Building Through the Draft - A Proven Failure

A constant Bengals refrain under the Brown Regime has been that the Bengals strategy to a Super Bowl is to build through the draft.  Shunning high priced free agents in favor of shrewd drafting, the theory goes, will lead the team to glory.  The recent Odell Thurman saga has proven this theory to be as sound as creationism.

The CW says to wait 3-4 years to judge a team's draft.  Well, ignoring the dark years from 1991-2002, Marvin's draft classes have largely proven to be tremendous busts, with the 2005 class coming in as perhaps one of the worst draft classes in Bengals history.  The Baltimore Sun has picked up on this, as well as Comrade Blog Stripe Hype, calling the 2005 draft a "Marvel of Ineptitude." 

Out of the 2005 draft, 5 of the Bengals 7 picks are no longer with the team: David Pollack, 1st round (17th); Odell Thurman, 2nd round (48th); Chris Henry, 3rd round (83rd); Adam Keift, 5th round (153rd); and Tab Perry, 6th round, (190th).  Eric Ghiacuic, the teams 4th rounder has moved into a starting role, but has impressed few.  7th rounder Jonathan Fanene has a total of 5 tackles in his three years on the team.  Talk about building a foundation for a champion!

Overall, only 21 of the Bengals' 42 picks of the Marvin Lewis Era (2003-2007) are still with the team. 

2003 (3 of 9 remaining)
Carson Palmer, 1st Round
Jeremi Johnson, 4th Round
Scott Koostria, 7th Round

Those no longer with the team include: Eric Steinbach, Kelley Washington, Dennis Weathersby, Kahalid Abdullah, Langston Moore and Elton Patterson.

2004 (3 of 11 remaining)
Chris Perry, 1st Round
Stacy Andrews, 4th Round
Robert Geathers, 4th Round

Those no longer with the team include: Keiwan Ratliff, Madieu Williams, Caleb Miller, Landon Johnson,
Matthias Askew, Maurice Mann, Greg Brooks, Casey Bramlett

2005 (2 of 7 remaining)
Discussed above

In the 2006 class, 5 of 8 players remain, with AJ Nicholson, Reggie McNeal, and Bennie Brazell all gone. For 2007, 6 of 7 remain, with only Matt Toeania leaving for greener pastures. 

However, if history repeats itself, it is hard to trust Mike Brown and Marvin that they have the football knowledge and scouting department necessary to truly build a Super Bowl winning team through the draft. 

There are 2 ways to build a WINNING team - spend on proven free agents who fill a need and fit the system, and drafting for the future.  The Bengals will not dedicate the resources to landing big free agents (who also might have some reluctance to play for a team with such a stellar player personnel reputation and recent winning tradition) and we do not have the scouting department to execute a meaningful draft.

What does this all add up to?  Well, let's just say that the over/under in Vegas on Bengals wins for 2008 is at 7 - and the smart money is on the under.