The art of drafting a Wide Receiver

[walzav29]

The Bengals had to pick receivers, and there is a 50/50 chance on these guys. You look at Peter Warrick, David Verser, Mike Williams, Charles Rogers and look at the Bengals history of 2nd round receiver's and it tells me that they know what they like. I would have liked to get Sedrick Ellis, but Keith was the best LB in the draft. The point is that the Bengals will get criticized for their draft, but with Wide Receivers I'm sure the bad attitudes of guys like Malcolm Kelly, Mario Manningham, or the Cal receiver. They are keeping Carsons guns loaded.

[GregCook]

The Bengals had to pick receivers, and there is a 50/50 chance on these guys. You look at Peter Warrick, David Verser, Mike Williams, Charles Rogers and look at the Bengals history of 2nd round receiver's and it tells me that they know what they like. I would have liked to get Sedrick Ellis, but Keith was the best LB in the draft. The point is that the Bengals will get criticized for their draft, but with Wide Receivers I'm sure the bad attitudes of guys like Malcolm Kelly, Mario Manningham, or the Cal receiver. They are keeping Carsons guns loaded.

I admit I was alittle ticked that the Bengals got outmanuvered on draft day 1. But it just shows what I already knew, I'm at the bottom of the food chain when it comes to knowing the players in the NFL draft. If the value is

Sedric Ellis >= Rivers + Sims, I'd say probably not and the Bengals did well getting the two players instead of 1.

As for the WR's, you're right, keep Carson well supplied with fast, athletic WR's during his all too short QB career. Otherwise he might want a trade! Look for another high pick next year at WR as well.

[kingwilly]

...other than some folks, like the fantasy football nerd herds, I have seen little criticism of the Simpson pick. You can vew it two ways:

1. despite his being a monster athlete, the Bengals reached for a little known guy who had a great career against lesser competition when other, more "name" players were still available.

2. the Bengals knew they had found a diamond (amazing measurables & skills paired with high-level productivity) and were worried that others knew as well, prompting taking Simpson in r2 and ahead of players who had lower ceilings.

I am impressed that the Bengals not only found and scouted this player but had the cojones to burn the r2 on him.

If I am going to look at how successful this kid will be, compared to say Limas Sweed, amajor factor will be who is throwing him the ball.

Carson + Simpson > Roethlisfarter + Sweed

we must also think that the Bengals ran this scenario in advance:

Carson + Simpson > Carson + Sweed

I was all for taking Sweed at r2. I had known about Simpson from some Sleeper articles and posts. When I re-read that 11 teams were present at his Pro day, it makes you take notice. Clearly the dude was in the cross-hairs for 30+% of the teams in the NFL. Seeing the Bengals get "swooped" for Ellis, it is understandable that they did not want to get jammed on the #1 receiver on their board.

[duus]

...other than some folks, like the fantasy football nerd herds, I have seen little criticism of the Simpson pick. You can vew it two ways:

1. despite his being a monster athlete, the Bengals reached for a little known guy who had a great career against lesser competition when other, more "name" players were still available.

2. the Bengals knew they had found a diamond (amazing measurables & skills paired with high-level productivity) and were worried that others knew as well, prompting taking Simpson in r2 and ahead of players who had lower ceilings.

I am impressed that the Bengals not only found and scouted this player but had the cojones to burn the r2 on him.

If I am going to look at how successful this kid will be, compared to say Limas Sweed, amajor factor will be who is throwing him the ball.

Carson + Simpson > Roethlisfarter + Sweed

we must also think that the Bengals ran this scenario:

Carson + Simpson > Carson + Sweed

I was all for taking Sweed at r2. I had known about Simpson from some Sleeper articles and posts. When I re-read that 11 teams were present at his Pro day, it makes you take notice. Clearly the dude was in the cross-hairs for 30+% of the teams in the NFL. Seeing the Bengals get "swooped" for Ellis, it is understandable that they did not want to get jammed on the #1 receiver on the board.

Nice post. As you suggest, it simply depends upon looking at it 1 vs. 2 shown above. In this case, I tend to be one of the people that they wanted the kid and knew others (at least ONE other team!) might jump on him before their 3rd round pick. They dared to take the risk. I like it. They did not take the 'risk' in round 1 to trade away picks to get Ellis over Rivers. For this some will criticize. In round 2, they did dare take a risk. For this some will also criticize. Personally, I like both moves. Good draft. Few national guys will take notice of this. Might be fun this time next year if/when the national guys do take notice. It all takes time.

[Pidge]

Of course if he does pan out, revisionist history will be employed to full effect. He'll have been that sleeper that all the draft gurus were talking about from 2006 onwards.

Draft gurus = douchebags. No different from avid NFL fans on the whole. Throwing s**t at a wall and seeing what sticks.

[TippCityRick]

I agree that Marvin & Co. liked Simpson's upside better than some (maybe ALL) of the other receivers. We know they likes 'em big and fast . . . well this kid is big and fast!! The icing is his character. I said in another post and I'll say it again, Marvin is a "measurables" guide and this guy measures out better than all the other receivers. He's raw especially on route running, but I believe they feel with better coaching he'll hit his upside.