2025 Draft Talking Points

[TJJackson]

Please do not draft an injured player til r4 or later

[TJJackson]

No to DE MIke Green, period.  No more sexual assault guys, please.

[TJJackson]

My absolute dream pick at 17 would be OT Armand Membou, whose short-ish arms means he will probably play OG in he NFL

9.82 RAS  https://ras.football/ras-information/?PlayerID=27170&ovl=Combine

[ArmyBengal]

MemBou also wouldn't bother me in the least.  Have to love the big, athletic linemen like him.
Not sure he sniffs anything close to #17.  Him outside the top 10 would be shocking.

Don't let me rain on your parade though TJ.  Keep hope alive.

[ArmyBengal]

Right now there are two players that may be there at #17 I would love to see drafted:

1. Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina- He might truly be my #1 hope to get player in the draft.
2. Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama- Yes, of course I'd like a linebacker, but in my defense, he's really good.
3. James Pearce, DE, Tennessee- He's an iffy one for me.  Are the stories questioning about much he really wants to play ball true?  If not, he's an athletic freak at a position of need.

Now don't get me wrong, there are others I would love but simply don't expect them to be there at #17.
Will Campbell, OT
Armand Membou, OT

Players no longer on my want list at #17:

1. Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama- He's about as athletic as a turd and while a people mover, is not what we need.
2. Jalon Walker, LB/DE, Georgia- What is he?  Does he excel at either?  Will it take creativity to make him work?
3. Malaki Starks, S, Georgia- The only safety I want in round one is Emmanwori.  If not him, wait.
4. Mike Green, DE, Marshall-  I don't care if he wasn't charged with the sexual assaults.  Just say no.

[HoosierCat]

No real surprise, but it looks like the first pick is pretty much decided. Callahan gets another first overall QB to work with in Cam Ward.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/44392310/qb-cam-ward-throws-miami-pro-day-told-titans-solidifying-top-pick

[ArmyBengal]

Yeah, I would be shocked if the Titans didn't take Ward.
Not that I just love Cam Ward mind you, but the old saying of if you don't have a franchise QB, you try to find one.

Honestly, I think this QB draft class is pretty weak, but that's just me.
In a year that would help having at least 4-5 go in the first 15 picks, we have maybe 2.
I'm holding out hope that a team or two get desperate and reach, but I'm not thinking so.

This is a back end of the first, top of the second, or later QB class.

[HoosierCat]

Cam and Sanders will definitely go well before 17, and now Dart is flying up the boards. If he isn't gone before 17, middle of the first is about where I would expect the phone to start ringing with offers from some QB-needy team looking to jump up and grab him. But in any event I would say three QBs going ahead of us is the best-case scenario.

[TJJackson]

On 3/25/2025 at 9:51 AM, ArmyBengal said:

2. Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama- Yes, of course I'd like a linebacker, but in my defense, he's really good.

He's injured, isnt he?

No more Oogies please

[ArmyBengal]

Yeah, just saw he had shoulder surgery.
UGH...

[TJJackson]

and if I am not mistaken, the shoulder surgery was very recent, like, less than a few weeks ago?

[TJJackson]

Army:   

every source I look at has Emmanwori well below Starks in their overall ratings

why do you prefer Emmanwori?

Im not knocking your preference here, rather, I'm picking your brain

[ArmyBengal]

I don't dislike Starks and would be happy with the pick, but when it comes to safety, I prefer to focus on athleticism.
Starks, while rated above Emmanwori in some places, is not more athletic than Emmanwori.

I like the fact Emmanwori is a big guy as well.
Starks is 6'1, 197  -  Emmanwori is 6'3, 220
Starks ran a 4.5  -  Emmanwori ran a 4.3  (That's insane)

I could go on and on, but again, I like the athletic aspect of the bigger safety in this instance.
They don't make them like that.  He's an anomaly. 
For those that would rather look at the stats for production, it's really close as well.

I can see why some may like Starks more and again I would like the pick, just not as much as Emmanwori.
Much like any other position, what does it for you?

[ArmyBengal]

Here, I like the break down of college players over at NFL.com.
They give solid "good and bad" for each of them.

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/malaki-starks/32005354-4159-2296-384c-e3be1fb506bf

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/nick-emmanwori/3200454d-4d08-3509-4f43-ab1aefccbd0f

[TJJackson]

Do you think Golden might hold off a round or three and get his boy Xavier Watts instead?

[HoosierCat]

Dehner goes six rounds:

Quote

First round (17): Mike Green, edge, Marshall

This was my selection in The Athletic beat writer mock draft. His freaky pro day only solidifies the draw. Bengals staff were in attendance to watch his 6.85-second 3-cone drill. Weighing in at 250 pounds, that’s an elite number that puts him in the rare territory of traits that translate at the next level for lighter edge rushers.

Second round (49): Tate Ratledge, OL, Georgia

If looking for a guard to place next to Amarius Mims on the right side, why not go for the guy who played next to Mims on the right side at Georgia? Ratledge passed every test in the pre-draft process and possesses instant chemistry with Mims. He’s risen up draft boards and any dreams of catching him in the third round are likely gone, but he would make sense, assuming he makes it to 49.

