Grade the Bengals Draft

[cincinnatikid85]

i give the bengals a b. we really didnt need much but a young corner wich we got. we need to get the o-line signed but its not going to happen thats why they drafted that o-lineman

[linkmaster]

I think the Bengals did a good job at filling holes in the draft. What do you guys think? Here's an article that praises the Bengals' haul:

"South Carolina corner Jonathan Joseph is a speedy corner who can tackle, LSU offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth was a focal point of that stellar Bayou Bengal line and Frostee Rucker is purely a pass rusher who can make plays in the backfield..."

Here's the rest of the article

[BlainThePain]

Draft grades right after the draft are useless. We won't know how good this draft truely is for a couple more years.

[Stripes]

I agree with Blain, but grading drafts or reading feedback can still be cool.

linkmaster, check out this thread to see some of the grades from folks on this site...

http://forums.bengalszone.com/index.php?showtopic=11065

[HairOnFire]

I don't have a link, but the Los Angeles Daily News gave the Bengals a first day grade of B. They loved the upside that Joseph brings but admitted he was a little rough around the edges, praied the pick of Whitworth due to the uncertainty of the O-Lines future, and mentioned the way that Frostee Rucker seems to constantly disrupt the opposing teams backfield.

[Kazkal]

I wish we could have still got ko but thats my only complaint i give draft a B+ we got postions of need for the future

DT,Oline,CB,DE the only thing we diden't adress was safety which we can put off sense dexter is signed for 4years

[BoltonBA]

We added alot of depth in positions where these guys can sit back and learn, especially from high caliber veterans (James, O'neal, Anderson). None of these picks have to play right away, and using Marvin's philosophy of taking athleticism (in most but not all cases) over need, that is a huge upside. Much like Carson, but without all the pressure, these guys have time to sit back and develop.

I can't wait to see some of these players in a year or so... (B+)

[bengalindian]

I think it's because we as Bengals fans have always had to look at the draft to determine how the team was going to do this year. Since we don't have to do that anymore, it's a little weird, but I'm really liking the depth that has been set up for the future. I'm pumped!

And school is practically out for the summer!

[Dadraftnick]

1- Johnathan Joseph CB- with 4.31 speed (Deion Sanders territory) and decent cover skills he should be ready to taker for the aging Tory James in no time and be a nice nickel back in the meantime.--Nice pick taken where he was rated.

2-Andrew Wentworth OT- a real stud should be able to play LT or RT which is what this pick as all about -to give the Bengals leverage with the OL when trying to sign them. A solid pick taken where he was rated.

-What the Bengals should have done is take Chris Gocong DE with this pick and then try to trade back up into the round 2,taken another OT in the 3rd or hoped that Wentworth slid to the 3rd round.

3-Frostee Rucker DE- a guy that is slow, short, the highest I saw him rated was the 5th round and more often than not was rated as an undrafted free agent. --MAJOR REACH-Shaq couldn't reach like this pick.With 6 sacks for a whole season this guy should have on the Bengals UFA list to call after the draft or at least 7th round pick.

4-Domata Peko DT-a penetrating force in the middle.This guy could be the steal of the draft. He could be our Dana Stubblefield or he could end up being another Mathias Askew.My guess he will devolop into a stud in the middle.The guy had 81/2 sacks last year and 15 TFL's nice production especially for a DT. Very similar to John McCargo who was taken in the 1st but, Peko had 1 more TFL than McCargo and 5 more Sacks.

5- A.J. Nicholson LB- looked decent in his games at FL ST but is sun dial slow 4.9 40yd dash, decent production but, a major character concern.Acused of rape and had MCL surgery.- A major reach and probably should have been taken off the board because of character,injuries,and slow 40

6.McNeil WR/QB 7-Kilmer WR/KR 7-Brazell WR/KR

--I put these 3 picks togather because they are really 3 wasted picks and really the same guy so far the only thing notable any of the 3 of them have done( I wouldn't call 50 % completion for a QBan acomplishment) is to run a good 40 time. The problem is all of them were rated UFA's and there is no real spot for them on the roster.It is not as though our WR's were in need of a fix anyway. Bottom line is these 3 picks are wasted picks without a roster hole for them to fill. And all of these picks should have went to needs like TE,DE S

a guy like Mike Kudla DE OH ST (who is a better DE than Rucker) is where this pick should have been.

