The Cincinnati Bengals have had some interesting NFL draft results in the first round over the last decade.
Duke Tobin and the front office have had their share of whiffs in the form of Cedric Ogbuehi and Billy Price. The jury remains out on Jonah Williams.
But the front office has had its shining moments too. Here’s a look at the best picks of the last decade so far.
5. Tyler Eifert
2013, No. 21
Eifert isn’t a bust by any means and at the time of his selection, it totally made sense to go get Andy Dalton a big-bodied tight end given the quarterback’s need for elite talent around him.
And Eifert realized that potential in 2015, scoring 13 times in as many games. Injuries derailed things from there and he was never the same, failing to play in more than eight games for three consecutive seasons before last year’s 16-game attendance sheet on less than 50 percent of the snaps.
Eifert is a good “what if?” conversation if injuries hadn’t struck and he just makes the list.
4. Darqueze Dennard
2014, No. 24
Dennard will probably never get the credit he deserves.
And Dennard didn’t do himself any favors in the perception department by testing free agency last year, wanting to play the boundary and ultimately settling for a one-year deal before needing an operation.
Yet when he was actually on the field Dennard was borderline elite in the slot. He only played in one full 16-game season. Yet that season showed his full potential (2017) as he tied for the team high in tackles and earned a grade above 70 at PFF. Even last year over just nine games he only allowed a 48.6 completion percentage.
3. Dre Kirkpatrick
2012, No. 17
Kirkpatrick never fully won over fans with his on-field play. Cornerbacks have to give up big plays and make mistakes and Kirkpatrick’s were more visible than most.
And yet, looking at something like 2018 over the course of 13 games, Kirkpatrick only let up a 50 percent completion percentage on a whopping 72 targets.
Tackling and penalties (he had just two over six games in 2019), plus the big contract, meant the marriage had to end. But getting eight solid years at a premium spot like boundary corner still makes Kirkpatrick one of the better picks of the last decade.
2. Kevin Zeitler
2012, No. 27
Don’t wince too hard at this — if the Bengals are smart they’ve fully learned their lesson here.
Zeitler was the second of two first-round picks in 2012 and hopped in as starter and never looked back. Even as a rookie, Zeitler casually threw out a 75.2 grade at PFF. That’s right in line with where he’s graded as one of the league’s better right guards with two different teams over the last two seasons.
Zeitler was a rock for the Bengals over five years, tallying more than three flags in a season just once. Given his performance and the fact he held up against a defensive line boasting Geno Atkins each day in practice, the failure to bring him back has hopefully been a pivot point for how the front office treats the offensive line now — he’s still out there at the age of 30 playing at a high level.
1. A. J. Green
2011, No. 4
Who else?
The numbers say it all: 8,907 yards and 63 touchdowns over 111 games, 80.2 yards per game and 14.8 yards per catch with 33 outings of 100-plus yards. Add in 409 first downs and a catch percentage of 58.7.
Don’t forget seven Pro Bowls, three second-team All-Pro nods and an All-Rookie team, too.
Green has had his health issues over the years but the Bengals were given a layup of a pick and hit it. They could have easily panicked about the quarterback situation and went all-in on a Jake Locker, Blaine Gabbert or Christian Ponder (all came off the board within the next 10 picks).
Instead, the Bengals took one of the best weapons of his generation. If he’s fully healthy, he’ll remain atop this list as he helps along a rookie like Joe Burrow.