Third round (81): Andrew Mukuba, S, Texas

Undersized and with short arms; that’s the downside. The rest of the tape will sell itself. Instincts, vision, speed and ability to read the quarterback could fit nicely next to Battle, who plays more downhill.

Mukuba weighed in at 186 pounds at the NFL combine. Only three safeties who played at least 500 snaps weighed 190 pounds or less last year. Will the Bengals be willing to accept that? There could be worse risks to take a chance on at this point in the draft, to be sure.

Fourth round (119): Aeneas Peebles, IDL, Virginia Tech

Peebles is undersized at 6-1, 290 pounds. You know what other fourth-round defensive tackle was undersized? Geno Atkins. I’m not calling Peebles a future NFL legend, but I am saying this is a point of the draft that you look at everything else and like what you see as an interior pass rusher.

Fifth round (153): Brashard Smith, RB, SMU

He’s great at running routes out of the backfield and could provide a nice change of pace from Chase Brown. Not capable of being a workhorse, but that wouldn’t be asked of him. Creating mismatches for Burrow to exploit would be.

Sixth round (193): Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame

A balanced tight end who could grow into the type of player they found in Erick All last year. Evans is a reliable blocker but not as impactful in the passing game. Burrow can find ways to take advantage throwing the ball, but carving out a role like that of Drew Sample wouldn’t be a bad idea at this point.

More at the link. Can't say this would do a lot for me.

[TJJackson]

Dont want Green in any round....another Carman Jackson scumbag

[TJJackson]

Goodberry sez:

 

[TJJackson]

Im a bit torn because I look at the r1 pick as a player who has to contribute NOW NOW NOW

Kinda the same with the r2 player as well

so to me, the first two picks need to come from IOL, 3TDT, or DE.....keeping in mind that many of the draft prospects listed at OT will due to short-ish arm length or whatever move to OG in the NFL

[ArmyBengal]

1 hour ago, TJJackson said:

Do you think Golden might hold off a round or three and get his boy Xavier Watts instead?

I like Xavier Watts as well, but not in the first round.
I also don't think he lasts until the Bengals 2nd round pick and why I don't generally consider him.
It's not for lack of liking him as a player however.

[ArmyBengal]

1 hour ago, HoosierCat said:

Dehner goes six rounds:

More at the link. Can't say this would do a lot for me.

First three picks aren't my favorite, but would do.
Mike Green, while talented, worries the hell out of me.  I'd rather not consider him.
While wanting players on the field that crush it, I honestly do want to like them as people.
After that is a crap shoot anyway, but not a fan of these selections.

[TJJackson]

I have a really, really hard time greenlighting a safety when we have minimal pash rush even with Hendrickson and Burrow is taking a beating every week

If the morons in the FO can pull their head out of their posteriors and sufficiently address these two areas before the draft, I can reconsider then

If the draft were tomorrow, tho......it'd have to be lineman in both r1 and r2 or my appliances will suffer

[HoosierCat]

Re safety, Stone sucked for most of last year and is a FA after this season. (He'd gain the Bengals about $6.5 million in cap space if cut this year, too.)  I like Battle, but I also don't think he's anything particularly special. So I don't have an issue with grabbing a Starks or an Emmanwori at 17 on a personnel level.

The thing is, when I do a sim or look at mock drafts, DB is one of those positions where there usually seem to be quality guys still available in rounds 2-3. In fact that seems to be the case for virtually all defensive positions, which is why I would love, love, love to see them trade back and pick up another 2nd or 3rd rounder. And whenever I take a defender of any stripe at 17, I end up reaching for an OL at some point in the second or third round.

In contrast, when I address OL at 17, I like the results a lot more.

Now maybe the real thing doesn't play out this way, who knows. But as it stands, while I wouldn't object to safety, or really addressing any defensive need since we have them all over, in the first, my gut is telling me they should go OL there.

[ArmyBengal]

I would typically agree with you TJ, but this year finds me in strange waters...

I don't know that any player taken in round 1 or 2 is going to be NOW type of player.
I mean because are they really that good vs. do we simply have a need?
Obviously, just because we have a need doesn't make them the best player we could take.

I've said many times that I don't believe the DE we take at #17 is substantially better than the one at #49.
With that being the case, give me the guy with the most athleticism and upside.

[ArmyBengal]

50 minutes ago, HoosierCat said:

The thing is, when I do a sim or look at mock drafts, DB is one of those positions where there usually seem to be quality guys still available in rounds 2-3. In fact that seems to be the case for virtually all defensive positions, which is why I would love, love, love to see them trade back and pick up another 2nd or 3rd rounder. And whenever I take a defender of any stripe at 17, I end up reaching for an OL at some point in the second or third round.

In contrast, when I address OL at 17, I like the results a lot more.

Now maybe the real thing doesn't play out this way, who knows. But as it stands, while I wouldn't object to safety, or really addressing any defensive need since we have them all over, in the first, my gut is telling me they should go OL there.

I see the same thing by and large Hoosier, but have found that when considering those OT's that will probably move to OG once drafted, my outcomes improve.  Again, who knows how it's all going to play out?

That's why I think we continue to see visits with guys like Minnesota, OT, Aireontae Ersery.
Big, athletic OT's that will probably move inside, but still capable of backing up the OT spot as well in a pinch.
That honestly might be the best approach as I view things anyway.