GRADE C- 3 possiable starters but, 5 wasted picks a wasted chance to really fill some holes and insted a usual draft of WR's and LB's its been every year for it seams like forever.Oh and by the way, the Bengals will now have to face Mike Kudla on the Steelers twice a year because somebody cant stop overdoing it on WR's

[LABengalsFan09]

I wish we could have still got ko but thats my only complaint i give draft a B+ we got postions of need for the future

DT,Oline,CB,DE the only thing we diden't adress was safety which we can put off sense dexter is signed for 4years

Don't you think we could have used a TE?!?!?!?!?

[BengalChamps]

I wish we could have still got ko but thats my only complaint i give draft a B+ we got postions of need for the future

DT,Oline,CB,DE the only thing we diden't adress was safety which we can put off sense dexter is signed for 4years

Don't you think we could have used a TE?!?!?!?!?

Yes...but there is more ways than just the draft to obtain a TE. I think ML is still looking for them and a decent one may get cut in late August.

We'll know more about this draft after cuts are made. I think the first 4 picks and Reggie! all make the team. Unsure about the others.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

I wish we could have still got ko but thats my only complaint i give draft a B+ we got postions of need for the future

DT,Oline,CB,DE the only thing we diden't adress was safety which we can put off sense dexter is signed for 4years

Don't you think we could have used a TE?!?!?!?!?

Yes...but there is more ways than just the draft to obtain a TE. I think ML is still looking for them and a decent one may get cut in late August.

We'll know more about this draft after cuts are made. I think the first 4 picks and Reggie! all make the team. Unsure about the others.

I don't think starter-quality guys will get cut in August. That's the sort of technique that lands a guy like Ohalete on the team. No thanks.

[GregCook]

I'll be honest, other than J Joseph, I had not heard of any of the Bengal's pick prior to their getting picked. So I can comment on him, but not the others. He's a real risk. He's not a typical Marvin guy with 3 years in a big college program. He's a one year wonder with tons of athletic ability, he's a ball hawk, as fast as the fasted receivers so he shouldn't get beat on go routes. He'll need a year or two to learn the NFL game. He's coachable. Given we have some superb receivers, some superb coaches, I think JJ will have every chance to be a Pro Bowl corner. All the other picks were needed, especially the Oline pick, but we'll see how many stick with the team come September. Grade it incomplete.

[Kazkal]

I'll be honest, other than J Joseph, I had not heard of any of the Bengal's pick prior to their getting picked. So I can comment on him, but not the others. He's a real risk. He's not a typical Marvin guy with 3 years in a big college program. He's a one year wonder with tons of athletic ability, he's a ball hawk, as fast as the fasted receivers so he shouldn't get beat on go routes. He'll need a year or two to learn the NFL game. He's coachable. Given we have some superb receivers, some superb coaches, I think JJ will have every chance to be a Pro Bowl corner. All the other picks were needed, especially the Oline pick, but we'll see how many stick with the team come September. Grade it incomplete.

True but hes less risk then crom was

[kingwilly]

1- Johnathan Joseph CB- with 4.31 speed (Deion Sanders territory) and decent cover skills he should be ready to taker for the aging Tory James in no time and be a nice nickel back in the meantime.--Nice pick taken where he was rated.

2-Andrew Wentworth OT- a real stud should be able to play LT or RT which is what this pick as all about -to give the Bengals leverage with the OL when trying to sign them. A solid pick taken where he was rated.

-What the Bengals should have done is take Chris Gocong DE with this pick and then try to trade back up into the round 2,taken another OT in the 3rd or hoped that Wentworth slid to the 3rd round.

3-Frostee Rucker DE- a guy that is slow, short, the highest I saw him rated was the 5th round and more often than not was rated as an undrafted free agent. --MAJOR REACH-Shaq couldn't reach like this pick.With 6 sacks for a whole season this guy should have on the Bengals UFA list to call after the draft or at least 7th round pick.

4-Domata Peko DT-a penetrating force in the middle.This guy could be the steal of the draft. He could be our Dana Stubblefield or he could end up being another Mathias Askew.My guess he will devolop into a stud in the middle.The guy had 81/2 sacks last year and 15 TFL's nice production especially for a DT. Very similar to John McCargo who was taken in the 1st but, Peko had 1 more TFL than McCargo and 5 more Sacks.

