CINCINNATI (WKRC) - While the Bengals have whiffed on some first round picks over the years (Akili Smith, David Klingler, David Verser, Jack Thompson and Cedric Ogbuehi are among the most notable busts) they have hit on some as well.
They certainly hit home runs with their first round draft picks in 2020 and 2021 with quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, but where do they rank among all-time first round picks in team history?
I already have Burrow in the top five, while Chase is in the Top 10 and trending toward the top five.
Here is my ranking of the top five best first-round picks in Bengals history (and five others to consider):
5. QB Carson Palmer (2003, No. 1 overall)
The Skinny: No matter how you may feel about they way he forced a trade out of Cincinnati, the bottom line is he was a very good player who helped turn the organization from a loser into a winner. He ranks fourth in franchise history in yards passing (22,694) and touchdown passes (154) and led the Bengals to two playoff appearances (2005 and 2009), Who knows what would have happened in 2005 if he hadn't gotten hurt on his very first pass attempt in the playoff game against Pittsburgh?
4. OT Willie Anderson (1996, No. 10 overall)
The Skinny: He was a rock along the offensive line from his rookie season to 2006, and started all 158 games he was healthy from 1997-2006, missing only two games in 1999. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 and was a first-team All-Pro in 2004, 2005 and 2006. He was a recent finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and has a chance to make it eventually.
3. QB Joe Burrow (2020, No. 1 overall)
The Skinny: To rank this high in such a short period of time is quite remarkable, especially after having his rookie season cut short due to injury. He already has more postseason wins (five) than any other quarterback in franchise history (all other quarterbacks combined have five), and is the only quarterback in franchise history to start two AFC Championship games. It may take a lot to surpass No. 1 on this list, but it's not out of the question after the start to his career.
2. WR A.J. Green (2011, No. 4 overall)
The Skinny: He ranks No. 2 in franchise history in receptions (649), receiving yards (9,430) and touchdown receptions (65) and likely would hold all three records if injuries hadn't robbed him of 32 games (two full seasons) from 2016-19. In 2016 Green narrowly missed becoming just the second receiver in NFL history to reach 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first six seasons (Randy Moss is the other) and that was due to him missing the final six games because of a hamstring injury. He followed that season up with 1,078 yards in 2017.
1. LT Anthony Munoz (1980, No. 3 overall)
The Skinny: It's funny to think of it now, but the choice of Munoz was actually considered a risk, because he had battled knee injuries his last two seasons in college, which limited him to just eight games in those two years combined. It turned out to be a genius decision, because Munoz wound up having a Hall of Fame career that included 11 Pro Bowl appearances and nine first-team All-Pro selections in his 13 seasons with the team. He also started in both of the team's Super Bowl appearances.
5 others to consider (in order):
- 6. C Bob Johnson (1968, No. 2 overall)
- 7. WR Isaac Curtis (1973, No. 15 overall)
- 8. WR Ja'Marr Chase (2021, No. 5 overall)
- 9. DT Mike Reid (1970, No. 7 overall)
- 10. WR Eddie Brown (1985, No. 13 overall)