FanPost

Draft results with ZT


I'm neither a fan nor a hater of Zac Tayler, I just thought about the roster management since he arrived in Cincy after these 4 games and wanted to share it. I didn' t take into account the free agency management because my post would have been twice as long but I tried to grade the 3 drafts since ZT arrived. It is still early to put a final grade even on the 2019 draft but we already have a good idea for this one, and we only saw glimpses of the 2021 draft so this one still has a lot of variables. Anyway, let's recap the list of players:

2019:

  • J. Williams - solid starting LT
  • D. Sample - 2nd TE
  • G. Pratt - starting LB
  • R. Finley - W against Pittsburgh, traded
  • R. Wren - DL with Practice Squad
  • M. Jordan - G cut
  • T. Williams - RB with practice squad
  • D. Davis - cut
  • R. Anderson - cut
  • J. Brown - cut

Grade: C-. Only 3 players are still with the active roster and even if we found a starting LT, I'm not sure Sample brings the value of a 2nd round pick. Pratt looks like a good value pick and for the rest, they will not contribute anymore. I don't think Wren will be able to overtake anyone from the active roster beside injuries

2020:

  • J. Burrow - Franchise QB
  • T. Higgins - elite WR2
  • L. Wilson - elite LB
  • ADG - 3rd LB
  • K. Kareem - Rotational DE, injured
  • H. Adeniji - OLine depth, injured
  • M. Bailey - ST, back of LB rotation

Grade: A. The top of this draft is crazy, having 3 big hits on the first 3 picks including your franchise QB can only be concidered as a succesful draft. But even the latter picks are decent to good. ADG could at some point become a starter, Kareem would probably have been in the rotation at DE and Adeniji fighting for a spot. Then Bailey is contributing for ST and I don't rule out some contribution at LB in a near future

2021:

  • J. Chase - soon to be elite WR1
  • J. Carman - starting RG
  • J. Ossai - injured but damn he looked good
  • C. Sample - Rotational DE
  • T. Shelvin - DT depth
  • D. Smith - OL depth and future LG? RT ?
  • E. McPherson - game-winner K
  • T. Hill - back-up C
  • C. Evans - 3rd RB
  • W. Hubbert - roster bubble at DE, injured

Grade: B. Here the grade doesn't mean much but I am very optimistic about this draft. Chase is making the Bengals right in picking him and not OL, Carman seems to have won the RG job and could become a solid element for the OL, Ossai... man that DL would have looked scary with him as the 3rd DE, Sample is already bringing some reps at DE. Smith could become a second solid addition to the OL puzzle in a year or two. Nobody is angry about the McPherson pick anymore. Hill is still a mystery. Evans can become the 2nd RB. I don' t expect much from Hubbert. Overall, Chase, McPherson, Evans are hits, Carman and Ossai are the one that can make this grade become A and Smith would be the A+.

I think everyone can agree that 2019 was decepointing (due to lack of preparation time?) but not a failure. However, 2020 and 2021 were drafts that you can build on and strive for greatness. Another good draft and we would be a play-off team (maybe we already are, who knows! 3-1 after all).

What are your thoughts on the draft and the roster overall?

.



This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Cincy Jungle's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan, which is as important as the views of Cincy Jungle's writers or editors.