5- A.J. Nicholson LB- looked decent in his games at FL ST but is sun dial slow 4.9 40yd dash, decent production but, a major character concern.Acused of rape and had MCL surgery.- A major reach and probably should have been taken off the board because of character,injuries,and slow 40

6.McNeil WR/QB 7-Kilmer WR/KR 7-Brazell WR/KR

--I put these 3 picks togather because they are really 3 wasted picks and really the same guy so far the only thing notable any of the 3 of them have done( I wouldn't call 50 % completion for a QBan acomplishment) is to run a good 40 time. The problem is all of them were rated UFA's and there is no real spot for them on the roster.It is not as though our WR's were in need of a fix anyway. Bottom line is these 3 picks are wasted picks without a roster hole for them to fill. And all of these picks should have went to needs like TE,DE S

a guy like Mike Kudla DE OH ST (who is a better DE than Rucker) is where this pick should have been.

GRADE C- 3 possiable starters but, 5 wasted picks a wasted chance to really fill some holes and insted a usual draft of WR's and LB's its been every year for it seams like forever.Oh and by the way, the Bengals will now have to face Mike Kudla on the Steelers twice a year because somebody cant stop overdoing it on WR's

1. 4.15-.18 is Deion territory...Joseph is SLOW compared to him...he will be a good player but please..stop the Deion speed somparison. I am warming to this pick...lack of experience is what I don'e like.

2. This pick is crap..we have Stacy, and sevral others in the Queue. What we don;t have are TE's worth a crap...or safety dpeth..stupid pick.

3. futarded pick...Not even the best DE remaining at that point....this is a total implosion of a draft pick...not fast, big, skilled, or productive...how does that add up to a r3 pick??/an ugly bad selection...a major reach that shows the "Old" Bengals still flare up now and again.

4. Again with a big reach..gotta be kidding...better talent was right there and we skipped it... ugh, piss-poor-pick.

5. This pick exhibits our charitable side but also our lack of short term memory...can you say problem child? Mommy did not hug you enough?...Mike Brown is a lawyer.and aAJ will need it.

6. Decent value pick....but do we need a gadget player? We do need a decent back-up QB to groom...not a big invenstment who may not want to run routes. but could be high payoff if he can unseat Dr. krenzel, phd.

7a. This a just a roll of the dice...good versatile athlete...not bad but not good. Rather have a real S here not a baller.

7b. Fast? Check. Hands? Maybe. Are the Bengals stupid for having 27 WR on the list before camp? Hellz Yes. Is this pick a waste? Truly.

This draft is an immediate F. as in Futarded, Fubar, Frucked, Frupid, Frap, Frunnecessary, Frugly, Fricked....

F.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Don't you think we could have used a TE?!?!?!?!?

TE? What's that?

j/k...I totally agree. I was surprised after the 1st day went by without the Bengals picking one up, and by time the draft was over, I was basically stunned! But hey, I suppose they know more about this s**t and the teams needs than I do...

[andybren]

This draft is an immediate F.

Do you mean the draft is crap for now, or that it will always be crap?

The only thing more confusing to me than the over-the-top obsession with grading drafts is the overriding tendency to assume the worst of a differing opinion (Marvin's opinion vs. yours) before anybody could possibly be proven right or wrong.

Please help me understand. Seriously.

* * *

Zen question of the week: if a horrible pick becomes a truly great player, does he still suck because he wasn't picked in the "correct" round?

[kingwilly]

This draft will priobably always be crap....I see only Joseph and the OT being on this team in 3-4 years....

There are many ways a team improves the quality of its players....the draft, free agency, trades...

This draft saw the Bengalsin a position that was unusual, picking later due to a better record. Knowing this, they made a few FA moves that they would have been hard pressed to acomplish in the past. Winning teams get more looks from FA's than the bad teams. Bringin in Jackson, Adama and Chatman...were very positive moves...but still need to prove out with play. These guys wiill be asked to contribute right away.

The draft and resulting UDFA signings, to me, have two purposes...get players who cna immediately contribute...and get lpayers who are projects and need development. From the draft, ONLY our r1 and the ST ace gunner have the ability to come in and help right off...that mean 2 Day 1 picks who will be buried on the depth chart....if they make the team

Take a look at the '05 draft, Day 1...Last year, Pollack, Odell and Henry all made impacts and were our Day 1 grabs...I gave that draft an immediate A. There was no reaching, the players were smart, well conceived choices and save Waterboys hold-out, made immediate contributions...

Let's take the Frostee pick...can he beat a Pro RT...will he in a year or two...he has not shown the physical tools (size, speed, quicks...measurables) or the colege production....stats from college count to me, and the USC D was poor. Drafting a De in r3 is fine...the issue I have is who else was still there, their physical tools, college play and ability to improve with Pro coahcing...Rucker would not have been my choice.

