Worse draft in the Burrow Era

[PDub80]

(5 hours ago)Sled21 Wrote: I'd hate for them to start drafting guys who were NOT athletic

Only, that's not what I said..... Try again.

[Soonerpeace]

(4 hours ago)ERIC1 Wrote: yes ..all the Bengals coaches and staff ..after all the scouring ..interviews .talking with coaches..purposefully chose a bad player..Ridiculous....the dude has a non stop motor..is physically impressive..is a great run defender..puts tremendous pressure on the quarterback most of the time..has unlimited potential..he was rated I go between 10-32....in the draft..He has not played a single down in the NFL and to trash him is absurd....Murphy was playing was much better at the end of last year..Jackson Carmen..well you don't take linemen that have had serious issues with their backs and surgeryu

https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2025/3/20/24390518/2025-nfl-draft-shemar-stewart-scouting-report-texas-am-edge-defender-pass-rusher-defensive-end

[*ochocincos*]

(4 hours ago)Whatever Wrote: There was a draft pick called Ja'Marr Chase that had athleticism, too.  Wonder how he worked out?

Hill played well and was our best CB last year before he got hurt.  

I mean, seriously, I can understand not being a fan of the pick, but at the same time, I don't understand how you can complain about drafting athletic guys.

I think it's more of a concern with guys with clear lack of production in college and not trusting this coaching staff to be able to properly coach up more raw players at certain positions.
It's a huge reason Hobby and Pollack were shown the door.
The problem is the new faces haven't really established their coaching prowess yet either, so people have doubts.

[ERIC1]

(5 hours ago)Sled21 Wrote: Personally I don't think I like the pick. 4.5 sacks in his college career? He has the attitude of someone with 57. But, evidently he has tremendous traits, and is quick to the QB, so hopefully our coaches can teach him to finish. That said, we need to do something to keep Trey happy.

1) and so we have the sack leader on our defensive line and how has that panned out for us..we got no penetration ..could not stop the run ..but Trey got his sacks.
2) you fail to mention the 40 pressures that were inches away from a sack
3)physically he is a beast ..he has improved every year..is quick to the quarterback and he might just flourish in the NFL

[higgy100]

(4 hours ago)Au165 Wrote: Was not a fan of the pick but mainly because I thought there were polished players on the board who may be more productive THIS year. That said, and anyone who ever sees me speak will know I say this a lot, pressures are more indicative to winning your rep than sacks are. Sacks are a function of a lot of things but if we are asking can he beat his guy across from him the answer is yes. Let's say he still can't finish this year, if he can create a ton of pressure to force QB's to step up we may see increased sack production from our interior defenders.

We want the negative plays, but he can play a role in generating those even if he isn't the one getting the stat for it. I do think some of it is because he almost plays too fast and reckless at times and overruns QB's. He will have to be more under control but he has the physical tools to play in the league. People talking about his athleticism should keep in mind he isn't just AN athlete, he is one of the premier athletes ever tested for his size. Murphy was athletic but not really in the same realm as this guy so him being able to out athlete people is more of a reality I think.

If we come away with a safety and guard today I don't think I can complain too much overall.

100% agree. He has cartoonish type athletic ability and strength and sometimes that translates to less thinking and less trusting on what you see and watched on film especially being the best athlete on the field. But the kid does and has made great and freakish plays and he is a heck of a football player. 

Believing he can make every play can sometimes be the detriment. I believe the game will slow down for him as he'll be taught to focus more just on his assignments and then his natural ability to also make the WOW plays will still be there because you can't teach those physical traits he has. 

[ERIC1]

(4 hours ago)Soonerpeace Wrote: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2025/3/20/24390518/2025-nfl-draft-shemar-stewart-scouting-report-texas-am-edge-defender-pass-rusher-defensive-end

I have read most of the scouting reports and watched about 2 hours worth of videos on this guy..I think we did good..He applies pressure on almost every play ..We will see

[ERIC1]

(4 hours ago)higgy100 Wrote: 100% agree. He has cartoonish type athletic ability and strength and sometimes that translates to less thinking and less trusting on what you see and watched on film especially being the best athlete on the field. But the kid does and has made great and freakish plays and he is a heck of a football player. 

