Seen on:
as known from New York Timesas known from USA Todayas known from yahoo!
VA

Top 9 Worst Draft Picks in Bengals History

Bengals' fans are still scratching their heads
Publish Date: 02/16/2023
Fact checked by: Mark Lewis

Let’s face it the Bengals have had some bad draft picks and today we will celebrate(Is that the right word?) the worst draft picks they have ever made. There are so many bad draft picks that could go on the list I could not get them all. Make sure you comment on your worst Bengals draft picks.

9) Sean Brewer, TE, 2001 3rd Round

Why put a third-rounder on this list? That’s easy, how many teams would ever draft a tight end that smoked a pack of cigarettes a day? Brewer was a nondescript tight end from San Jose State who started all of 2 games for the Bengals. Most scouting experts had Brewer ranked somewhere between 15-20 in his class, but that did not deter Mike Brown from picking him in the third round. The Bengals knew very little about Brewer as they had to ask an NFL media writer what he knew about the pick. The release they gave about him was that he liked to act like a tough guy, was confrontational with coaches, and smoked a pack a day. How can Brewer not make this list?

8) David Verser, WR, 1981 1st Round

Luckily the Bengals drafted another wide receiver in round 2, which was one of their best picks of all-time in Cris Collinsworth. Verser was a good return man who made some plays in his career and if he would have been a fifth-round pick it would have been a great choice, but he wasn’t, he was a first-round pick. Chicago Bears tackle Keith Van Horne was taken with the very next pick. Van Horne played 13 seasons

7) Jack Thompson, QB, 1979, 1st Round

I do not blame the Throwin’ Samoan for this one! This falls on the Bengals. Ken Anderson was the starter, and being around 30 years old meant a quarterback was not needed. Thompson was a great college quarterback and you have to wonder what happens if he goes somewhere else. I really think Thompson in a different situation would have had a promising career.

Video: AAPIHM: The legacy of 'The Throwin' Samoan,' Jack Thompson

AAPIHM: The legacy of ‘The Throwin’ Samoan,’ Jack Thompson

6) Billy Brooks, WR, 1976 1st round

Brooks was big, fast, athletic and had been a star at Oklahoma. That is the first problem. The Bengals took a receiver from a team that ran the wishbone! Brooks had great straight-line speed but the Bengals already had Isaac Curtis for that. Brooks was not a strong route runner and his career was over soon after it started. LB Larry Gordon was taken six picks later by the Miami Dolphins. Gordon was a fantastic linebacker for the Dolphins from 1976-to 1982

5) David Pollack, LB, 2005 1st Round

Yes, an injury ruined Pollack’s chances at not being a bust in 2006, but if you saw him play in 2005, he was headed towards being a bust even without the career-ending injury. Roddy White, Heath Miller, Mike Patterson, and Logan Mankins were all taken after Pollack.

Video: From The Vault: Bengals linebacker David Pollack suffers career-ending neck injury

From The Vault: Bengals linebacker David Pollack suffers career-ending neck injury

4) Ki-Jana Carter, RB, 1995 1st Round

This was not the fault of Carter or the Bengals, but the Bengals did trade up to the number one spot to take him, and 90 percent of the teams in the NFL would have grabbed him. The problem was in a preseason game against the Lions, on his third play, he tore his knee. While he did play a decent amount of years the explosiveness was gone. To make matters even worse, Tony Boselli, Kerry Collins, Steve McNair, and Joey Galloway were all taken soon after Carter.

Video: Ki-Jana Carter / Career Highlights!!! /

Ki-Jana Carter / Career Highlights!!! /

3) Mike Cobb, WR, 1977 1st Round

Why so high? He was a first-round pick that never caught a pass as a Bengal, that’s why! WR Stanley Morgan was taken just two picks later by the Patriots. Morgan would go to four Pro Bowls and amass more than 10,000 yards receiving. The Cobb pick was horrendous and it tells you how bad the Bengals have drafted at times to see a guy who did nothing have a couple of guys ranked ahead of him.

2) David Klingler, QB, 1992 1st Round

Boomer Esiason was in his prime and the Bengal’s biggest need was not a quarterback. Hell, by 1992 the QB position may have been the least essential. Klingler came from the run and shoot offense and Mike brown for some reason fell in love with him. Five-time Pro Bowl DB Troy Vincent was taken with the pick immediately following Klingler. This choice set the franchise back 5 years.

Video: David Klingler - Career Highlights

David Klingler – Career Highlights

1) Akili Smith, QB, 1999 1st round

This is the undisputed number-one pick. Smith had played one great season at Oregon and the Bengals were so enamored with his ability that they turned down the Saints offer to trade ALL of their draft picks for the Bengals’ position because they wanted to take Ricky Williams. The Bengals decided that would be a bad trade for them.

