ArmyBengal

I looked at 4 different mock draft simulators to see the variance in players there when we went on the clock. This isn't a be all end all of who I absolutely want, but rather just a smattering of needs vs availability. Some were interesting though and I wouldn't complain about. I highlighted some of those I really like. Profootballnetwork: #18. Tyler Booker, LG, Alabama (traded down 1 spot and swapped #154 for #82) #49. Donovan Ezeiruaku, DE, Boston College #81. Lathan Ransom, S, Ohio State #82. Howard Cross III, DT, Notre Dame #118. Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State #195. Cody Simon, LB, Ohio State NFLmockdraftdatabase: #17. James Pearce, DE, Tennessee #49. Donovan Jackson, OG, Ohio State #81. Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Tennessee #118. Andrew Mukuba, S, Texas #154. Mello Dotson, CB, Kansas #195. Cody Simon, LB, Ohio State NFLdraftbuzz: #17. Malaki Starks, S, Georgia #49. Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama #81. Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama #118. Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa #154. Terrance Ferguson, TE, Oregon #195. Lathan Ransom, S, Ohio State PFF: (They only have 3 rounds unless you pay and only one per day) #17. Nic Scourton, DE, Texas A&M #49. Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia #81. Lathan Ransom, S, Ohio State

Other contracts? The media? Crediting the front office? Palmer? Who gives a fuck about any of that when talking about what will or won't happen with our current players? I've never seen a fan so far up the ass of the front office, but keep doing that. No one can even present an opinion without you bringing up how the front office should get credit and fans know nothing. The point is that Burrow has all the right to make his position known, while I understand he has absolutely no decision making power whatsoever. I would rather a QB take a leadership approach to the team, which is what he's doing. I suspect he will roll with what he gets of course. Tee leaves? Trey gets traded? Chase gets tagged? Yep, he's rolling in 2025 to do his best to win the Super Bowl. However, to think he's going to be happy with those decisions is another question. Guess what? Fans do care about that. Why? Because it impacts what's happening here. Answer this, should Tee leave, Trey gets traded and Chase tagged, what are your thoughts for the 2025 season? Let me guess... They are still going to be right there in the mix because the progressive moves of the front office?

I don't think Bengals fans are quick to panic over these contracts at all. I would say they simply know that a pissed off Burrow, a missing Tee, and a holdout Trey = lost 2025. I agree this team "should" be capable of competing again in 2025, but that's not a foregone conclusion. This defense has more problems than just Trey and Golden has a lot on his plate. However, a holdout or traded Trey leaves me with little faith they will climb out of the gutter. I'm very hopeful for the upcoming season, while simultaneously understanding there are fixes needed. That's not even taking into consideration how Zac goes about fixing slow starts. Regarding Tee, I'm with you AMPHAR in that I would love a structure that allows an out like Pittman's. I just hope people don't think that only the elite will get paid. Even those skirting around elite will get paid because the market will dictate it. As always, a player is only worth what someone will pay and someone WILL pay Higgins. Admittedly, I'm still not positive it should be the Bengals. Hoping for a solid deal however.

I really didn't have an issue with any of the award winners and happy for Burrow. Chase getting zero votes as one of several in history to earn the WR triple crown is just silly.

Zero votes for Chase huh ? I literally have no idea what else Chase could have done more. Oh yeah, not play for the Bengals.

Interesting

To quote well, you... "We don’t need a full time cap guy, we already have Pumpkin at home."

It might get ugly, but I'm all in with Burrow throwing his weight around. If he's the guy that is tasked with the team's success, he should have at least a small say in how this plays out. If he's for real about restructuring his contract to make that happen, I think that's huge and speaks volumes. I'm still of the mindset that Chase and Trey get extended but Tee is the odd man out. While I want Tee to stay and think they can manage it, I get why they wouldn't. I just wish they would do something along the lines of tag and trade. Getting a comp 3rd in return for Tee walking is straight ass. He's simply worth more.

Too bad there wasn’t a way to sell off a small portion of the ownership. Let’s make up a number and say 10% which would give that part owner absolutely no say whatsoever in running the team. Knowing the Bengals they would probably vote against something that would net them around $300 million dollars. Maybe the league should consider that…

Talk to Trey ?? Is that how it works ??

I need to do a deep dive into other team's free agents and who's really got a shot of hitting the market.

I'm good with that tax, as I don't bet and hearing about all the betting options during a game is irritating. That and it sure as hell beats someone suggesting my property taxes should be raised or only Hamilton county residents shouldering the whole load for funding from a tax payer stand point. Go get'em DeWine.

