2021 NFL Draft

[TJJackson]

StripeHype says draft Pitts over Sewell and Chase

https://stripehype.com/2021/02/02/cincinnati-bengals-eyeing-tight-end-kyle-pitts/

unless he can somehow acquire a whole bunch of blocking skill between now and draft day, thats a big ole NO from me

[membengal]

The Pitts bandwagon at 5 is pissing me off. 

[TJJackson]

If Pitts had any ability to block, I'd at least consider it

but since he doesn't, I'd rather have a tradedown, OL, DE, DT, WR, or CB at 5.....not necessarily in that order

one other player that isnt getting much love at 5 that I am watching is Paye

 

[membengal]

Paye at 5 would also piss me off.

Trade down 10 times out of 10 if they are taking Pitts or Paye at 5. 

[TJJackson]

Im just watching Paye, if for no other reason than the fact that I see DE and DT as far far far bigger needs than WR

His lack of production scares the crap outta me -- possible workout warrior type.....tests like Tarzan, plays like Jane.

[membengal]

TDN article on Sewell vs. Slater:

Penei Sewell vs Rashawn Slater: Who's NFL Draft's Top OT? | The Draft Network

[COB]

Just read that whole thing.  It’s got to be Sewell at 5, and if we have to move up, at least try to do so.

[TJJackson]

I am still very much a trade down first guy regardless of who is available at 5

I really do think there will be a multiple trade partners available, but of course I have no way to say that with certainty nor do I have any idea how much greed the Bengals will have when reviewing any offers

I do think there will be multiple contingent offers made prior to draft day, ie "if player x is still available at 5, we'll give you this".  Those of course become moot if player x - likely one of the QBs - gets picked at 2, 3, or 4

If the Bengals cant or wont trade down, give me Sewell regardless of what they did in Free Agency.  Protect New Guy is Mission 1

I've come to like Chase a lot more than I did say a month ago (go watch Sheerans video: https://twitter.com/i/status/1347553142762737666) If Sewell isnt available, my next choices in order would be: Slater, Chase, Darrisaw, Pitts.  In this ordering, I am seeing Pitts used primarily as a WR rather than a TE, and yes, I like Darrisaw a lot more than most folks and know he'd be considered by most as a MAJOR reach at 5..  I really, really wish there was a DE I liked here, but Paye's lack of production scares me and I dont like Rousseau at all even though his one year of production was crazy good

 

[TJJackson]

Mem's boy gets a little love over on Stripehype

https://stripehype.com/2021/02/05/ot-teven-jenkins-ideal-second-round-pick-bengals/

[membengal]

I do love me some Jenkins at top of round 2.

A Ja'Marr Chase/ Jenkins combo in first and second would hit my ideal...

[TJJackson]

another mock draft, another pick of Pitts at 5

https://www.nfl.com/news/lance-zierlein-2021-nfl-mock-draft-1-0-patriots-49ers-select-qbs-in-round-1

this was with Chase and Sewell both available

Chase went at 7, Sewell at 10

[membengal]

That would truly send me over the edge. 

[TJJackson]

I can see that

I am trying to see Pitts at the moment as a really big wide receiver......if he were to turn out like a healthy Eifert, I could see him being just as being roughly equal to the other three WRs in this conversation. 

But the blocking would need to be improved right away

I'd still rather have a tradedown (which still might net us Pitts, just at a later pick) or a blocker

Let me ask you this, mem......if they were to adequately (in your estimation) address OL and acquire an above average WR with top tier speed in FA, how is Pitts looking then?

I am guessing thats still a big no :-)

[membengal]

Ok, I guess. But not at 5. 

[TJJackson]

10-15?

this guy Pitts is being pushed as the 2nd coming by some sources

Sheeran deals with it with some humor, and helped push me in the direction of him being thought of at least initially as a really big WR rather than a complete TE, which is he isn't right now.  And after all, we are definitely looking at receivers, to be fair

https://twitter.com/John__Sheeran/status/1357700003159019524

[membengal]

I don't want a BIG WR playing out of position. If he's all that he is supposed to be, he has to be at TE. Regardless, yes, unless he is in the 12-15 range on a trade back, I don't want it. 