Believing he can make every play can sometimes be the detriment. I believe the game will slow down for him as he'll be taught to focus more just on his assignments and then his natural ability to also make the WOW plays will still be there because you can't teach those physical traits he has. 

100%

[Sled21]

(4 hours ago)ERIC1 Wrote: I have read most of the scouting reports and watched about 2 hours worth of videos on this guy..I think we did good..He applies pressure on almost every play ..We will see

I think he'll be good. But man they sure blasted the pick on ABC

[*Au165*]

(4 hours ago)Joelist Wrote: Look I think Stewart was a terrible pick; project players of this type can be had on Day 3 usually. you could see what happened (as usual) - we wanted Nolen and it was too obvious. He got taken right before us. We panicked and instead of doing the smart thing (grabbing a G/T right then while several good ones were there) reached on a project pick.

Now we're locked into G/T in Round 2 and because we need an immediate starter our choice is again obvious and again we're reduced to hoping they aren't taken before we pick.  For a team that relies on the draft our war room seems poorly prepared and unable to react quickly to circumstances.

It isn't the end of the world but it is galling. All they had to do was go up there with Zabel's name on the card and they would be in a good position today.

No, a project player with this athleticism is a late day 1 very early day 2 pick. People are way too down on this and it's getting weird. Like you are going to sit there and tell me the difference between an amazing draft and an awful one was 4-5 more sacks over 550 snaps? 

If the Bengals get him at 25-28 they are cheered for grabbing a guy who can be Danielle Hunter. It's just a matter of value perception and that's okay.

[NotBigzo]

(4 hours ago)ERIC1 Wrote: yes ..all the Bengals coaches and staff ..after all the scouring ..interviews .talking with coaches..purposefully chose a bad player..Ridiculous....the dude has a non stop motor..is physically impressive..is a great run defender..puts tremendous pressure on the quarterback most of the time..has unlimited potential..he was rated I go between 10-32....in the draft..He has not played a single down in the NFL and to trash him is absurd....Murphy was playing was much better at the end of last year..Jackson Carmen..well you don't take linemen that have had serious issues with their backs and surgeryu

Myles Murphy was so much better at the end of last season that the Bengals felt the need to draft someone replace and compete with him for clock.....

[ERIC1]

this was not a draft filled with phenomenal talent..Stewart was projected to go anywhere between 10-32..He is a physical beast, he disrupts ..high motor..and is still growing ..The NFL is completely different from college and coaches are looking at factors that would suggest success in the NFL..Jackson and Jenkins were playing lights out the end of last year and even Murphy was showing improvement..Drafting someone like Stewart is going to make this line fun to watch..To see people on this Board trashing this player when he has not even played a single down is absurd ..All teams make mistakes with some draft picks..some develop faster than others..but the Bengals have done remarkably well overall..

[ERIC1]

(4 hours ago)NotBigzo Wrote: Myles Murphy was so much better at the end of last season that the Bengals felt the need to draft someone replace and compete with him for clock.....

you have no idea how the team intends to use Stewart..but thanks

[ERIC1]

(4 hours ago)Sled21 Wrote: I think he'll be good. But man they sure blasted the pick on ABC

I think a little fine tuning with this guy..some good coaching he will turn out to be very good..Frankly I had not even heard of him..I spent a couple of hours watching hom play on various videos..He has such great potential..and he is a disruptor...and you know..aside from the top 5-10 picks in the draft..nobody can accurately predict anything

[Squintz]

(5 hours ago)ochocincos Wrote: I wish people would stop saying look at Danielle Hunter.
Hunter was a 3rd round pick, not 17th overall.
That's more acceptable to take a gamble on someone who produced little in college.

