I think they're equivalent prospects.

In reality, we didn't address interior pressure, which I felt was a more pressing need than edge pressure, so I fix that discrepancy here. I tried to fit an edge in somewhere, but I just liked these players' value better in each round.

If you wanted to change Carter to someone like David Walker to get that added edge pressure from the LB room, I wouldn't mind that change.

[kevin]

(04-30-2025, 06:43 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Many of us (including myself) have been critical of this Bengals draft class.
Many national media sites are rating the Bengals draft one of the worst in the league.

So the question posed to you...looking at who was available at each pick, who would you have taken?
*Assume no trades because we don't know what was offered, only who was available.

Mine:
1) Derrick Harmon, DT Oregon
2) Tate Ratledge, OG Georgia
3) Xavier Watts, SAF Notre Dame
4) Kyle Kennard, DE South Carolina
5) Mitchell Evans, TE Notre Dame
6) Tahj Brooks, RB Texas Tech

Off-ball LB is one of the cheaper positions to address in FA, so I would have been perfectly ok not adding a LB in the draft. I would have been ok with just 1 LB though.

 Bengals could have lost Higgins and Chase, but they put out huge money to keep both long term with Burrow.  That right there is a great off season.  Still, the Bengals Defense has not been good.  Bengals brought in a new D Coach in Golden, getting him to leave a top job at Notre Dame.  Much of the draft was on Defense and O Line Blockers with Bengals weak in the trenches.  

I don't think me or any on this site could have did better.  They had to break the bank to have Burrow, Chase and Higgins locked in long term.   They brought in Golden as new D coach and he likes the D players Bengals just drafted.  Golden says they fit the type defense he intends to have.  The DE and LB first 2 rounds, Golden says they can play in multiple packages, so he won't get caught with the wrong players on the field, since the 2 top picks can line up in different formations.  

Golden also mentioned sometimes he may need 4 LB's on the field.  That is a change from Zac Taylor saying 5 or 6 DB's on the field 80 % of the game.  I think Taylor will still insist on Nickle and Dime packages, but Golden sounds like he wants to also use 3 or 4 LB sets during games also.  Not just sitting back in The Prevent all game as Zac likes.  I think Golden was a much needed addition, and if he is happy with the players drafted, that is fine with me.  

So Chase and Higgins were kept to be long term with Burrow.  Most of NFL thought that impossible.  That right there makes a good off season.  Add in Golden and Golden liking the D players drafted, and that makes a Great off season.   None of on here could have did better.  

I think most of you are going to change your tune when Bengals are winning.  You will say, " Oh, I see.  They kept Burrow, Chase and Higgins and this Golden and his new Defense is so much better.  Now we see. ".  

Golden is not going to sit back in The Prevent giving up yards as Zac has done.  Golden wants to mix in 3 and 4 LB packages with those extra DB packages Taylor likes.  Problem was Bengals didn't have enough Front 7 players for Golden to run his Defenses, so they drafted some players so Golden can run his 3 or 4 LB sets when he wants. Taylor likes 5 and 6 DB Nickle and Dime Prevent Defenses.  Golden just said there will be times he will have 3 or 4 LB's on the field.  So look for Golden to run many more D Packages than Bengals have ever ran before.  Golden mentioned a 4th LB sometimes, but they will still have their 5 or 6 DB sets.  

I bet this was made clear at the start.  Golden had a top job at Notre Dame, he didn't need Bengals.  I'm sure he let it be known that he would not leave Notre Dame to play The Prevent Defense all game as Zac Taylor likes.  However if he could mix in more 3 and 4 LB packages and run his Defense, he would leave Notre Dame for Bengals.  Golden did not have to leave Notre Dame, so when Golden says he is going to run his Defense with Bengals, I believe him. 

Nobody on this board could have did better including me.  GO BENGALS.   Higgins and Chase could be gone, but they are here, and Golden brought in to fix the Defense. It's all good.  

 

[Whatever]

I would probably go given 20/20 hindsight...

1.Stewart -after hearing about the flexibility Al coveted

2.Scourton-was very high on him and you can't have enough pass rushers.

3.Jared Wilson-Highest RAS ever by a C is too good to pass up in the 3rd.

4.Carter

5.Rivers

6.Brooks

[Truck_1_0_1_]

1. Jihaad
2. Ratledge
3. Ty Robinson
4. Kennard
5. Miles Frazier
6. Thomas Perry

[jj22]

(05-01-2025, 11:06 AM)Whatever Wrote: I would probably go given 20/20 hindsight...

1.Stewart -after hearing about the flexibility Al coveted

2.Scourton-was very high on him and you can't have enough pass rushers.

3.Jared Wilson-Highest RAS ever by a C is too good to pass up in the 3rd.

4.Carter

5.Rivers

6.Brooks

Scourton is the one jumping off the screen when watching game tape on Stewart....