Post by 77bengal on Dec 29, 2016 20:40:42 GMT -5
It appears the Bengals will be drafting somewhere around the number ten spot in the 2017 NFL Draft. This draft is strong at a few positions that the Bengals need to upgrade, but weak at other positions in need of an upgrade. Therefore, it would be wise of the Bengals to draft the best player available at a position in less need of an upgrade such as LB, than to reach for a player at a position in even more need of an upgrade such as C. For example, it would make more sense for the Bengals to draft LB Reuben Foster than C Pat Eflein in round one. Anyway, here are my top players that the Bengals should consider in round one and those they should pass on.
WR Corey Davis, Western Michigan. I think Corey Davis has a good chance of overtaking WR Mike Williams as the best WR in the upcoming draft. (I actually had the Bengals drafting Davis in round three or four last year but he decided to return to school. Good move). WR Mike Williams suffered a serious injury when he broke his neck from running into a goal post during a game in 2015. Williams would be a risky pick for a team that plays in the brutal AFC North and is constantly sending players to the IR. As a WR, Davis is the complete package.
DE Derek Barnett, Tennessee. Like Davis, Derek Barnett can do it all. He's been a great football player at every level. He was a five star recruit out of high school and has dominated as a Volunteer. DE Michael Johnson would make a nice back-up as his career winds down. This is the guy I'm leaning towards at this moment.
DE Tim Williams, Alabama. Some character issues need to be looked into first; but if he checks out, Tim Williams would be a great addition. Williams forte is rushing the passer which the Bengals struggle at doing on a consistent basis.
S Jamal Adams, LSU. Shawn Williams has been out of position all year and doesn't appear to have much upside. Jamal Adams is a ball hawk that plays at a really high level all the time. Pairing him with George Iloka could turn into something really special. One of my favorite players in this draft.
ILB Reuben Foster, Alabama. Reuben Foster is considered the hardest hitting player in college football. He's also considered a leader and difference maker for the Crimson Tide who's capable of lifting the play of the entire defense. He's the best ILB prospect since Luke Kuechly and ILB prospects such as this are rare. Should the Bengals pounce?
CB Teez Tabor, Florida. I know, I know. The Bengals have drafted too many CB's in round one in the last few years and need to focus on other positions of need and I would probably agree with this viewpoint at this time. However, Adam Jones is in his 30's, his skills are declining and he's been a bad influence on Dre Kirkpatrick. In addition, Kirkpatrick has had a shaky career up to this point, partly due to Jones, and we have no idea of how good (or bad) Darqueze Dennard nor WJIII are. Throw in the injuries that all three of these guys have dealt with and this pick makes even more sense. Also, moving Jones would probably improve team moral and it would also be one less headache for the coaches to deal with.
CB Marshon Lattimore, OSU. I'm not for sure if this guy should be on this list and I'm not even sure if he's entering the draft. But what I do know is that Marshon Lattimore is in the hip pocket of every WR he's ever covered and his ceiling is still very high. Lattimore has only scratched the surface of what he can become. But is he too young?
A good case can be made for drafting any of these guys near the top of round one. However, there are some other players that are rated very high that I think the Bengals should be weary of drafting for various reasons. Here they are.
CB/S/OLB Jabrill Peppers, Michigan. So what/who is Jabrill Peppers? Is he a CB, an OLB or a S? I don't know. But what I do know is that the guy got a lot of love for being a great kick-off/punt returner. When it comes to playing defense, Peppers doesn't play the ball all that well and didn't stand out as a big play-maker. He only had one interception during his college career and that came against Ohio State off a tipped pass that fell in his lap. Buyer beware.
DT Malik McDowell, Michigan State. I have to admit that I haven't seen a lot of this guy; but what i have seen has only been slightly above average plus he's injured. McDowell is no Aaron Donald. Besides, the Bengals have two up-and-comers in DT's Marcus Hardison and Andrew Billings.
OT Cam Robinson, Alabama. Possession of a stolen gun and drugs. What in the world was this guy thinking? I don't like dumb. Other than that, Robinson would make a great right tackle. Too bad.
RB Leonard Fournette, LSU. This isn't an indictment of Fournette. It's an indictment of the Bengals OL. Fournette is a good back but he would struggle behind this line and there's a good chance he would wind up injured at some point. Quicker backs, such as Dalvin Cook, usually have more success than power backs when playing behind a bad OL because their able to cut from point A to point B faster when things break down up front. However, if the Bengals upgrade the OL through free agency and/or the draft, Fournette should be considered.
WR Mike Williams, Clemson. Like Fournette, this isn't an indictment of Williams talent. He's a big-time threat to opposing defenses. I just have a problem with drafting a guy high in round one that BROKE HIS NECK just a little over a year ago and then starting him in the tough-as-bullhide AFC North. If he checks out medically, maybe.
