Revisiting the Bengals' drafts under Marvin Lewis

NFL Draft 

Since Marvin Lewis took over the Bengals in 2003, they have had three losing seasons.  For a team that went from 1991-2005 without a winning season, that’s saying something.  Now Lewis does have several 8-8 seasons during his tenure, but he has had winning seasons the past three years, a first in Bengals’ history.

This post will look back at the thing that has contributed the most to the Bengals’ success: the drafts under Lewis.

2003 - first pick Carson Palmer

Best pick - Palmer. Two Pro Bowls and two division titles make him a close selection over second round guard Eric Steinbach

Worst pick - CB Dennis Weathersby.  He was injured prior to the draft so he never played his rookie year. Then prior to his sophomore season he was in a car accident that ended his playing career

2004 - first pick Chris Perry

Best pick - DE Robert Geathers. He is still with the team and during the 2006 season he broke 10 sacks.  

Worst pick - Perry. Hands down.  The Bengals could have had Steven Jackson, but they passed on him for Perry who showed flashes in 2005, but he was often injured and never made an impact.

2005 - first pick David Pollack

Things couldn't have been brighter for Pollack, who might have been the most dominating college defensive player I've ever seen.

Best pick - I hate to say it but sixth round Jonathan Fanene.  He had his best seasons in 2009 and 2011 for the Bengals before leaving for New England.

Worst pick - Pollack (who suffered a career ending neck injury early in his career), Odell Thurman (second round) who was out of the lead due to alcoholism after his first year, which was stellar. Total waste of God given talent here. Chris Henry (third rounder) who had all the talent in the world and had a monster 2005 rookie season but died during the 2009 season.  Eric Guicheck (fourth round) who played center some in 2006 and 2007 and was terrible.

This draft had wonderful potential as Pollack, Thurman, and Henry all played vital roles in helping the Bengals win their first division title since 1990, but they would all be out of the league (or dead) by 2009.

2006 - first pick Jonathan Joseph

Best pick - Andrew Witworth (second round) who has been a Pro Bowl left tackle for Cincy and a key contributor since he stepped on the field.

A side note, after this draft the Bengals used a third round pick for the 2007 draft to select LB Ahmad Brooks out of Virginia.  He would play a small role in the 2006 season and would end up being released after the 2006 season, but he has blossomed into a Pro Bowl player with the 49ers.

Worst pick - AJ Nicholson (fifth round). After having Chris Henry and Odell Thurman suspended - and casting a very negative image around the Bengals - Cincy still elected to take Nicholson despite a checkered past. Sure enough, he’d be arrested before ever playing a down for Cincy.

2007 - first pick Leon Hall

Best pick - Leon Hall. He is still one of the best corners on the team, though he has struggled with injuries as of late.

Worst pick - Kenny Irons (second round). A running back out of Auburn who was supposed to be the first version of Gio Bernard, but a knee injury in the preseason against Detroit (same place one Ki Jana Carter tore up his knee and dashed his career) ruined not just his rookie season but his entire career as Irons would never play a down for the Bengals or any other team.

2008 - first pick Keith Rivers

Best pick - Anthony Collins (fourth round). Collins played here and there throughout his career, but in 2013 he played excellent left tackle whenever Witworth

Worst pick - Rivers. Even though many thought he was the safest player to draft, but for the 10th pick in the draft, he just never ever lived up to expectations and has been a bust so far.  The Bengals did trade him to the Giants, who have not exactly been enamored with Rivers.

2009 - first pick Andre Smith

** this draft class marked the total transformation of the franchise.  And these players are the reason the Bengals have had just one losing season since 2009.

Best pick - The first three rounds were all hits: Andre Smith started out rocky but he has been great at RT for the past three seasons.  Rey Maualuga, taken in the second round, has been a ficture at LB since he was drafted and has far outperformed Rivers.  Michael Johnson, taken in the third round, has been a force at DE. He cashed in on a huge contract from Tampa Bay this year.

