ArmyBengal

Agree 100%. I think they should get a DE in the early rounds (1 or 2) and maybe a pass rushing DT later. I would be really happy with that approach. Sprinkle a OT/OG to play on the interior early on and go from there.

I might be the outlier having this opinion, but I really don't think Jeanty is that good.

In regards to a trade down scenario, those OT's soon to be OG's would be my target.

The OT in the 2nd round I really, really like is Jonah Savaiinaea. Dude is going to be a OG in the league but could still get you backup duties at OT if needed.

I see the same thing by and large Hoosier, but have found that when considering those OT's that will probably move to OG once drafted, my outcomes improve. Again, who knows how it's all going to play out? That's why I think we continue to see visits with guys like Minnesota, OT, Aireontae Ersery. Big, athletic OT's that will probably move inside, but still capable of backing up the OT spot as well in a pinch. That honestly might be the best approach as I view things anyway.

I would typically agree with you TJ, but this year finds me in strange waters... I don't know that any player taken in round 1 or 2 is going to be NOW type of player. I mean because are they really that good vs. do we simply have a need? Obviously, just because we have a need doesn't make them the best player we could take. I've said many times that I don't believe the DE we take at #17 is substantially better than the one at #49. With that being the case, give me the guy with the most athleticism and upside.

First three picks aren't my favorite, but would do. Mike Green, while talented, worries the hell out of me. I'd rather not consider him. While wanting players on the field that crush it, I honestly do want to like them as people. After that is a crap shoot anyway, but not a fan of these selections.

I like Xavier Watts as well, but not in the first round. I also don't think he lasts until the Bengals 2nd round pick and why I don't generally consider him. It's not for lack of liking him as a player however.

Here, I like the break down of college players over at NFL.com. They give solid "good and bad" for each of them. https://www.nfl.com/prospects/malaki-starks/32005354-4159-2296-384c-e3be1fb506bf https://www.nfl.com/prospects/nick-emmanwori/3200454d-4d08-3509-4f43-ab1aefccbd0f

I don't dislike Starks and would be happy with the pick, but when it comes to safety, I prefer to focus on athleticism. Starks, while rated above Emmanwori in some places, is not more athletic than Emmanwori. I like the fact Emmanwori is a big guy as well. Starks is 6'1, 197 - Emmanwori is 6'3, 220 Starks ran a 4.5 - Emmanwori ran a 4.3 (That's insane) I could go on and on, but again, I like the athletic aspect of the bigger safety in this instance. They don't make them like that. He's an anomaly. For those that would rather look at the stats for production, it's really close as well. I can see why some may like Starks more and again I would like the pick, just not as much as Emmanwori. Much like any other position, what does it for you?

Yeah, just saw he had shoulder surgery. UGH...

Never disliked Chido, but his level of play has dropped off dramatically.

So it’s the Bengals or nothing for Trey. Good luck sitting out a year and thinking you might cash in next year.

Here's to hoping he earns a starting role.

Yeah, I would be shocked if the Titans didn't take Ward. Not that I just love Cam Ward mind you, but the old saying of if you don't have a franchise QB, you try to find one. Honestly, I think this QB draft class is pretty weak, but that's just me. In a year that would help having at least 4-5 go in the first 15 picks, we have maybe 2. I'm holding out hope that a team or two get desperate and reach, but I'm not thinking so. This is a back end of the first, top of the second, or later QB class.

Right now there are two players that may be there at #17 I would love to see drafted: 1. Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina- He might truly be my #1 hope to get player in the draft. 2. Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama- Yes, of course I'd like a linebacker, but in my defense, he's really good. 3. James Pearce, DE, Tennessee- He's an iffy one for me. Are the stories questioning about much he really wants to play ball true? If not, he's an athletic freak at a position of need. Now don't get me wrong, there are others I would love but simply don't expect them to be there at #17. Will Campbell, OT Armand Membou, OT Players no longer on my want list at #17: 1. Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama- He's about as athletic as a turd and while a people mover, is not what we need. 2. Jalon Walker, LB/DE, Georgia- What is he? Does he excel at either? Will it take creativity to make him work? 3. Malaki Starks, S, Georgia- The only safety I want in round one is Emmanwori. If not him, wait. 4. Mike Green, DE, Marshall- I don't care if he wasn't charged with the sexual assaults. Just say no.

