Was the bengal's draft not as good as we think

[alfalcone]

It seems that every year the Bengals can like clockwork pick the best player available on Mel Kiper's Big Board (Slight hyperbole), especially since 09 on, and lead the league in drafting players who were once considered first round picks. Beginning with Devon Still, no one would have argued if every player the Bengals drafted was taken a round higher. Because of this, the Bengals draft have been highly graded because they have drafted the consensus best available player. Could it be, however, that the players the Bengals are drafting aren't as good as we think, and that they have been consistently plucking overrated and over hyped players as they fall. Examples in the past included Dunlap, Michael Johnson, and Rey Malaluga. For the most part, 31 other teams passed over these players for good reason. I'm operating under the assumption that NFL teams take advantage of having better information than the average fan, and am thus willing to bet that the Bengals draft wasn't nearly as good as it appeared.

1.17 Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
1.27 Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin
2.21 Devon Still, DT, Penn State
3.20 Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers
3.30 Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson
4.21 Orson Charles, TE, Georgia
5.21 Shaun Prater, CB, Iowa
5.31 Marvin Jones, WR, California
5.32 George Iloka, FS, Boise State
6.21 Dan Herron, RB, Ohio State

[vikingsrule]

Kirkpatrick was drafted in about the right spot most expected, many thought he was going to the Bengals all along anyway. I am not a big fan of Kirkpatrick, time will tell though.

Kevin Zeitler was a great pick. Many thought DeCastro was so much better than the rest of the OG class, I honestly didnt think much stood between DeCastro and Zeitler and they ended up getting drafted really close to one another.

Devon Still was regarded as one of the better 4-3 DTs, and he was a good pick for them in round 2. I do question the Sanu pick, I guess I am not a big fan of Sanu. As a possession receiver, he seems like a solid prospect, but he doesnt offer much as a downfield threat. When you have an elite receiver like AJ Green, I always think that its most pertinent to get another big play threat opposite of that player, rather than a possession guy. Having two receivers that are feared does more for the offense. Otherwise, you can focus the coverage on Green and not fear Sanu burning you for a big play. I think that Chris Givens or TY Hilton would have been better picks opposite of AJ Green.

I like Brandon Thompson, but i question the pick. The Bengals are pretty deep at DT with Still, Atkins, Peko and Sims. I am not sure how Thompson fits in there.

As for the mid to late round picks, who really cares. Most of them dont pan out anyway.I like Marvin Jones a lot though, he should be an interesting player, I think he will be a better #2 than Sanu, but that is just my opinion. I liked Iloka a lot, im not sure why he fell.

So I think the Zeitler, Kirkpatrick, Still and Jones picks were good picks. I am not a fan of the Sanu and Thompson picks for the Bengals. They should have added a RB and a big play receiver. Put Bernard Pierce/Lamar Miller and Chris Givens/TY Hilton on the Bengals in place of Brandon Thompson and Mohamed Sanu, I like that draft quite a bit more.

I guess we cant possibly answer your question until looking back, but i like what they did.

[TheVillain112]

Bengals have drafted better than any other team since 2010. The credit for that goes to the coaching staff. Convincing Mike Brown to take the right players that fit the system has been key. If Mike Brown ran the team like he used to, players like Ryan Mallett and Janoris Jenkins would be on the team now...
_________________


Thanks Rammy...

[jrry32]

[TheVillain112]

[onejayhawk]

[Sciz]

In general, I'm guessing their draft class won't live up to the numerous A grades. The Panthers got two of the biggest "steals" over the past few years in Everette Brown and Jimmy Clauson. We all know how that worked out. Of course, a lot of teams passed on Aaron Rodgers too.
_________________
Shut up, NBT

[jrry32]

[TheVillain112]

[jrry32]

[Skinsfan13]

I actually like it more than most I think. Kirkpatrick's compete level is terrific and reminiscent of Al Harris (he supports the run, challenges wrs at the line, can blitz, and does it all with vigor), and his on-field athletic prowess is better than his triangle numbers imo. I like Zeitler as much as I like DeCastro (with the qualifier that they're different style guards). Zeitler is a destroyer of men in the run game and a technician in the passing game. Still and Thompson are going to be terrific complimentary pieces for that D-line with the ability to develop into starters down the road (is there a 4-3 dt rotation with more potential now with Peko, Atkins, Sims, Still and Thompson? The Lions maybe?), Sanu to me has the makings of a high-end possession receiver with tremendous versatility, Orson Charles should be a solid #2 TE, and Marvin Jones has #2 WR upside imo. One of the top drafts I think.
_________________
http://www.careercenter.umich.edu/images/dc_skyline.jpg

[Abe56]

these type of drafts never turn out to be the best
_________________


Sig by mack.

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” - Mark Twain

[shawn]

im not a huge fan of Kirkpatrick or Still. but i am a fan of Zeitler and Sanu...

so i am not as high on their draft as many...but it wasnt a bad draft overall. i think they should have stayed put at 21 and drafted DeCastro, but Zeitler is a quality lineman in his own right, and i doubt Bengal fans will be upset about that in five years.

and i will say this, as much as i dislike Kirkpatrick, i really cant think of a player that they definatly should have drafted instead of him...so i cant really be to hard on them.
_________________

sig made by mike23md

[brownie man]

I dont think the Bengals draft is one of the best because they got alot of steals. They got good value picks, but I wouldnt jump out and saying one is a true steal right now, but whats so good about it was the purpose they filled all their needs without reaching and got value at every pick while not only filling holes, but adding talented depth as well. They put themselves in great position by drafting more then one player and positions. This draft brought some great additions to a up and coming offense then brought in depth on the D-line to open it up for their talented ends.

They brought in guys that can do alot of different things for them like Charles and Iloka so they're preparing themselves for a alot of things which I like. Cincinnati is really on the rise the AFC North is getting tougher each year.
_________________

And in the 2012 NBA Draft the Cleveland Cavaliers select
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPWOJrXJeqg

[Tatupu_64]

I still have no clue why they took two DT's... I liked there DT rotation already, and adding Stills gave them probably my favorite in the league. Thompson was... unneeded.
_________________

Props to the Ramster
Seattle's Original Bruce Irvin Supporter
ET and Mebane's Biggest Supporter

FFMD2 13 GM