The Super Bowl came and went. Now is Valentine’s Day, the time when every football fan’s thoughts turn to love.
I mean the love for recruitment prospects, of course. What did you think I meant?
Last year, Bengals fans found their true love with Joe Burrow, and this year it’s all about surrounding him with players who can help him do his best. In the words of Melvin Udall, played by Jack Nicholson in the film As Good As is Gets, “You make me want to be a better man”. Having Burrow gives Bengals a chance, but to be a better team, they need to make a good draft.
The NFL Draft deals with the search for outliers. It’s about finding jewelry. It’s about getting players who can make a difference. Here are some players whose film reminded me of the movie Beautiful Women, when they asked Vivian if she liked opera and she said, “It was so good that I almost peed my pants.”
The Bengals need a wide receiver and Burrow has publicly stated that he “wouldn’t mind” meeting with his former LSU teammate, Ja’Marr Chase. Although the quarterback may have some contribution to what the team does, Mike Brown should not act like Westly from The Princess Bride and simply say “As you wish” in response to everything Burrow says.
Still, writing Chase would make a lot of sense, and he’s the first of my passions. Obviously there is a relationship between Toca and Chase, but just because you have a connection with your ex doesn’t mean you should be back together. After all, not every couple is Ross and Rachel.
Chase, however, is special. It also fits perfectly. Burrow may even be tempted to quote Jerry McGuire and say to Chase “You complete me”. This is a good thing because the Bengals need to put as much talent into Burrow as possible before they become eligible for an extension and quote Rod Tidwell from the same movement saying, “Show me the money.”
Chase is an incredible player. He has underestimated speed, but what makes him really special is his ability to track and aim football. This seems to be what the Bengals value most in the wide receiver position, and it is certainly a trait that fits well with Burrow’s skill set. Adding Chase to a receiving body that already includes Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd would really stack the deck in Burrow’s favor.
Of course, he needs time to launch and finish the year without another injury. That’s why Bengals also need to add talent to the offensive line. The first love of many Bengals fans this draft season was Oregon’s offensive attack, Penei Sewell. Both Chase and Sewell chose to leave the 2020 season after dominant performances in 2019, when both were still teenagers.
Sewell has enormous structure, incredible athletic ability and a very cruel streak. I can’t blame him for giving up, but he could have used another year of technical development. Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater conversation, possibly being written before Sewell, is largely based on the fact that Slater is a finished product, while Sewell still has room to grow. Sewell showed excellent development throughout the 2019 season, and this was evident in what would end up being his last high school game against Wisconsin at the Rose Bowl. If he continues on this path, he could be one of the best in the NFL.
So, why draw Sewell? Because, as Harry said in When Harry Met Sally “… when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” Sewell has the potential to be a franchise and a cornerstone for Bengals’ future success. He is the guy. Get it now.
Creed Humphrey, from downtown Oklahoma, was one of my favorites last year, but decided to go back to school. Like Rose in the movie Titanic, “I will never give up”. Now that he has declared himself in favor of recruiting, I want him more than ever.
Humphrey is an excellent internal attack striker. He’s physical and has excellent hands. He is also amazing at protecting passes and, in 2020, gave up zero sacks in 373 snaps with blocking passes. That sounds like a guy that Bengals should add.
Bengals have a good center at Trey Hopkins, but he is coming out of injury and may not be ready for the start of the season. Hopkins and Humphrey have the versatility to slide into defense, so when Hopkins is healthy, both can be on the field.
If the Bengals could land Humphrey, I would be feeling like the King of the world.
Like many Bengals fans, I’m also falling in love with Florida’s tight end, Kyle Pitts, but this doesn’t seem like the kind of move Bengals would make.
“Would you stop thinking about what everyone wants? What you want?”
Thanks, Noah, also known as the character of Ryan Gosling in The Notebook. You’re right.
Working out a tight end with the fifth overall choice doesn’t seem like a move the Bengals would make, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want that to happen.
Pitts may play the tight end, but he is an incredible threat. In fact, I would say it fits both Burrow’s paly style and Bengal attack as well as Chase and is a better fit than any other wide receiver in the draft.
Pitts is not just a tight end. He can line up with any wide receiver lineup and win. Like Chase, he makes big adjustments and wins in hot spots. Unlike Chase, he weighs two to six, 240 pounds, which makes him a nightmare.
