Many Bengals fans weren’t excited by Cincinnati’s haul Womens Andrew Billings Jersey , but Mel Kiper thinks there is reason for optimism."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections #BITESIZEFilm RoomRoster Transactions and ContractsOrange & Black InsiderSalary Cap And CBAMel Kiper was a huge fan of the Bengals draftNew,162commentsMany Bengals fans weren’t excited by Cincinnati’s haul, but Mel Kiper thinks there is reason for optimism.EDTShareTweetShareShareMel Kiper was a huge fan of the Bengals draftCincinnati Enquirer-USA TODAY NEThe Bengals 2019 draft is over, and Zac Taylor’s first set of rookies is set. However, some frustrations have seem to boiled over from the draft with fans upset over the Bengals’ haul. It is true that the Bengals had some picks that were shocking, but there is still some overreaction taking place. After all, none of these guys have even stepped on the field yet.One draft expert really did love how the Bengals draft set out. ESPN’s Mel Kiper gave the Bengals one of the highest grades of any team this year. Here is some of what he had to say in regard to the Bengals 2019 class:Grade A-Kiper hits the nail on the head with this not being a sexy draft class. The Bengals passed up flashier players like quarterback Dwayne Haskins or a pass rusher at no. 11 to address their struggling offensive line.Cincinnati feels like they got a future left tackle, which some experts disagree with, but at worst they probably have a career right tackle or guard Womens John Miller Jersey , which is still something the Bengals desperately needed.There is no question though that how you feel about this draft coincides directly with your feelings about the Bengals passing on Haskins at No. 11, seemingly reaching for tight end Drew Sample and their three fourth round picks in general. How those three areas play out going forward will make or break this draft.The only team to get a higher grade than the Bengals were the Colts, who really did crush the draft themselves by completely laying down a foundation for their defense going forward. Three other teams received an A- including the Patriots, Browns and Washington. Obviously, anytime your team is being mentioned in the same breath as New England as far as draft accomplishments it is a good things. It is interesting to see Cleveland included as well. They are the other team in the AFC North with an emerging young nucleus, and depending on how Andy Dalton plays under Taylor, these two teams could be competing for the AFC North for awhile.It is pretty hard to grade a draft right after it happens though. Sure, we could try and determine who reached for what players based off months of mock drafts and arbitrary values, but what really matters is how these players develop. If these guys aren’t on the team in four years Trey Hopkins Jersey , then it is hard to be proud of an A- grade days after the draft has completed. CINCINNATI (AP) — Tyler Boyd watched some of the Bengals‘ worst moments from the sideline, unable to contribute to the NFL’s least-effective offense. The receiver turned those moments into something better when he got another chance.Boyd finished last season with a big game and carried it over, emerging as Andy Dalton’s top target in a reconstituted offense. He leads the team in catches and yards as the Bengals (3-1) host the Miami Dolphins (3-1) on Sunday.The third-year receiver from Pitt also has come up with some of their most clutch plays. He had a third-down catch and a pair of fourth-down catches during a winning 16-play drive Sunday in Atlanta, which culminated in A.J. Green’s touchdown catch with 7 seconds left.He’s been the biggest surprise so far in an offense that’s exceeding expectations.“He’s a guy who’s playing with a ton of confidence,” quarterback Andy Dalton said . “He’s just playing at a high level now.”A year ago, he was at a low point.The Bengals drafted Boyd in the second round in 2016 because of his versatility at Pitt, where he lined up at various positions, ran the ball and even passed on occasion. They moved the 6-foot-2, 203-pound receiver into the slot and saw flashes of possibility. He finished his rookie season with 54 catches for 603 yards and a touchdown.He struggled the next season along with the rest of the offense. He missed four games with a knee injury and was inactive two other times. He had no more than two catches in any game until the last two.“It was definitely a roller-coaster ride for me Cordy Glenn Jersey , ups and downs the whole way,” Boyd said. “Especially when I got hurt, it kind of went down from there.”Coach Marvin Lewis thinks his time watching from the sideline changed him.“Then when he got an opportunity to suit up again, I thought he practiced differently,” Lewis said. “A part of coming back is going out there on the practice field and showing, ‘I am healthy and ready to go.’ I thought he did those things and used it as a catalyst.”Boyd had a 49-yard touchdown catch with 44 seconds left in a game in Baltimore that got the Bengals a season-ending win and knocked the Ravens out of the playoffs. He impressed during training camp and has grown into a reliable receiver on the most pressure-packed plays.His finest game was Sunday in Atlanta, where he had a career-high 11 catches for 100 yards. He had a third-down reception and a pair of fourth-down catches during Cincinnati’s winning drive. Boyd had a total of four catches for 38 yards on the drive, beating man-to-man coverage on slant routes as the Falcons focused on Green.“My quarterback, I want to show him how reliable I am to let him know he can trust me Dre Kirkpatrick Jersey ,” Boyd said. “So I want to continue every time they’re in man coverage, we’re in a tight down and need a first down, he can rely on me.”Boyd leads the team with 26 catches — four more than his total last season — for 349 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The only thing he hasn’t gotten to do is throw the ball, something he did at Pitt. The Bengals have a play for him to pass, but haven’t called it yet.“I’m a guy that can do a lot of things: I can throw, I can line up in the backfield, you can place me all over the place,” he said. “I think I’m ready for it — always ready for it — but I’m just anxious to see when they put it in.”GIO OUT AGAINRunning back Giovani Bernard was held out of practice for a second straight day with a knee injury. Running back Joe Mixon had a second straight limited practice. Mixon missed the past two games following arthroscopic surgery to remove a piece of cartilage from his knee and is hoping to be ready for the Dolphins.Receiver John Ross also was held out of practice with a strained groin — he had been limited a day earlier. Defensive end Carl Lawson (ankle) and linebacker Michael Johnson (knee) also were limited on Thursday. Linebacker Preston Brown (shoulder) and offensive guard Alex Redmond (shoulder) fully practiced.