It was a bad pick, from day one I was mad how we passed right over Dunlap, and look where we're at now. :bricks:
39-9 since that pick, 3 division titles, 3-3 record in the play-offs, one trip to the Super Bowl. Terrible, especially compared to those crafty Bengals, who totally swindled us.
They're 23-25, made the play-offs twice as wildcards, losing both times.
It's one draft pick. Calm the **** down. :bricks:
I wouldn't have taken Dunlap either, for the aforementioned scheme non-fit (at that time),
and for his off-field issues.
Sean Lee would not have been the nearly 2-round reach that Cunnyham was; he was considered
more of a top-80 guy than a top-60 guy. But my choice at that time was WR Golden Tate,
who I maintain would've been a perfect fit here.
I find it ridiculous when people cherry-pick on draft picks. I can think of one particular draft where 198 stupid picks were made, and every team was guilty multiple times. But that's a part of the game.
Sure, a health risk like Lee might have been worth taking. But we're not the only organization to pass. Don't forget the world champion Baltimore Ravens took Sergio Kindle ahead of Lee as well.
And what exactly are we saying about Cincinnati here? That they're brilliant because they got a pick right and we didn't? Don't forget they also drafted Jermaine Gresham instead of Gronk or Jimmy Graham (or Aaron Hernandez, who we now know would have been the perfect Bengal). They drafted Jordan Shipley and Brandon Ghee ahead of the incredible Geno Atkins. They miss picks too, and sometimes they get lucky too. It's a part of the draft.
Dunlap is a stud. Cunningham is a bust.
Kind of discouraging considering how much time BB spent watching those guys in Florida.
Is Dunlap a stud? Over the past 3 years: 20 sacks.
Rob Ninkovich during the same period: 18.5 sacks.
Maybe not the most fair comparison since Ninko played a lot of LB as well. But I don't think anyone is proclaiming Ninko as anywhere close to stud status. Neither are these guys, who have put up similar (or better) production to Dunlap.
Andre Carter during the same period while coming back from an injury: 15 sacks.
Chris Clemons, an older player whose contract was about half of Dunlap's: 33.5 sacks.
Shaun Phillips, who got cut after 9.5 sacks last season: 24 sacks.
Cliff Avril, a player entering his prime whose contract is 1/3 of Dunlap's: 29 sacks.
You want to talk about studs over the past 3 seasons, let's talk about guys like:
DeMarcus Ware: 46.5 sacks
Jared Allen: 45 sacks
Tamba Hali: 35.5 sacks
Aldon Smith: 33.5 sacks in only 2 seasons
Clay Matthews: 32.5 sacks
Von Miller: 30 sacks in only 2 seasons
Julius Peppers: 30.5 sacks
J.J. Watt: 26 sacks in only 2 seasons.
There's a group of guys who we can debate about being a "stud" or not, are old or over-rated or effort guys, but produce more than Dunlap:
Charles Johnson: 33 sacks
Chris Long: 33 sacks
John Abraham: 32.5 sacks
There's a bunch of other guys I'd rather have than Dunlap.
The point is, he's not a stud.
Did he turn out better than Cunningham? Yes.
Does that mean the Bengals are better than we are? No.
Does that mean we're the worst-run franchise in the history of the NFL? No.
Yeah, there are a few players I'd want instead of Cunningham like a Sean Lee or Carlos Dunlap or Geno Atkins. There are players I'd rather have than Taylor Price too. Just as there are players the Bengals would rather have than Jordan Shipley like Eric Decker or Mike Williams or Antonio Brown.
If all you ever look at are Tom Brady's interceptions, you would wrongfully conclude that Tom Brady is the worst QB to ever play football. Perspective is not only helpful, but absolutely essential to reach any meaningful conclusions.