To make matters even worse, the next four picks in the draft were Edgerrin James, Ricky Williams, Torry Holt, and Champ Bailey. In Smith’s defense, the way the Bengals organization was being run at the time, John Elway would have failed as a Bengal.

Video: Akili Smith Career Lowlights

Akili Smith Career Lowlights

Read Also
Esteban de Jesus, Roberto Duran y AIDS (1972-89)
Many of us dream of celebrity sports fame, but only cruel individuals ...
Tommy Morrison and AIDS: The Truth about what happened, and how he Died.
Tommy Morrison burst onto the professional boxing scene in 1988. Following a ...
Bet365 Promo
The Greatest College Basketball Team of All Time
Rating the greatest college basketball teams ever has been done many times ...
Come Fly with me: How the 1988-89 Chicago Bulls pushed forward to an NBA dynasty.
Find the best sportsbook to bet on the NBA Playoffs! Prologue: By ...
Grading every NFL team’s picks from the 2021 NFL Draft
Quickly, click away if you’re going to get upset by reading draft ...
Peter Maher: An Irish Tribute
INTRO: I was seriously ill in 2018 with 7 nights in the ...
Ranking the top 200 players in the NFL ahead of the 2021 season
This list isn’t based solely on performances from the 2020 NFL season. ...
Lady Tyger’s Tale: How Marian Trimiar Mauled the Boxing Establishment of the 1970s and 80s
To Feed the Ambition in Your Heart is Like Carrying a Tiger ...
The Forgotten Canadian Champion (And Maybe It’s Deserved): Billy Hawkins
As Mike Goodpaster and I prepare our popular Old-Time Boxing Show podcast, ...
Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool C preview and prediction – England, France, Argentina, Tonga, USA
  Head coach: Eddie Jones Captain: Owen Farrell (73 caps) Previous Rugby World Cup ...
Latest News
Short-Lived Swagger: The History of the Oakland Oaks
The Oakland Oaks were a professional basketball team ...
Film Review: The Winning Team starring Ronald Reagon and Doris Day
Baseball and the movies have had a long ...
Karl Mildenberger: The Southpaw Who Challenged Ali
Karl Mildenberger was one of Germany’s most accomplished ...
Louie Dampier: The Sharpshooting Legend of the ABA
Louie Dampier may not be a household name ...
Top Betting Sites
Top Betting Bonuses
DraftKings
DraftKings
DraftKings Review
4.6/5
FanDuel
4.6/5
BetMGM
4.5/5
Bet365
4.5/5
Caesars
4.5/5
DraftKings
DraftKings Promo
New Customers Bet $5, Get $300 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
FanDuel
FanDuel Promo
Bet $5 Get $200 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit RG-help.com. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. Gambling HelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ (18+ D.C.) To claim, new users need to register, make a first-time deposit of $5 or more, and then simply place their first real-money wager on any FanDuel Sportsbook market (no odds limits) that is live on platform. All users will receive their $200 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins within 72 hours of the bet settlement. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com.
BetMGM
BetMGM Promo
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA) 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). Rewards are non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
Bet365
Bet365 Promo
Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose when you bet $5!
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL OR TEXT 1-800-GAMBLER (AZ/CO/IL/IN/KY/LA/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA). 21+ only (18+ in KY). Must be present in AZ/CO/IA/IL/IN/KY/LA(select parishes)/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA. *This Referral Code is used for marketing/tracking purposes only. Minimum wager $5. Minimum odds -500 or greater. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only. Max. prize, game restrictions, time limits and T&Cs apply.
Caesars
Caesars Promo
Bet $1, Double Your Winnings Your Next 10 Bets
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
21+ New users only. Must register using eligible promo code. First bet after registration must qualify. Max. Bonus Bet: $1,000. Bonus Bet expires 14 days after receipt. Void where prohibited. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Gambling Problem? 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)
Our Team
Mike GoodpasterJosh SchwartzSimon BriffaMark LewisSamuel Teets
+8
Mike Goodpaster
Mike Goodpaster
Chief Editor
Josh Schwartz
Josh Schwartz
Editor
Simon Briffa
Simon Briffa
Sports Editor
Mark Lewis
Mark Lewis
Editor
Samuel Teets
Samuel Teets
US Sports Veteran
Author Icon
drjaygee
Editor
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....

21+ and present in VA. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.
Virginia Town HallCloudflareSSL
Close
Our Sports Pros recommend these awesome sports betting sites this week:
DraftKings
DraftKings Promo
New Customers Bet $5, Get $300 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
T&Cs and 21+ apply
Code:
Open DraftKings
Get Bonus
FanDuel
FanDuel Promo
Bet $5 Get $200 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
T&Cs and 21+ apply
Code:
Open FanDuel
Get Bonus
BetMGM
BetMGM Promo
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
T&Cs and 21+ apply
Code:
Open BetMGM
Get Bonus
×
Your Promo Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Play now