I would drop a large dollar bet that T-Mac doesn't make it out of the top 10 and maybe top 5. #17 ?? Not a prayer. However, should that miracle take place, I would hope the Bengals ran to the podium even though a 1st round WR doesn't excite me. You simply can't pass up that kind of talent.

All reports I've seen basically state his current contract will have to get ripped up in order to make a deal. Agree, 2-3 year deal with moderate salary and a way out after year 2.

Typically I will end up taking both a DT and a DE within the first four picks when doing mock drafts. It's a need and it happens to fall that way more often then not. OG, S, LB, WR, RB and CB get sprinkled in as well.

And I see the Bengals named as one of two teams he may end up with. I will admit the idea of adding a motivated Kupp would not be bad, it would have to be at a greatly reduced price. He’s going to turn 32 this summer and had some injury concerns recently. If they let Tee walk, which I’m still expecting, adding Kupp and another WR in the draft could bear fruit. Just get some pass rushers and some o-line help (again) to go along with him.

How do you expect that to happen? There's no money left? I'm going to say it, so beware, but ROOKIE POOL is coming. IT DEVOURS ALL !!! We are rolling with what we've got !!

Again, results aren't the lone factor in making this determination. It's a maybe if they are or are not efficient, as I noted in a previous comment. Now, my personal opinion is that if you don't win the Super Bowl it's a failure of a season. I hate the Steelers and they haven't won a Super Bowl in nearly 20 years. However, I don't view their front office as archaic in the least. What about the Ravens? They haven't won the Super Bowl since 2013. Same. To put your percentage in another light 66% of the teams in the league HAVE won a Super Bowl. Picking and choosing timeframes is irrelevant. But if it's also helpful, since 2003 the Bengals have won the Super Bowl 0%. The front office and team have done nothing but fail. Unfortunately part of being a Bengals fan is that coming close is viewed as a success. Even in the best catching lightning in a bottle scenario for us, we have failed.

Just like Lou before him, Golden runs a 4-3 base and a 4-2 nickel known for bringing pressure. The were top 5 in turnovers nationally last year at Notre Dame. I would assume the NT will be utilized in the same manner that we have become accustomed to. That being said, if they go DT at any point in the draft (which they should) I don't want a space eater. I want a guy with some pass rush ability capable of bringing pressure up the gut. Hoping the snaps for both Jenkins and Jackson this season help them with progressing into year 2.

Please Jags. Please hire Troy !! Good luck Troy we are rooting for the draft picks, er, I mean you !!

So for you, success on the field = an efficient, not archaic, front office. I get that. I simply disagree. No issue. In 57 seasons, the Bengals have gone to the playoffs 16 times and hold a 10-16 post season record. They are 3-8 in the wild card round, 4-4 in the divisional round and 3-1 in the conference championship. As we all know well and good, they are 0-3 in Super Bowl appearances. I just don't view getting to the playoffs as a success when winning the Super Bowl is the goal and certainly don't look at that equating to front office efficiency.

You are equating their record on the field with being an efficient business. Neither of those things necessarily prove the other. If you are super efficient, you may not win shit. If you do win, it might not be because you were efficient. How many times has it been said the Bengals success is like catching lightning in a bottle? I've always been of the mindset that I'm waiting for that to happen again, rather than thinking the efficiency of this front office is what is going to carry us to a Super Bowl victory. The thought of that being true seems quite laughable to me based on our history.

If Hartline isn't the best WR coach in all of college football, I don't know who is. Even if given a name to challenge that, I would disagree. He's that good. I believe he stepped into that role for a short time a few years back, but went back to the WR role. I would have no issue with him getting the gig because that would keep him at OSU. However, sometimes you find people that simply have a gift for what they do. Hartline is a gifted WR coach. He made a little over $1.5m last year, so I think he's ok. I have long said that not all money is good money.

Not that I have any reason to believe he would end up here... Myles Garrett just requested a trade from the Browns.

Because the score board is only one piece. If they are an effective NFL business because they win, then the question must be asked, how did that happen? Is it the way they conduct their business that produces the wins and in turn they are effective? Or is it because they have a generational talent at the QB position with other pieces? It's like using stats alone to determine how good a player is. Again, I can and do give credit to the front office for getting deals done, but that alone does not make it the most efficient and effect way to run your business. I defer to COB's comments from earlier as opposed to simply rewriting them.