Our continuation of the series looking at the Bengals 10 worst draft picks when drafting from a top 10 position:

10. Greg Cook, QB, University of Cincinnati, 5th Overall Pick in 1969
9. Justin Smith, DE, University of Missouri, 4th Overall Pick in 2001
8. Dan Wilkinson, DT, The Ohio State University, 1st Overall Pick 1994
7. Ricky Hunley, LB, University of Arizona, 7th Overall Pick in 1984
6. Peter Warrick, WR, Florida State University, 4th Overall Pick in 2000
5. John Copeland, DE, University of Alabama, 5th Overall Pick in 1993
4. David Klingler, QB, University of Houston, 6th Overall Pick in 1992
3. Ki-Jana Carter, RB, Penn State University, 1st Overall Pick in 1995

2. Akili Smith, QB, University of Oregon, 3rd Overall Pick in 1999


Akili Smith. Where do we begin with all that was wrong with the Akili Smith pick? Let’s just make a list from the beginning:
- Akili Smith was a Junior College transfer that only spent 2 seasons in Oregon
- Akili Smith was not the starter going into his senior year at Oregon; the starter was injured in preseason giving Akili his chance.
- The offensive coordinator at the University of Oregon at that time was Jeff Tedford. Tedford is known for developing QBs and a quick one-read offense.
- QBs that have excelled under Tedford:
-Trent Dilfer, 3300 yards, 28 TDs, 4 Ints, left college early, 6th overall pick
- Billy Volek, 2700 yards, 30 TDs, 3 Ints, holds NCAA record for lowest INT%
- Akili Smith, 3700, 32 TDs, 8 Ints, 1st round draft pick
- AJ Feeley, half season, 2000 yards, 14 TDs, injured and then replaced by Joey Harrington
- Joey Harrington, 2900 yards, 27 TDs, 6 Ints, 1st round draft pick
- Kyle Boller, 2900 yards, 28 TDs, 10 Ints, 1st round draft pick
- Aaron Rodgers, 2900 yards, 24 TDs, 8 Ints, 1st round draft pick
- Quite a collection of highly efficient college QBs that cannot sustain starting roles in the NFL.

- Akili tore through a weak Pac-10 in 1998, but posted his worst games against top Pac 10 teams UCLA and Arizona.
- Led Oregon to 8-4 record and Hula Bowl loss.
- Akili’s agent Leigh Steinberg knew how to capitalize on Akili’s physical tools and groomed him for the NFL combine.
- With Steinberg’s help, Akili put together an amazing passing display (in tshirts and without a defense) using his top level arm strength. Similar to Kyle Boller’s combine show.
- Further proving Akili’s prep for the combine, his score on the Wonderlic went from a 13 on his first attempt to a 37 on his second.
- Steinberg also used his connections in the media to have national stories written and on tv about Akili. During his college season, many were not considering Smith as a top QB.
- Akili had played some minor league baseball and entered college late; he was 24 at the time of the draft.
- In an attempt to land Ricky Williams, the Saints offered the Bengals their entire slate of 1999 draft picks, as well as, their 1st and 3rd round picks the following year for the #3 spot. The Bengals passed.
- Washington took that trade after the Bengals picked. By trading back up, the picks were used to select Champ Bailey (All-Pro), Chris Samuels (All-Pro), Desmond Clark (Receiving TE), and others.
- Not many teams were interested in Akili Smith. The Bengals probably could have taken the trade and still drafted Akili with a later pick.
- Trying to get max dollars, Steinberg held Smith out for 4 weeks of football, missing his first training camp. Training camp is when most of the schemes are installed.
- After the Bengals started the 1999 season 0-4, Smith was thrown in as the starter. He would win his first start at Cleveland, but average only 115 passing yards in 7 games.
- In 2000, Akili played in 12 games and threw for 1253 yards, 3 TDs, and 6 Ints.
- In 2001, Akili lost the starting job to Jon Kitna, but he would get to start the Jets game late in the year. He opened the game by leading the team on a scoring drive. On the second drive, he tore his hamstring on a 5 yard scramble.
- Cut 2 months after the Bengals drafted Carson Palmer.
- Was signed and cut by two teams following the Bengals, failing to find another NFL job.
- Total NFL career, 2212 yards passing, 5 TDs, 13 Ints.
- Last season, Akili tried his luck in Canada with the Calgary Stampeders.
- He began the season as a backup, but was able to play when the starter went down. In his first appearance, he finished 6/10 for 63 yards, 0 TDs and 3 Ints.
- After a few more unimpressive weeks, Smith was cut by the Stampeders, ending his career in what would have been his 9th NFL season.

Check in periodically as we count down to the worst Bengals draft pick in history leading up to the 2008 NFL draft.