Worst pick - Chase Coffman.  Tight end taken in the third round.  He was never ever a factor for the Bengals and was cut just two seasons later.

2010 - first pick Jermaine Gresham

Best pick - Geno Atkins taken in the fourth round. An absolute beast at DT, earning two Pro Bowl nods and would have had a third had he not blow out his knee on Halloween night versus the Dolphins.

Worst pick - Jordan Shipley, WR taken in the third round. He was very productive his rookie year, leading AFC receivers in catches and yards. However, during the 2011 season he’d blow out his knee and be out of the league.

2011 - first pick AJ Green

Best pick - AJ Green. The best pick of the last 25 years.  He is a threat to score every play and has been dominant since day 1.

Honor roll goes to Andy Dalton. Love him or hate him, in three seasons he’s won more games than any Cincy QB. He’s been to the playoffs every year and in just his third season he broke passing records previously held by Palmer and Boomer Esiason.

Worst pick - Dontay Moch. Cincy took the speedy OLB/DE from Nevada in the third round.  However, he suffered from migraines, was suspended, and then released.  He was resigned this year after a year in Arizona.  We’ll see if he pays dividends.

2012 - first picks Dre Kirckpatrick and Kevin Zeitler

Best pick - Zietler (who has started every game - expect when injured - since he was taken in the first round) and Marvin Jones (WR taken in the fifth round) who blossomed this year as the #2 option behind Green.

And it should be noted that though they passed on drafting OLB Vontaze Burfict out of Arizona State, they did sign him as an undrafted free agent.  He led the Bengals in tackles each year and this year he made the Pro Bowl.  He is easily the best linebacker we’ve had since Takeo Spikes.

Worst pick - Kirkpatrick. He may be a total bust. He played his most this year and the jury is still out on whether he’ll ever be a legit starting corner.

2013 - first pick Tyler Eifert

Best pick - Gio Bernard. He was lightning in a bottle for Cincy and gave them their most complete back since James Brooks in the offensive glory years of the 1980’s.

Worst pick - Sean Porter, taken in the fourth round. He was slated to play quite a bit his rookie year, but an injury wiped out his rookie year.

2014 - first pick Darquiz Dennard

Best pick - Jeremy Hill. Another second round RB the Bengals hope they can pair with Bernard.  If he can stay out of trouble, he should give the Bengals their most bruising runner since Corey Dillon.

Worst pick - AJ McCarron. Is he really going to push Dalton? No.  Will people be calling for him the minute Dalton has his first 3 interception game of the year? Yes. I love what he did at Alabama, but the fact that he was never elected a team captain terrifies me about his leadership ability.

Overall, here are the best picks by round of the Marvin Lewis era

First - AJ Green (best WR Bengals have ever had. Best first round pick since Anthony Munoz)

Second - Andrew Witworth (with honorable mention to Andy Dalton). Witworth came in and made the retirement of Willie Anderson an afterthought.

Third - Michael Johnson. He’ll be missed this season.  Saved many games for us in his career.

Fourth - Geno Atkins. The best defensive player the Bengals have drafted in my lifetime.

Fifth - Marvin Jones.  If he develops, he should be a dominant force. Honorable mention to Kevin Huber who has punted for Cincy since day one.

Sixth - Bernard Scott. His rookie year saw him return a kick for a score against Pittsburgh and rush for 100 yards against the Raiders. A knee injury derailed the start of a fine career. Could have been an early version of Gio Bernard.

Seventh - Jonathan Fanene. A solid pass rusher for us. Honorable mention Chinedum Ndukwe who made plenty of plays from his safety position and did start during the 2009 season when the Bengals won the AFC North.

Free agent - Vontaze Burfict. Without a doubt. If he had been drafted, he’d be right up there with Geno Atkins for best defensive player drafted in my life time. He gives us three people of defense (Atikins, Dunlap, and Burfict) who could be the best at their positions in the league.