Generally speaking, the Cincinnati Bengals emerged as winners in the NFL draft grades department coming out of the 2019 event.
A new analytics-based approach looked at the Bengals’ class through a different scope and came out with a similar conclusion.
Using a formula looking at the Approximate Value for draft classes over a 10-year stretch and comparing it with AV projections, Rotoworld’s Hayden Winks grades the Bengals a solid B.
It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but the Drew Sample pick in the second round came in at a D, while Ryan Finley was an A+ and Renell Wren an A:
The Bengals draft turned around after the Sample pick, especially when they drafted Ryan Finley with No.104 overall. Picking quarterbacks is a smart strategy regardless because of how important the position is, but Finley has shown accuracy and was top-10 in Passing EPA last year. Finley’s upside is pretty average, but there’s a path towards developing into the bridge quarterback mold. That would be a big win in the 4th Round if you ask me. … Renell Wren was another solid pick for the Bengals. Wren was decently productive at Arizona State (2.5 solo tackles per game), but he also has the athletic traits of a starting interior lineman.
The Sample pick is the only thing that really stops the Bengals from grading out even higher here, especially with a prospect like Jace Sternberger still on the board.
But overall? One has to think analytics are playing a bigger role in Cincinnati than ever thanks to a younger coaching staff led by an offensive-minded leader like Zac Taylor.
If so, it appears at least one analytical model (mostly) loves what the Bengals did during Taylor’s debut.
