Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Grading the 2007 Draft
10:47 AM | 
Posted by
Eric
This is the first of three re-grades of the last three years drafts. Every year BengalsDraftDepot is going to go back and grade the last three years drafts. So here it is the final grades for the 2007 draft.
1st Round- Leon Hall: (A+)
Hall is one of the best corners in the NFL and was taken by the Bengals in the middle of the 1st round. I liked the pick at the time, and I still do. This gave the Bengals 1st round CB's in back to back years, and in a league that is pass happy you need as many CB's as you can get. Hall should have been a pro bowler last year and may be the best player on a top 5 defense. I think hall is the 6th best player taken in the 1st round that year and the Bengals got him at 18. This draft produced a lot of stars and a lot of busts, luckily the Bengals hit on one of the stars.
Other available players- Micheal Griffen, Jon Beason, Dwayne Bowe, Greg Olsen
2nd Round- Kenny Irons (I) * I is for incomplete
Irons career was over before it ever really got started which is a shame. He was looking very good and explosive in training camp and I thought the Bengals could have landed a steal and had 2 very good RB's from Auburn. Then on the 4th play of the 1st preseason game Irons knee bent the wrong way, his foot got stuck in the turf, and he tore his ACL and MCL ending his career. I've seen some people give this pick an F. I don't see how as there isn't a body of work and it was yet another unfortunate injury incident for a Bengals rookie.
Other available players- Steve Smith (Giants), Ryan Kalil
4th Round- Marvin White (D)
Marvin White was a boom or bust prospect. He too often went for the knockout and failed to wrap up and make the tackle. His coverage skills were mediocre. Sounds alot like a guy some fans wanted the Bengals to take in the 1st round this year. After a few seasons White was released and signed with Detroit.
Other available players- Jerman Bushrod, Le Ron McClain
5th Round- AJ Nicholson (F)
Nicholson came in and immediately got into trouble. He was never a factor whatsoever and lived up to his reputation of having a troubled past. Bad Pick!
6th Round- Reggie McNeal (F)
Another bad pick who got into trouble before he ever put on a Bengals uniform. I liked this pick on draft day as I thought they could use McNeal with some gadget plays and keep defenses off balance a little bit, being a QB converting into a WR.
7th Round- Ethan Kilmer (C)
Kilmer was a solid contributor for a few years on special teams. For a 7th round pick that's about what is expected and I didn't mind this pick. The Bengals got about what I figured they would out of Kilmer.
Overall- (C-)
The only thing keeping this entire draft from being a complete waste is Leon Hall who has turned into one of the top CB's in the NFL. The Bengals got nothing out of the rest of this draft class. If you're going to stay competitive you can't continue to draft like this. Especially if you're a team that claims you build through the draft not free agency. This draft has Mike Brown's signature all over it and is proof a GM is needed.
1st Round- Leon Hall: (A+)
Hall is one of the best corners in the NFL and was taken by the Bengals in the middle of the 1st round. I liked the pick at the time, and I still do. This gave the Bengals 1st round CB's in back to back years, and in a league that is pass happy you need as many CB's as you can get. Hall should have been a pro bowler last year and may be the best player on a top 5 defense. I think hall is the 6th best player taken in the 1st round that year and the Bengals got him at 18. This draft produced a lot of stars and a lot of busts, luckily the Bengals hit on one of the stars.
Other available players- Micheal Griffen, Jon Beason, Dwayne Bowe, Greg Olsen
2nd Round- Kenny Irons (I) * I is for incomplete
Irons career was over before it ever really got started which is a shame. He was looking very good and explosive in training camp and I thought the Bengals could have landed a steal and had 2 very good RB's from Auburn. Then on the 4th play of the 1st preseason game Irons knee bent the wrong way, his foot got stuck in the turf, and he tore his ACL and MCL ending his career. I've seen some people give this pick an F. I don't see how as there isn't a body of work and it was yet another unfortunate injury incident for a Bengals rookie.
Other available players- Steve Smith (Giants), Ryan Kalil
4th Round- Marvin White (D)
Marvin White was a boom or bust prospect. He too often went for the knockout and failed to wrap up and make the tackle. His coverage skills were mediocre. Sounds alot like a guy some fans wanted the Bengals to take in the 1st round this year. After a few seasons White was released and signed with Detroit.
Other available players- Jerman Bushrod, Le Ron McClain
5th Round- AJ Nicholson (F)
Nicholson came in and immediately got into trouble. He was never a factor whatsoever and lived up to his reputation of having a troubled past. Bad Pick!
6th Round- Reggie McNeal (F)
Another bad pick who got into trouble before he ever put on a Bengals uniform. I liked this pick on draft day as I thought they could use McNeal with some gadget plays and keep defenses off balance a little bit, being a QB converting into a WR.
7th Round- Ethan Kilmer (C)
Kilmer was a solid contributor for a few years on special teams. For a 7th round pick that's about what is expected and I didn't mind this pick. The Bengals got about what I figured they would out of Kilmer.
Overall- (C-)
The only thing keeping this entire draft from being a complete waste is Leon Hall who has turned into one of the top CB's in the NFL. The Bengals got nothing out of the rest of this draft class. If you're going to stay competitive you can't continue to draft like this. Especially if you're a team that claims you build through the draft not free agency. This draft has Mike Brown's signature all over it and is proof a GM is needed.
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