AMPHAR

The only thing I'll say about draft grades nationally. For example Chad Reuter from NFL.com. Gave Bengals a B day 1. OK. However in his mock he had them picking an Edge (Mykel Williams) who was gone at 17 in the real draft. Then had the Shemar Stewart going 19 in his mock. If those were your beliefs pre-draft then the grade of "B" sounds a little weak. By virtue of your own mock there wasn't much separation of Williams and Stewart and the Bengals hit the need you identified.

The Bengals dropped 1 spot to 12th on the Power Rankings post draft. Basically leaped by the Broncos. So they are in tight 4th or 5th in pecking order in the AFC. Opinions on this Power Ranking have Ravens as AFC Favorites, Chief, Bills, Broncos, and Bengals.

I hope they try Dax back at Safety and not have the coverage safety limitations Lou required. I think he has the range and ball hawk abilities to be a factor there. But we'll see.

I think Myles Murphy has been out of shape entering TC the last 2 years. He was running with the scrubs early in TC and would have never made it back in the rotation (prior to injury) if Sample and Hubbard didn't lose time. Then he loses time to injury. Now he's cut out cereal and dropped fat. If that isn't the magic pill, I would put him on the path of being cut. I think Ossasi and Sample get first crack at Opposite DE snaps. D-line draft picks were an oddity this year. Top need but not a clear path to immediate playing time. I do hope there is more of a D-line rotation than what we've seen recently.

The lack of development of previous defensive drafted guys certainly plays in the criticism of this pick. Fans wanted more a sure thing. They got well IF you "film nerd stuff" this is a great pick. Nobody recently drafted on defense has morphed into a player that is a building piece on defense. They can try to sell Dax but unfortunately they shelved him his rookie season, threw him under the bus 2nd season, change position then injured.

I don't think Burton or Jones are unquestionable locks for the roster. Different reasons. Jones is small and has trouble staying healthy. Burton is a knucklehead. Talent wise, I think Burton will be tough to beat out. Now if he is still falling asleep in meetings etc. Different story.

I guess the Bengals haven't officially picked up Dax's 5th year option. Spotrac is just showing the cap hit IF it were to happen, I guess. If they don't that leaves them with potential two starting CBs hitting FA in the same off season. They have til May 1st.

I wonder if they attempt a Dax Hill extension this early. They've picked up the 5th year for 2026 but wondering if they would try. They've already proclaimed him as their best CB in 2024. Cam Taylor Britt. Wonder if they would try an extension as well this early. I would think they'd make him prove it this year.

I'd put the draft at a C+. It was an "off the beaten path" type draft so the grades are going to be low. If they keep positions the same and flip some of the names more fans would be excited throwing As around. For me, there's too much "selling" after the selection to give a high grade in the moment. Too much PFF types and film types to get sold on a pick. I admit there have been several interviews heard on radio with draft gurus, and articles that paint this draft class with an encouraging outlook. The top pick left the Senior bowl stamped as the best prospect and typically those guys do well in the league. There was guy on the radio, draft guru talking up the South Carolina LB, with all the trouble tackling it sounds like he'll be a welcomed addition. Then same dude said he thought Guard from Georgia would be day 1 starter. At the end of the day the Golden and Peters have to get young guys in a position to produce which was always going to be the case IF they extend Burrow, Chase, Higgins. It will be this way going forward in the immediate short term young players in spot needing to produce. See what happens.

A draft expert fellow was on the radio this weekend. Supposedly this guy is trained in the O-line martial arts that the new O-line teaches. He thought Dylan would be a day 1 starter at LG. Suggested this was the new O-line's top pick or something to that effect.

If they are making that admission this early then they targeted the Georgia Guard and were gambling to get him. Volson probably gets a shot at RG. Dalton Risner is probably hoping the stock market recovers because his NFL paycheck days might be over.

Fairchild did not allow a sack in two years. Great. Reread the analysis of the first round pick. College game is making it hard to produce sacks.

I would give this draft so far a solid D. They've hit the positions but too much having to read a bunch film nerd crap to understand it. Classic off the beaten path draft which will get bad reviews but sometimes works out.

I've considered changing my screen name to "guard" so I can get blown by this board all year long. Not a whole lot of reaction so far but it will come so to speak

ALL SEC draft so far.

More D. Hopefully a 2nd DL.

Golden's draft. He loves the pick. I guess that's all that matters until its gets proven one way or the other on the field. Wasn't on my radar so I'll read up a little.

He was productive when using Aggie DL as a comparison. The DL leader in tackles was 40. The DL sack leader was 5. He had 31 and 1.5. The defense wasn't geared for the DL to produce stats, I guess.

I also can't wait until preseason game 1 where he dominates a future UPS driver at tackle. Myles Murphy has struggled to even look productive in the preseason. But those were good times when Margus Hunt would throw a tackle for 5 yards like a shot put.

Various scout wanna be draw comparisons to Tavon Walker who was selected No. 1 overall by the Jags in 2022 draft. I vaguely remember it but not a whole lot because we were picking 31 after a AFC Championship. A NO. 1 overall pick with 9.5 college career sacks. WTF? Walker has now got 24 career sacks in 3 seasons. But the film dudes are saying the same things that held down Walker's stats did so for Stewart. Scheme, true pass opportunities. So Golden talked about him needing to finish. So I think that's clearly a point on the sack numbers. But there's another break down saying he'll destroy NFL tackles when given the opportunity.

Of course if someone like Will Johnson somehow makes to 49. Yes, that would be a top choice as well.

He's more than just an athlete according to the film guru's. He's productive just not in the sack category. Some of that's finishing but a portion of that is the college game, defensive scheme again according to the film nerds. I'd love film slicing and dicing IF he was a 2nd round pick. I don't like having to read tea leaves with a first round pick. However, I have thought they've needed to add youth and DL that can run and chase for a while. Partly why I didn't care if they let Reader walk. So can't be as down on the pick as I was with Mims, but it addresses a position I think is the primary need to be upgraded. Just don't like having to read tea leaves over a first rounder.

Emmanwori would be my top choice. I'd imagine he's gone before that though. TJ Sanders would be 1b choice. I think he'll be gone too. Norman Lott some have him going early 3rd, so I'd hop on in the 2nd. Morrison and Watts would be good after that.

I don't share guard heartburn most of bengal nation is experiencing. I don't see landing Morrison and Alexander as bad at all. If that's their hall, I'd say its awesome. Although I do think/wish they'll take DT for South Carolina in the second.

He's drawing a lot of comparison's to recent Georgia Edge players taken high without huge sack numbers. I've seen Travon Walker mentioned several times. Also left the Senior Bowl with buzz as the best prospect there. A year ago that was Quinyon Mitchell who was big time contributor for the Eagles (Bengals passed to take Mims). Have no idea. I keep thinking rich man's Margus Hunt that could absolutely reek Havoc on blocking schemes but very little stats and could never stamp himself a starter. Great rotational piece. I hope they get way more out of this pick.