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ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. is, to say the least, not a fan of the Cincinnati Bengals weekend work. In fact, he thinks the Bengals had the worst draft in the league.
Kiper gave the Bengals a final grade of "C" ... as bad as it gets, to him.
He said the Bengals had four needs coming into the NFL Draft: "Edge rusher, linebacker, safety and guard."
Cincinnati went with an edge rusher and drafted Shemar Stewart with their first-round draft pick.
But still ...
Kiper didn't like the pick. He said the Bengals drafted Stewart too high. He had him ranked 27th and the Bengals drafted him at No. 17. (The Athletic, for what it's worth, had Stewart ranked as the third best edge rusher in the draft.)
Stewart did not have big-time defensive statistics at Texas A&M, but played on a solid defensive line and often drew two blockers. Yes, his sack total was not in the same league as Abdul Carter, the first edge rusher drafted by the New York Giants, but he was a good college player. ...
Who indisputably needs to get better.
The Bengals then took Demetrius Knight Jr., a linebacker from South Carolina, in round two. The Bengals tapped Dylan Fairchild, an offensive lineman from Georgia, in the third round.
Cincy thinks Fairchild will end up being an immediate starter.
Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter and Miami offensive lineman Jalen Rivers, who plays tackle and guard, were taken in rounds four and five, as well.
You could say the Bengals checked most of their boxes. By most judgements, they did not have a particularly bad draft.
But Mel disagrees.
"It was sort of a ho-hum draft for the Bengals overall, which is why I gave them a "C" grade," he said.
Continue reading...
Kiper gave the Bengals a final grade of "C" ... as bad as it gets, to him.
He said the Bengals had four needs coming into the NFL Draft: "Edge rusher, linebacker, safety and guard."
Cincinnati went with an edge rusher and drafted Shemar Stewart with their first-round draft pick.
But still ...
Kiper didn't like the pick. He said the Bengals drafted Stewart too high. He had him ranked 27th and the Bengals drafted him at No. 17. (The Athletic, for what it's worth, had Stewart ranked as the third best edge rusher in the draft.)
Stewart did not have big-time defensive statistics at Texas A&M, but played on a solid defensive line and often drew two blockers. Yes, his sack total was not in the same league as Abdul Carter, the first edge rusher drafted by the New York Giants, but he was a good college player. ...
Who indisputably needs to get better.
The Bengals then took Demetrius Knight Jr., a linebacker from South Carolina, in round two. The Bengals tapped Dylan Fairchild, an offensive lineman from Georgia, in the third round.
Cincy thinks Fairchild will end up being an immediate starter.
Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter and Miami offensive lineman Jalen Rivers, who plays tackle and guard, were taken in rounds four and five, as well.
You could say the Bengals checked most of their boxes. By most judgements, they did not have a particularly bad draft.
But Mel disagrees.
"It was sort of a ho-hum draft for the Bengals overall, which is why I gave them a "C" grade," he said.
Continue reading...