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC. Naturally unmotivated. Coaches have to push him in order to get him to produce. Does he love the game as every great player has/does? I'm not convinced. I'd pass.
There you have it. I've been wanting to post this for some time, but I've been too busy with the holidays. So, what are your picks for round one? Please join in.
WR Corey Davis, Western Michigan. I think Corey Davis has a good chance of overtaking WR Mike Williams as the best WR in the upcoming draft. (I actually had the Bengals drafting Davis in round three or four last year but he decided to return to school. Good move). WR Mike Williams suffered a serious injury when he broke his neck from running into a goal post during a game in 2015. Williams would be a risky pick for a team that plays in the brutal AFC North and is constantly sending players to the IR. As a WR, Davis is the complete package.
DE Derek Barnett, Tennessee. Like Davis, Derek Barnett can do it all. He's been a great football player at every level. He was a five star recruit out of high school and has dominated as a Volunteer. DE Michael Johnson would make a nice back-up as his career winds down. This is the guy I'm leaning towards at this moment.
DE Tim Williams, Alabama. Some character issues need to be looked into first; but if he checks out, Tim Williams would be a great addition. Williams forte is rushing the passer which the Bengals struggle at doing on a consistent basis.
S Jamal Adams, LSU. Shawn Williams has been out of position all year and doesn't appear to have much upside. Jamal Adams is a ball hawk that plays at a really high level all the time. Pairing him with George Iloka could turn into something really special. One of my favorite players in this draft.
ILB Reuben Foster, Alabama. Reuben Foster is considered the hardest hitting player in college football. He's also considered a leader and difference maker for the Crimson Tide who's capable of lifting the play of the entire defense. He's the best ILB prospect since Luke Kuechly and ILB prospects such as this are rare. Should the Bengals pounce?
CB Teez Tabor, Florida. I know, I know. The Bengals have drafted too many CB's in round one in the last few years and need to focus on other positions of need and I would probably agree with this viewpoint at this time. However, Adam Jones is in his 30's, his skills are declining and he's been a bad influence on Dre Kirkpatrick. In addition, Kirkpatrick has had a shaky career up to this point, partly due to Jones, and we have no idea of how good (or bad) Darqueze Dennard nor WJIII are. Throw in the injuries that all three of these guys have dealt with and this pick makes even more sense. Also, moving Jones would probably improve team moral and it would also be one less headache for the coaches to deal with.
CB Marshon Lattimore, OSU. I'm not for sure if this guy should be on this list and I'm not even sure if he's entering the draft. But what I do know is that Marshon Lattimore is in the hip pocket of every WR he's ever covered and his ceiling is still very high. Lattimore has only scratched the surface of what he can become. But is he too young?
A good case can be made for drafting any of these guys near the top of round one. However, there are some other players that are rated very high that I think the Bengals should be weary of drafting for various reasons. Here they are.
CB/S/OLB Jabrill Peppers, Michigan. So what/who is Jabrill Peppers? Is he a CB, an OLB or a S? I don't know. But what I do know is that the guy got a lot of love for being a great kick-off/punt returner. When it comes to playing defense, Peppers doesn't play the ball all that well and didn't stand out as a big play-maker. He only had one interception during his college career and that came against Ohio State off a tipped pass that fell in his lap. Buyer beware.
DT Malik McDowell, Michigan State. I have to admit that I haven't seen a lot of this guy; but what i have seen has only been slightly above average plus he's injured. McDowell is no Aaron Donald. Besides, the Bengals have two up-and-comers in DT's Marcus Hardison and Andrew Billings.
OT Cam Robinson, Alabama. Possession of a stolen gun and drugs. What in the world was this guy thinking? I don't like dumb. Other than that, Robinson would make a great right tackle. Too bad.
RB Leonard Fournette, LSU. This isn't an indictment of Fournette. It's an indictment of the Bengals OL. Fournette is a good back but he would struggle behind this line and there's a good chance he would wind up injured at some point. Quicker backs, such as Dalvin Cook, usually have more success than power backs when playing behind a bad OL because their able to cut from point A to point B faster when things break down up front. However, if the Bengals upgrade the OL through free agency and/or the draft, Fournette should be considered.
WR Mike Williams, Clemson. Like Fournette, this isn't an indictment of Williams talent. He's a big-time threat to opposing defenses. I just have a problem with drafting a guy high in round one that BROKE HIS NECK just a little over a year ago and then starting him in the tough-as-bullhide AFC North. If he checks out medically, maybe.
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC. Naturally unmotivated. Coaches have to push him in order to get him to produce. Does he love the game as every great player has/does? I'm not convinced. I'd pass.
There you have it. I've been wanting to post this for some time, but I've been too busy with the holidays. So, what are your picks for round one? Please join in.