And then Oweh mentioned?
Oweh had more sacks in 2019 (5.0) than Stewart had his whole college career (4.5, 1.5 each year).
Oweh also went 31st overall, not 17th overall.
And don't forget Oweh took until his 4TH YEAR before he eclipsed 5.0 sacks in the NFL.

Stewart's own teammate last year on the same DL (Scourton) had 5.0 sacks.

Stewart may get going in the NFL, and I hope he does.
Ultimately, this is on coaching now.
And how long will it take to actually get him productive?
And when I personally say productive, I mean 7+ sacks. That's my personal expectation for a 1st round DE.

I won't go as far to say worst draft in the Burrow era because we haven't seen him yet in a Bengal uniform, and he may eventually become a good player.
I just really don't want to see a 1st round pick as a rotational player for 2+ years again.
Bengals need dudes to help them win now while Burrow, Chase, and Higgins are in their prime.

Hunter was also 20 years old.

[Bengalitis]

(5 hours ago)PDub80 Wrote: Murphy & Hill both had the same best attribute Stewart does : Athleticism.  How has that worked out? AWFUL.

Bengals are slow learners. Hell, I feel like they've actually just dropped out of school and are living off an inheritance at this point. 

Lou Anamuro did amazing things with the D, his loss will likely be evident this season... hope for the best, prep for the worst.

Too early for the "worst" draft, but so far... nothing to get excited about and more to be a bit worried. Especially for a 1st round pick, since they are typically the easier picks.

[masonbengals fan]

(Today, 02:03 AM)NotBigzo Wrote: We’ve learned nothing and Stewart will be right there with Jackson Carmen and Myles Murphy.

Steelers took Harmon. Cowboys took Banks. Falcons took two great edge rushers, and Philly got Campbell.

I hate it here.

In the running for the worst post of the Burrow era. You have no idea how this will turn out. 

[*Au165*]

I actually would like to reference something from listening to the coaches talk. They mention a lot about him being able to rush from any alignment. I wonder if we won't see him rush from inside on passing downs and see a "NASCAR" package like the old Giants would run. We could go Ossai and Trey on the edges and Murphy and Stewart inside. You let the two raw but physically gifted guys try to rush against worse athletes while you give your more polished guys a shot on the edge.

The fact they mentioned it multiple times about him being able to align anywhere, I wonder if their belief is they will just move him to whichever matchup is most favorable each week and let him give it a go there? It could be interesting. He has reps rushing from every inside technique including the 0/1 in college.

[*Synric*]

(3 hours ago)Au165 Wrote: I actually would like to reference something from listening to the coaches talk. They mention a lot about him being able to rush from any alignment. I wonder if we won't see him rush from inside on passing downs and see a "NASCAR" package like the old Giants would run. We could go Ossai and Trey on the edges and Murphy and Stewart inside. You let the two raw but physically gifted guys try to rush against worse athletes while you give your more polished guys a shot on the edge.

The fact they mentioned it multiple times about him being able to align anywhere, I wonder if their belief is they will just move him to whichever matchup is most favorable each week and let him give it a go there? It could be interesting. He has reps rushing from every inside technique including the 0/1 in college.

Stewart gives the Bengals a base end opposite of Trey that can handle wide and tight alignments. Even though they are gonna be a 425 defense you can see where they can run odd fronts with Stewart having the size to handle double teams from a Tackle/TE as a 5t. 

You mentioned Safety on Day 2? It's possible but I think they are going to be looking for a Penetrating 3T (& a guard of course). I would also like to see them add one another pass rusher Day 3 maybe even a Tweener like Collin Oliver or Josaiah Stewart to give teams different rush looks.

[Stewy]

*walks in and sees expected hysteria, hair pulling and gnashing of teeth*

*steps back out statisfied*

[*ochocincos*]

(3 hours ago)Squintz Wrote: Hunter was also 20 years old.

Yep valid.
Stewart is 21 years old, turning 22 in November.
So he's still young too, but not as young as Hunter was coming into the league.

I have far more concern with dudes who are 24-25. There usually isn't much more growth that happens for them.