Day 2 is a bit of a grab bag...much of it is speculative picking and gems do get found. AJ is a real problem child...I am finding much hypocrisy in Lewis talking about character and then taking AJ...that is weak..he is a decent player but given the team needs, does the team need another guy with issues/baggage...NO. I am not looking for choir boys, just players who can be professionals. Mcneal is good value for his talent, and r7a/b are blah.

This draft adressed three things that will pan out...CB, O-Line dpeth..and Special teams bodies...

Given the needs and talent still available when our picks were turned in, we failed...in 3 years it will still be a failure...

I find it interesting to watch players who we "Could have" picked...in the past few years, we have done very well. This year we will see many players we had a shot at exceed the succes of our picks. Guaranteed.

[jditty47]

Joseph = B+

Whitworth = B-

Rucker = C

Peko = C+

Nicholson = C-

McNeal = B-

Kilmer = D-

Brazell = F

Overall = C+

Brazell i doubt even makes the roster ever...prolly the practice squad for him and kilmer for the entire season.

never know with all of our pics...none of them are great great pics...but all of them are football players with alot of heart or drive that can make them successful...or they could be huge flops. this draft in 5 yrs will either be a big fat F or a solid C...no chance at an A.

[Dadraftnick]

900 football links which is one of the best draft info spots on the web rates the Benglas draft as a C-

It also has the last couple of Benglas drafts graded with a little player info.

It agrees with me that Rucker was a major reach and says he had him rated no higher than the 6th round.

Link http://www.900footballlinks.net/bengalsframe.htm

Check it out.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

The dude is a total idiot. He rates us a C-, yet from our top 6 picks, he has us gaining 1st round, 2nd round, 2 3rd round, and 2 second day picks. Seems to me that they might not have been in the order he said they should be but that the value is there.

Once again, the draftnicks are self promoting blowhards who know far less than real scouts and coaches. After all, Levi Jones was a reach....

[schweinhart]

The write up is pretty thorough and has decent enough insight, but it sounds like the C- grade hinges too much on overdrafting Rucker and Peko and not using the 7th round picks for more positional impact.

The Joseph and Whitworth picks make this draft. The rest of the picks are just filling in blanks where the Bengals needed to fill them, except for McNeal who is interesting for a 6th rounder and Benny Breezeway.

The Rucker-Henderson fight for PT is anticipated well in the article.

[ThortonMelon]

The write up is pretty thorough and has decent enough insight, but it sounds like the C- grade hinges too much on overdrafting Rucker and Peko and not using the 7th round picks for more positional impact.

The Joseph and Whitworth picks make this draft. The rest of the picks are just filling in blanks where the Bengals needed to fill them, except for McNeal who is interesting for a 6th rounder and Benny Breezeway.

The Rucker-Henderson fight for PT is anticipated well in the article.

I dont think there will be much competition between Rucker and Henderson. Rucker was a thrid round pick and Henderson was an UFA. I know that most people are mesmorized by the pre-draft rankings that Kiper and various websites put out, but there is a reason Rucker was drafted high and Henderson was passed on by each team at least 7 times. Dont expect much of Henderson and start expecting a lot more from Rucker.

[schweinhart]

I do expect something out of Rucker, so much so that I'd like to call him Clem Jr. That's not a bad thing but it won't help collapse the pocket off the edge and his overall game probably doesn't put him in any better position really to see much more PT than Henderson if the latter does make the team.

A lighter Jumpy Jr. might revitalize the pass rush some -- given how he did 2 years ago coming off LDE-- and Pollack used like he was last year to rush off the edge should net more sacks as should (hopefully) Justin Smith playing in a contract year provide a little extra incentive to get to the QB. So too might more pocket push from Sam Adams than the Bengals are accustomed to getting from their current DT rotation. Add to it a healthy Madieu and Dex Jack at SS, maybe Jospeh as the nickel in the slot vs. fast WRs, and it's likely the improved coverage helps get more sacks. But don't expect Frostee Rucker to add much to this. Expect more out of Henderson in this regard if he's given his due and takes it because he can rush against left tackles. OTOH I'd expect something more out of Rucker playing strongside in traffic versus the run. Having both of these DEs would provide some situational options even if they never present themselves because what's in place proves to be enough not to bother with either Rucker or Henderson.

But either way, the Bengals didn't rely on this draft to impact the upcoming season with starters because they didn't have to for once. That in itself is some kind of A.

[ArmyBengal]

I wouldn't give it any more than a C+ at best, but will wait to judge the Rucker pick until we see what he does on the field. Hopefully he will be comparable to what the Madieu pick was, but forgive me if I'm doubtful...

WHODEY !!!