No, no, I didn't take it that way at all. What federal agencies still exist come end of the year remains to be seen. Clearly, I'm an advocate for Veterans and always will be.

MemBou also wouldn't bother me in the least. Have to love the big, athletic linemen like him. Not sure he sniffs anything close to #17. Him outside the top 10 would be shocking. Don't let me rain on your parade though TJ. Keep hope alive.

If Dax and Myles Murphy were linchpins for the defense, this whole scenario would look different. Dax would be entering the year before his club option decision was looming and the team trying to figure out how to pay him. Myles Murphy would make the Trey situation look much different and have the team to looking for his replacement in the draft, without thought of paying him market money. Even if the light goes on for Myles this year, they have him locked up for three seasons including the option year. Since that is not the case, they could afford to pay both Chase and Tee, because, well… who else are you going to pay?

Ok, there you go. I wasn't aware of his knowledge base. That being said, I still think it's hard to apply one's particular knowledge of a situation to what actually happened with a player and their agent when in negotiations they were not a part of. Rapien may think "All they had to do was this" and they could have saved "X" amount of money. However, they have no idea if the players and/or the agent would have wanted it that way. If they didn't, maybe the deal doesn't get done. It's speculation at best.

I also love how people say, "All they had to do is.....". The of the matter is, whoever is saying that has no true idea if that is factual. Example, "All they had to do is structure Chase's contract differently and spread out the cost". However, any one remotely paying attention last year knew the reason the contract didn't get done then was due to the structure. So you want to give them credit for signing the player, but hate the structure. Well what do you want more? Do you want the player under THIS structure or not at all? I guarantee someone would have paid Higgins more. Some team would have paid Chase more and they wouldn't think twice. Also when it comes to saying "Did the Bengals do enough?" it's like there's no credit for bringing back the players they did. Gisicki was a free agency, BJ Hill was a free agent. Don't want to pay guys like that because you saw what happened when they were on the team last year? Great, but you have to find someone else to fill those roles. Any time spent with the Bengals will prove that you cannot simply find a guy out there that is going to give you more than you had previously and certainly not at a lower cost. We all want all super star players willing to take a reduced contract, but that's not the reality of the situation. I just wish these guys would stop speaking in absolutes, when they don't even know the inside pieces.

I was looking at the side by side of the Jefferson and Chase contracts, since we can do that now. Justin Jefferson's deal last year was a 4 year, $140m contract and he got $88.7 guaranteed at signing. Cap hits: 2024- $8.6m 2025- $15.1m 2026- $38.9m 2027- $43.4m Potential Out in 2028 looking at a cap hit of $47.4m Ja'Marr Chase's deal this year was a 4 year, $161m contract and he got $73.9 guaranteed at signing. Cap Hits: 2025- $23.5m 2026- $26.2m 2027- $33.4m 2028- $41.4m Potential Out in 2029 looking at a cap hit of $53.2m. So when looking at what they got guaranteed at signing and their cap hits over the first three seasons, Chase is going to make 5.7 more than the Vikings will pay Jefferson over that time frame. Here's what I will admit to not understanding... Does the higher signing bonus (Jefferson) allow the Vikings to have more space over the first couple seasons? If that's the case, I can see the argument somewhat, but they never stop roster building. We save money later. Is now better than later? Is it really an apples to apples comparison. How many star players does a team have?

Many would like it to go away, but anyone truly holding that opinion doesn't understand that demographic and what pushing all of them into an already bloated civilian medical situation would do to them. Nothing like waiting 12 months to get in to see specialty providers. This is a topic for another forum though, so I will cease and desist. Looking at the schedule, the opponents and what they have done to this point, I'd like to bump my prediction to 11-6. I think the offense remains lethal and have faith Golden gets the defense to middle of the road. Give me the 16th ranked defense Golden and we might just be back in the championship game and more.

It's like you have to choose which stick you want to be beaten with as a Bengals fan. The Bengals are cheap or the Bengals are stupid. For a long time, we had to deal with them being cheap AND stupid. These signings were neither cheap or stupid in my opinion, but hey, choose a stick.

No worries... Nope not at the VA any longer, but hoping to change that by the end of the year. I'm in a holding pattern with that plan, but there's a plan nonetheless. When it's all said and done, I hope to have 40-50 years of serving this country one way or another.