One constant criticism the Cincinnati Bengals have endured is the tiniest scouting department in the entire NFL. While some teams employ dozens of scouts to keep an eye on players to draft and already on NFL Rosters, the Bengals’ scouting department barely reaches double digits.
They even added two new scouts last season, which still keeps it as well below the league average of roughly 20.
When asked if they would be expanding that department again, Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin said there were no such plans.
Tobin has often pointed to the idea that collaboration is easier when you keep the department smaller. They also will get coaches on the road to go to certain Pro Days and things of that nature.
The problem is they seem to be wrong more often than they are right. It feels more like the “a broken clock is still right twice a day” adage is true here, but the team is using those successes to continue to do this.
When you look at recent reaches for players like Drew Sample or Demetrius Knight Jr., it makes you wonder if maybe someone could have gotten in there to avoid over-drafting those players.
I mean, the track record of the offensive line alone is enough to question it. This past season was the first time the Bengals have had an acceptable offensive line since Andrew Whitworth left. It has been nearly 10 years of spending high draft capital and money to try to build an offensive line that only just finally come together.
The safety position is another glaring example. After letting Jessie Bates walk, the team spent a first round pick on Dax Hill (who has been moved to corner), a third round pick on Jordan Battle (who shouldn’t be penciled in as a starter without competition), spent decent money on Geno Stone (who will likely won’t be on the team next season after struggling) and Nick Scott (who was one-and-done).
A position that was a strength that turned into endless question marks and a big reason for the struggles over the past two seasons.
If this front office is going to hang its hat on drafting players like Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins and be happy, then there is a serious concern over how they view their process. Those weren’t necessarily the hardest picks a front office would ever have to make. When we see them constantly whiffing on Day 2 and early Day 3 picks, then there are some issues that need to be addressed.
Maybe a couple extra hands could help fix that problem, considering this is a billion-dollar organization.
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