To quote Woody Allen’s Shadows and Fog, “The only love that lasts is unrequited love.” If Bengals move to Pitts, and he goes on to an incredible career with another team, we will all be wondering what it could have been like (see Bengals moving on to Patrick Mahomes).
Another prospect that seems like an unlikely choice for the Bengals, but whose film made me feel uncomfortable, is Asante Samuel Jr.
Samuel has almost all the characteristics I look for in a cornerback. He is excellent at male coverage, very soft on his hips and, most importantly, he plays consistently. He’s short, but it doesn’t bother me at all. Unfortunately, I’m not sure how well it fits with the Bengals and what they want to do defensively. Just like the sign Andrew Lincoln displayed in Love Actually, Asante, “For me, you are perfect.”
A defender who would fit in nicely is Wake Forrest’s defensive side, Carlos Basham Jr. The Bengals pass race was missing in 2020. Basham can help fix that, but he is also a talented running defender. This is useful when you have to play against the Browns and Ravens twice a year.
Basham is a physical specimen with 6-5 pounds, 285 pounds. He has great hands and moves extremely well. He also works hard and always seems to get into football.
Basham may not be the best prospect in this draft, but he may well be the best option for Bengals in the position. Basham and the Bengals could be perfect for each other.
“You are not perfect, friend, and let me spare the suspense: this girl you met is also not perfect, but the question is whether or not you are perfect for each other.”
Robin Williams as Sean Maguire in Good Will Hunting
The defensive tackle was a big problem for Bengals in 2020. Marvin Wilson of Florida State looks like a player who could help, but he comes with some baggage in the form of a disappointing 2020 season shortened by injuries.
It is strong and powerful and when connected it is almost impossible to block. He usually plays with an excellent advantage for a 6-5 defender, but will sometimes be caught in a block and will have a hard time letting go.
He blocked a field goal and even a punt in his career. That’s right, this 305 pound cannon blocked a punt. I’m not talking about Varsity Blues, where Billy Bob eliminated the blockers, but it was Tweeder who blocked the punt. Wilson was on the “safe punt” and really put his hand on the kick.
He has incredible potential, he just hasn’t taken the next step yet, which means that Wilson could be a big heist in the middle of the round.
“Iris, in the movies we have protagonists and we have the best friend. You, I can say, are a protagonist, but for some reason you are behaving like the best friend. “
Eli Wallach as Arthur Abbott in The Holiday
I don’t know how to say it, I’m just going to go out and say it. I have a crush on most of Pitt’s defensive line. Like Bella in Twilight and Katniss in The Hunger Games, I have feelings for more than one boyfriend. It’s worse for me, because there are three.
Well, maybe not worse. I am not being caught in the middle of an old confrontation between werewolves and vampires, nor am I being forced into a real battle for one percent fun. This is a really good thing. If the Bengals select any of these Pitt Panthers, I will be very excited that everyone in the room will be thinking “I will have what he is eating”.
Patrick Jones II is an absolute ace on the defensive end. It is long, thin and productive like an edge pass rusher. It has a very good range of fast-moving movements.
Rashad Weaver also plays at the limit. He has 14 sacks in the past two seasons, but he really stands out for his racing defense. He projects himself as someone with the strength to play the 5 technique on the defensive fronts of Bengals 3-4. This additional versatility could make it a good fit for Bengals.
Jaylen Twyman chose to leave the 2020 season after having 10.5 bags in 2019. Bengals felt the absence of Geno Atkins last season. They need to find another internal defensive lineman who can put pressure on the quarterback. Twyman may be just what you are looking for. He has excellent speed movements and power pass rush. His feet and hands are always moving and he does a great job of getting rid of the blocks.
The Bengals have their quarterback at Joe Burrow and this is the biggest piece of the puzzle. This year’s draft is not just about finding the match, but about finding his. Who will help maximize your talent and prepare this team for success in 2021 and beyond?
This comes in many forms. Yes, it means pass receivers and blockers, but it also means defenders who can help put the ball back in Burrow’s hands, giving him more opportunities. After a very productive 2020 draft, Bengals need to continue to reach their first choices and increase depth in the final rounds, and selecting some of my draft strikes would be a step in the right direction