[TJJackson]

did you watch the Sheeran video?  It isnt long, maybe 2 mins

[ShulaSteakhouse]

On 2/4/2021 at 11:48 PM, COB said:

Just read that whole thing.  It’s got to be Sewell at 5, and if we have to move up, at least try to do so.

Need the picks, so I can't see moving up, unless they're trading a player, but I'm still on the Sewell train as well.  

I don't know why they'd consider Pitts at #5,  I'd still take Chase or Smith over him there.  

[membengal]

PFF engine - this time I refused to do a first round deal to mimic a likely bengals approach where if they trade back it is likely in 2nd and/or 3rd rounds...came out with:

Round 1 pick 5: Ja'Marr Chase, WR LSU
Round 2 pick 42: Elijah Vera-Tucker, T/G USC
Round 3 pick 71: Joseph Ossai, Edge, Texas
Round 3 pick 74: Creed Humphrey, C, OU
Round 4 pick 110: Rodarius Williams, CB, OkState
Round 4 pick 112: Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama
Round 5 pick 150: Brady Christensen, T, BYU
Round 6: pick 191: Richard LeCounte, S, Georgia
Round 7: pick 232: Austin Watkins, WR, UAB
Round 7: pick 234: Josh Jobe, CB, Alabama
Round 7: pick 250: William Bradley-King, Edge, Baylor

Thoughts? Was curious what not trading back in 1 and trading back in 2 and/or 3 might look like in an effort to mimic real world conditions for the Bengals...

(First 4 off the board in that sim were Lawrence, Fields, Sewell, and Caleb Fairley)

[TJJackson]

dont need a LB, do need a passrushing DT

[membengal]

30 minutes ago, TJJackson said:

dont need a LB, do need a passrushing DT

the pass rushing d-tackles were gone by then and Moses was by far the best value on the board.  Reader back, Tupou back, probably re-sign Daniels - ideally would get another d-tackle but I refused to reach.

[membengal]

Here's one I just did on PFF where I did no trades at all - just to see how the board would fall, looked like this:

First four taken in the draft where Lawrence, Wilson, Waddle and Chase. Then rest of draft went like this w/ me picking (again, I didn't make any trades):

Round 1 Pick 5 overall: Penei Sewell, T, Oregon
Round 2 Pick 37 overall: Azeez Ojulari, Edge, Georgia
Round 3 Pick 69 overall: Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern
Round 4 Pick 110 overall: Jay Tufele, IDL, USC
Round 5 Pick 150 overall: Shi Smith, WR, South Carolina
Round 6 Pick 191 overall: Sardarius Hutchison, IOL, South Carolina
Round 7: Pick 231 overall: Logan Hall, IDL, Houston
Round 7: Pick 233 overall: Jacoby Stevens, S, LSU

I don't...hate it? Thoughts?

Btw, passing on WRs everywhere killed me. In this scenario they better have signed a good WR in FA...

[HoosierCat]

 

[TJJackson]

Joisey:  yep, he's an impressive WR.  I still prefer Sewell at 5, but if they handle OL in FA -- and they should, but this is SoaG and Pumpkin we're taking about here, so who the fuck knows -- then I think I could accept Chase as the pick at 5

Mem:  maybe go into each mock draft attempt with a stated assumption about how the FA period went for the Bengals.  Like for example if we failed to get 2 upper-tier OLs in FA that example draft would be a less than great one for the Bengals

[membengal]

TJ - assume you know nothing about FA and do a draft with no trades. That was my point in the exercise - to get value and cover needs. But you can't cover it all if you don't trade back.  All I've heard from you and others is that we need to attack both lines of scrimmage - and I spent five of eight picks on the two lines and you still say it isn't enough. Be real.