Grade the Draft

[Wolverine]

Grade The Cincinnati Bengals Draft

Sporting News: A

Sporting News Today - April 27, 2009 (http://today.sportingnews.com/sportingnewstoday/20090427/?sub_id=DoY7dWGra1dRT&folio=CGI)

[Badeye]

I give them an A minus. Smith is a risk, if he proves to be the tackle the Bengals appear to think he is...its a solid 'A'.

If that punk runningback makes the team and gets arrested...the grade drops to a B minus.

We'll see.

[Cincy14]

I'll go with a B+.

I thought that they should have taken Monroe but Smith was considered a top guy until he messed up going into the combine...I hope it works out...

I am unhappy about the running back with the legal issues but he was a later pick where chances can be taken. Once again I hope it works out.

I was real happy with many of the picks and think that they did a good job of addressing needs with available players.

[Texecutioner]

A

You gotta give the Tigers some love. Brown did alright in this one and they filled some holes.

[Ravenatic20]

A-/B+. Smith is the only question mark. He's not that athletic. For proof of that, see this picture, but it is graphic (Smith (http://www.profootball24x7.com/inc/imgresize.inc.php?w=300&img=/images/articles_photo_1/large/AndreSmith.jpg)). Overall though it was a good draft.

[CatClaw]

I'd give them a A....would have liked Jennings and Mickens late in the draft, but I can't find anything wrong with their first six picks. The Bengals could possibly have six starters and a DE (Johnson) that will be a situational third down rusher. Can't ask for more from a draft. The Bengasl are reporting that Cook with be the starter at C when camp starts and I can only hope Luigs bulks up enough to compete for that job soon.

[william00777]

I don't know if this draft is an A or C. Talent wise it's an A without questions. But we all know Smith, Rey M, Scott and Johnson have problems. Is this the right locker room for a guys that may not have the right motivation or have had problems in the past with violence or the police?

We'll see what happens I'm gonna say a with a decrease in grade for every problem they run into with these guys.

[Chris Raiden]

I'd go much lower than you fellas are. Andre Smith or Rey Maualuga alone's fine, but taking both? That's a potential problem in my view. Add in Bernard Scott later, and really, give me a break. You can't continue to add potential problems to a locker room like this, you just can't.

Talent wise, no question, great potential draft here. Character questions, you've really got to look at that. There's a reason Maualuga dropped so far fellas.

Let's get to the things I actually like about this draft: the third through fifth round picks. Start with Michael Johnson, he's inconsistent, but when he's on, he's a tremendous pass rusher. Getting that consistency will be the key there. Chase Coffman, best pass catcher the Bengals have had at tight end in a very long time. Great safety blanket for Palmer here. Jonathan Luigs, starting center opening day, mark it down. Finally, local product Kevin Huber, great pick, he's a weapon on special teams with that booming, accurate leg.

[Cincy14]

I'd go much lower than you fellas are. Andre Smith or Rey Maualuga alone's fine, but taking both? That's a potential problem in my view. Add in Bernard Scott later, and really, give me a break. You can't continue to add potential problems to a locker room like this, you just can't.

Talent wise, no question, great potential draft here. Character questions, you've really got to look at that. There's a reason Maualuga dropped so far fellas.

Let's get to the things I actually like about this draft: the third through fifth round picks. Start with Michael Johnson, he's inconsistent, but when he's on, he's a tremendous pass rusher. Getting that consistency will be the key there. Chase Coffman, best pass catcher the Bengals have had at tight end in a very long time. Great safety blanket for Palmer here. Jonathan Luigs, starting center opening day, mark it down. Finally, local product Kevin Huber, great pick, he's a weapon on special teams with that booming, accurate leg.

Hard to disagree with your comments...what grade do you give today B or C?

[Chris Raiden]

Hard to disagree with your comments...what grade do you give today B or C?
Incomplete. I don't give out actual draft grades any more due to the fact that it's really meaningless in the grand scheme of things. I think the Bengals did terrific with some of their picks, but really, grading others at this point is a crapshoot. Every one of these guys could turn out to be enshrined in Canton one day, in which case, an A grade would be warranted, or half of them could be incarcerated next week, generally speaking, we just don't know.

And that incarcerated comment could be applied to any team, I'm just speaking in general terms here, not just about the Bengals.

[Who Dey]

I'm not aware of any legal troubles regarding Smith, but the lack of maturity concerns me. I don't know if the Bengals can provide enough of a structured environment for Smith (like a team like Baltimore would, as an example). What are the character issues with Maualuga?

You already know how much I dislike the Bernard Scott pick. Dude has a "nice" rap sheet. Horrible decision with Jennings still on the board.

I'm leaning more towards a C regarding this draft unil we can get a better idea about these guys.

[Badeye]

I'm not aware of any legal troubles regarding Smith, but the lack of maturity concerns me. I don't know if the Bengals can provide enough of a structured environment for Smith (like a team like Baltimore would, as an example). What are the character issues with Maualuga?

You already know how much I dislike the Bernard Scott pick. Dude has a "nice" rap sheet. Horrible decision with Jennings still on the board.

I'm leaning more towards a C regarding this draft unil we can get a better idea about these guys.

USC says Maulaluga is just fine. Personally, I don't want my linebackers to be UN peace envoy's.....

[william00777]

USC says Maulaluga is just fine. Personally, I don't want my linebackers to be UN peace envoy's.....

yeah I think it was just fights. My problem isn't the one guy but the grouping of them.

[Badeye]

yeah I think it was just fights. My problem isn't the one guy but the grouping of them.

Scott's the only one that actually meets the 'punk' standard set by Chris Henry.

I think the sports reporters are clearly 'reaching' by putting Maulauga and Smith in this 'catagory', given neither have ever been arrested from what I'm seeing.