[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

He did.

You seriously need to look at those drafts and re-state your case here because there really was nobody available.

2002: David Carr, Joey Harrington, Patrick Ramsey, David Gerrard
2003: Carson Palmer (#1 overall), Byron Leftwich, Kyle Boller, Rex Grossman


Palmer was the only guy from those 2 drafts worth trading up for and the Bengals were not going to give up that pick. Palmer was that season's Andrew Luck and the Bengals desperately needed a QB.

So in the 2 year period where they were needing to move up for a QB, they did. And in so doing, they took the guy most believed was the best available option at that spot and gave him a shot.

In fact, you could make a very strong argument that trading up for Boller is what actually ****ed them. Had they gone and gotten a veteran and waited for the 2003 draft, they'd have set themselves up very nicely in a loaded QB draft. But be careful here because that is exactly the kind of thinking that has you taking Manti Te'o and waiting for Teddy Bridgewater in 2014.

Billick's handling of the QB position was pretty damn defensible given the guys actually available.

Another great post.