ArmyBengal

GREAT signing !!! Couldn't be more pleased with this move. Wait, you mean it’s not 2021 ?? Nevermind, we still suck.

Woods is my least favorite, most hyped DT in the entire draft. Literally nothing I like about his game. He's like the Myles Murphy of DT's. He probably likes Froot Loops too.

It always goes back to the thought that they really don't care about winning. They just go through the motions and if they actually do win, then that's just icing on top.

Could OBJ be better? Sure, but he could be a hell of a lot worse. Does this push them off of OT in the draft? I don't think so, but still not thinking 1st round. Too many other holes to fill since they didn't get deals done. That's the other thing they seemingly miss. Missing out of free agent deals narrows the draft. Honestly it shouldn't, but with the Bengals it absolutely does. Still pissed off when thinking what could have been with these deals. Duke was right, they are "All In" every year, because it looks exactly the same. They mean the same thing regarding all in as everyone else, only different.

The Bengals just extended Orlando Brown Jr. for two years. That takes him through the 2028 season. No real complaints there.

Hell, throw in a 7th rounder seeing as how we have two of them and we could have added Minkah Fitzpatrick. FUCK

It’s not about if they did well in free agency, it’s been who they targeted and missed out on. Specifically linebacker and defensive tackle. They were really looking hard at guys and couldn’t close the deal. Again, what does this defense look like if you add Odighizuwa and Lloyd to the haul of Cook and Mafe? Fucking stellar !! But here we are talking about hoping to get Reader and hoping the 2nd year linebackers really pick up their game. Let that last sentence sink in. What could have been…

How much different and how would the expectations for 2026 look if they had gotten Lloyd and traded for Odighizuwa? They would have addressed damn near every position group on defense with an upgraded player. They could have afforded Lloyd’s deal and the cost for Odighizuwa was a 3rd. Tell me the 3rd round player that would be expected to make that kind of impact? The Bengals failed, plain and simple. They weren’t aggressive enough. Instead they will sit back and take scraps while going back to their long storied approach of “Hope and Pray”. No disrespect to either Cook or Mafe, but they aren’t enough and the draft will only bring rookie woes. This team is still cooked…

The Bengals can’t be focused on what Trey may or may not do with the Ravens. Him signing there is no different than Crosby being there. People weren’t jumping around talking about changing up draft plans when it was Crosby. Fuck Trey. If I’m the Bengals I go back to the other side of the ball and go after Ohdighizuwa in trade or see if you could now lowball the Raiders for Crosby. The Raiders know they aren’t getting two first rounders anymore. How about Shemar and #41 for Crosby and his broke knee?

SHIT and YES !! As mentioned, I wanted Hall in stripes. I will take him in Houston in continuing to build an already dominant defense.

Yep it’s official. Crosby back to the Raiders. Interesting.

I mentioned DJ Reader previously and keep hearing his name brought up, but I'm more inclined to take a look at and consider Logan Hall. I hadn't really considered either of them, but when looking at who was still out there, Hall's name popped up. I did the obligatory look see over at PFF and saw the comparison. Hall took 611 snaps last year, had 32 pressures, 2 sacks and a forced fumble. The intriguing stat is the pressures. His 32 were 32nd best in the league out of 225. Reader took 583 snaps last year, had 20 pressures, no sacks, and no forced fumbles. In comparison to what we have on the roster: BJ Hill took 670 snaps last year, had 29 pressures, 5 sacks and no forced fumbles. TJ Slaton took 582 snaps last year, had 19 pressures, 3 sacks and no forced fumbles. Reader is 31 years old Hill is 30 years old Slaton is 28 years old Hall is 25 years old I don't care about PFF grades, because I don't. I think they are stupid. Hall is young and presents as at least an upgrade to both Jenkins and Jackson.

Man I really wanted Devin Lloyd. So pissed they couldn't get that done.

Yeah, just one of those "stranger things have happened" kind of deals. Not expecting or even wanting from my perspective, but nonetheless...

Talk about an odd thought entering my head. It would be funny to see teams continue to shun Trey, only to see the Bengals swoop back into the mix on a much reduced deal. Don't get me wrong, I think Trey would still up taking a reduced amount elsewhere, but the thought did jump in my head today.

Here's something else to consider now the Bengals have added a couple of pieces to the mix. I mentioned where a Maxx Crosby trade didn't make sense without other players possessing talent. If we are led to believe that both Mafe and Cook have added two solid pieces of talent, is there a trade out there you would be willing to give up picks to consider? They aren't moving him, but Jeffrey Simmons would be amazing to nab for the middle of our D-line and would give up the picks to get him in stripes. Maybe a Jalen Carter? Anyway, you get my point...

I think the Bengals are screwed at the DT position. There aren't any guys out there that present as a true upgrade in comparison to what's already on the roster. Second to that is most of the teams that have elite interior pass rushers know their value and are building around them, so the trade opportunities are next to nil. That leaves us trotting BJ Hill and TJ Slaton back out there again this year with Jenkins and McKinnley as well. I know McKinnley wasn't happy with his reduced role and Jenkins hasn't done much with his snaps. I'm not the biggest fan of the DT draft class either regardless of what the analysts are saying. Many of the players thought to go in the first 2 rounds don't have big TFL or sack numbers during college. That being the case, I cannot see that suddenly increasing once getting drafted. The top 3 guys (Woods, Banks and McDonald) are players I want nothing to do with and that includes one of my beloved Buckeyes. I just don't think their play warrants the rankings heading into the draft. There are more than a handful of guys from the 3rd to the 5th round that all look vaguely familiar to me. The Bengals and Al are going to have to find a way to generate a pass rush this year and hope the back end stays healthy. As much as I was pleased with the two signings yesterday, I'm nowhere close to be sold on how much better this defense can be in 2026. Obviously, I could be totally wrong and they turn into a top half of the league unit. I'm just not willing to hold my breath on that one.

What about teaming up the veteran Bobby Wagner with our rookies? Dude is still killing it at 35 and probably looking for a one year deal that won’t be $15 million.

I would love the Bain pick as well. Still time to add another safety to the mix, as well as CB and OT. Talk of Reader being interested in returning but something tells me he’s simply interested in getting paid a salary this coming season. My two LB targets in Chenel and Lloyd are still there as well. Please get one Bengals.

True

Ok bear with me… I thought the signing of Cook would lessen my irritation with not giving up a 7th rounder for Minkah. It hasn’t. If anything I’m more annoyed at this point because a safety duo of Bryan Cook and Minkah Fitzpatrick is quite appealing. I will hope for Battle to do well but do not think he’s anything more than a solid backup and breather guy.

Ok I might have misspoke about Mafe. I will temper my previous comments and try to look at it through the lens of these guys saying he’s a better fit than Hendrickson. I really want to believe that.

Unfortunately they seem to really like Battle at safety so I don’t see them using #10 on a safety. I don’t like any of the DT’s that early. I want a veteran linebacker in free agency. So if I’m left to guess right now, DE, CB and OT are the top 3 positions. Thing is with an OT that early, they basically won’t be seeing the field in 2036 minus injury. They would be planning for OBJ’s departure. Not a bad idea but doesn’t help the defense.

You have to have quality players be wanted by other teams AND sign a lucrative deal. The Bengals don’t have that. They have players that wouldn’t be starting on other teams. That’s why they get released after one year of signing a deal with a new team.

Mafe ?? Who cares? He’s Ossai but knows less about our defense. Doesn’t answer any questions other than, “Do we have any DE’s?”. Yes they do. That’s what Mafe is to me. Just a guy.