With the 2011 regular season freshly over it is time to go back and evaluate every team’s draft classes based on performance this year. I will use a formula to grade each pick and calculuate a final grade for each team. Today we look at the team who held the 4th overall pick last year, the playoff bound Cincinnati Bengals.
GRADING SYSTEM
ROUND 1 – graded from a 0-5 scale
ROUND 2 – graded from a 0-4 scale
ROUND 3 – graded from a 0-3 scale
ROUND 4 – graded from a 0-2 scale
ROUND 5 – graded from a 0-1 scale
ROUND 6 & 7 – no scale, point awarded if player was productive
*I reserve the right to award a bonus point to any player who outperformed their draft position.*
FINAL GRADING SCALE
90-100 – A
80-89 - B
70-79 - C
60 – 69 - D
0-59 - F
2011 Draft Class
Round 1: AJ Green WR, Georgia - 65 Rec, 1,057 Receiving Yds, 7 TDs, 53 Rushing Yds
Analysis: A lot of draft gurus figured Green would be a great receiver, but no one expected it to happen so soon. Green found a connection with fellow rookie Andy Dalton and put up one of the better rookie receiving seasons in recent memory.
Grade: 6/5
Round 2: Andy Dalton QB, TCU - 3,398 Passing Yds, 20 TD, 13 INT, 152 Rushing Yds, 1 TD
Analysis: Dalton came in took over the starting job and played very well for most of the season. He appears to be the Bengals answer at the QB position for years to come. Excellent pick.
Grade: 5/4
Round 3: Dontay Moch OLB, Nevada - No Stats
Analysis: Coulnd’t crack the starting lineup or even appear in a game, had issues with migraines.
Grade: 0/3
Round 4: Clint Boling G, Georgia - 3 Starts
Analysis: Boling appeared in 6 games and started half of them, decent production from a 4th rounder.
Grade: 1.5/2
Round 5: Robert Sands S, W. Virginia - No Stats
Analysis: Like Moch, Sands had problems getting on the field, but did appear in one game.
Grade: 0/1
Round 6: Ryan Whalen WR, Stanford - 4 Rec, 24 yds
Analysis: Appeared in 4 games, caught a few balls, could be worse.
Grade: 0.25/0
Round 7: Korey Lindsey CB, Southern Illinois - Released
Analysis:
Grade: 0/0
Round 7: Jay Finley RB, Baylor - Released
Analysis:
Grade: 0/0
TOTAL SCORE 12.75/15 85%
FINAL GRADE: B
Analysis: The Bengals knocked their first two picks out of the park. AJ Green is on the way to becoming an elite receiver in this league and Dalton should be the Bengals QB for the next 10 years. They didn’t get much out of their mid round picks this season but Moch, Boling, and Sands are all guys who will compete for playing time next season. This was truly a great draft by the Bengals.
Other Grades:
Day 1: Carolina Panthers
Day 2: Denver Broncos
Day 3: Buffalo Bills
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