ArmyBengal

That's why I don't really get all upset with whatever the numbers are. Much like Burrow signing the contract that made him the highest paid QB in history. That's just something to say, but is always short lived. Truth is, that in a couple of years, those deals will look like bargains simply because the cap and future deals with other players will do nothing but continue to grow. While I wish they would have gotten things done sooner with them, it really is neither here nor there. Tee and Chase will be here for a while with Burrow and the offense should be fun to watch. Just pay Trey already and let Golden get the defense back to middle of the pack. If that happens, we are right back in the thick of Super Bowl contention. I truly believe that and am happy to be able to feel that way about our team. It's a good time to be a Bengals fan.

Well as we were talking about, the "potential" of Turner, CTB, Dax, Stone and Battle "should" be solid enough for the secondary. That doesn't mean they shouldn't consider adding to the mix, but it wouldn't shock me to see him want to roll with that. Improving the pass rush should be the priority in my opinion. Getting someone, anyone else who can get pressure and occasionally get to the QB that isn't named Hendrickson would be a welcomed addition. Whether that comes from the edge or the interior, it makes no difference to me. Just make the other QB uncomfortable.

He was actually the first player I was pimping this year and oddly enough, that really hasn't changed to a point I totally dismissed him. I think that would be a great addition.

Yeah, while I will take Scherff, should one of the IOL from the Browns get cut, I would not mind them. I'm sure there may be others I haven't yet considered, but would feel similarly about.

You and me both AMPHAR

I have seen no further discussions about potential IOL free agents being considered. Maybe that's due to them trying to work Trey's contract or maybe they simply aren't interested. I'm hoping it's the former.

Dax has always had injury concerns, but agree in that he has mad potential should he stay healthy. Much like Murphy, he has to be able to get on the field and make an impact for this defense. To this point, the lack of production in any shape, form or fashion from the both of them has derailed the defense. They should be linchpins in this defensive unit at this point. It's my last year of hope for them both. I'm rooting for them in 2025 mainly because we must get them involved and remain healthy.

I don't think Green will be there either, but that's only based upon the hype machine and projections at this point. Projections, as we have seen, can sometimes be fairly far off. I don't think it's unreasonable to think teams look at how players are graded and decide to take a player that is rated higher at a different position than taking a player of need who may not be rated as high. Doing that is what can get coaches fired. Again, if you really look at the stats and production of the edge guys in this draft, there is Abdul Carter and everyone else. There are more than a handful that are all fairly similar to each other. Seeing one of them drop to us in the second round will not surprise me in the least. Then again, I've been known to be completely full of shit, so don't rule out that possibility.

I noticed there was no mention of free Gatorade. FUCKING EPIC FAIL !!!

I want that group to shut the fuck up and play. I honestly like them a lot, but damn did they disappoint last year. That starting group of CTB, Turner, Stone and Battle should be enough with Dax filling the nickel spot. CTB got mouthy and failed, Turner and Dax got hurt, Battle lost out to Bell and Stone waited 8 weeks to play like expected. Maybe Golden gets them back on track this season, but safety needs some help.

Here's what I am convinced of. At least 4 of the 6 players drafted (if there are no additional picks added) should be defenders. I don't care where they get drafted either, but do have some thoughts. The first rounder comes with the 5th year option. I want this pick to either be an OG or a safety at this point. Those are positions the front office hasn't historically wanted to pay a second contract to, so keep them for 5. With all the money being handed out on the offensive side of things, my preference there is safety. I've said before that I don't think the DE we can get at #17 is substantially better than what they get in the 2nd. That being said, this is what shook out today and must say that I would be overjoyed with this result: #17- Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina - He has been and remains one of my favorite players for us to target. The other option here would be OG Tyler Booker, but he was gone by #17. No need to reach for another. #49- Mike Green, DE, Marshall - I would love this pick and think he may fall for the same reason I don't think there is much separating the mid to late first round guys from the mid second round guys. GREAT pick. #81- Marcus Mbow, OT, Purdue - He falls a little and is definitely a guy that would benefit moving to the inside at OG. The Bengals get great value at a position of need. I would be thrilled with this one as well. #119- Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma - Yes, a linebacker and an athletic one at that. I would love one earlier for all my rantings about linebackers, but I think this is about right all things considered. #153- Rylie Mills, DT, Notre Dame - Yes, Al Golden and blah blah blah, but Mills is an above average pass rushing DT. We have run stuffers and some pass rush skills would be welcomed. I think Mills is an underrated prospect in the late rounds. #193- Dont'e Thornton, WR, Notre Dame - I know we just signed Ja'Marr and Tee. Iosivas is a solid backup to them, but Burton is a complete dumbass and Charlie Jones has had less impact than expected and been injured. Thornton is a deep threat speed guy that would add another wrinkle to an explosive offense.

Lets shift focus for a minute now that most of the big contracts (minus Trey) are done. What about the secondary? The Bengals brought back Burks to coach the CB's and it will be the first season Kovacs has coached the safeties despite being with the team for a while now. Do you think it's coaching, injuries, talent, a combination of all things or what? All I know is the secondary needs some attention given. Maybe more pass rush from the guys up front helps as well. I assume the starters will be CTB, DJ Turner and Dax at the CB spot with others filling in for depth. From that unit Turner got hurt last year and only made 6 starts, so we need him back healthy again. CTB seemingly had his head shoved so far up his ass, reading his own press from the year prior that he was a liability last season. Dax got hurt early and only played in 5 games and he will be expected to fill in for departing Mike Hilton. That group could use some help in the draft if there isn't a Veteran brought in at some point, which I'm hoping for. The safeties appear to be going with Stone and Battle as the starters and a bunch of depth that is uninspiring at best. The hope is that Battle is able to step up his game and that Stone plays like the guy toward the end of the season and not the one from the start. This group also needs some help and the draft is where I hope they find it.

Murphy is a real question mark for me. On one hand I want to call him a bust. A team simply cannot draft a guy in the first round and get so little out of them. It hurts this team more because it's on the defensive side of the ball that anticipated him making more of an impact. Then again, he was like the youngest player in the draft a couple years ago and just turned 23. While a big guy, I can't help but wonder how much being so young played into it. That and he hasn't had a massive amount of defensive snaps and not a single start since being drafted. I think development of players also needs to be taken into consideration. He put up 25 reps at the combine. While that's solid, it falls short of what the average lineman should be putting up. Maybe it's mental for him, I don't know, but this is the last year I'm going to keep hope for it to click for him.

Injury history over all of the last three seasons. Not sure he was worth what he got. If he stays healthy, maybe, but that appears to be a fairly large question mark. I'm good with the pass on him, but we do need help anywhere we can find it.

“We’re going to score 75 points a game… and we’re going to have to.” LMAO !! So true.

Yeah, that was more me not finishing my thought process (Stupid A-G-E) than thinking you didn't understand. I'm 100% good with the interior of the o-line at #17, despite the fact the Bengals don't like to pay those guys if they deserve their 2nd contract. If anything THAT is the reason you do take them in the first round. They could get the 5th year on the club option out of them instead of only 4 years in the other rounds. There are OG's through the first 3-4 rounds that I think would be an improvement over what we got from Cappa. That's such a low threshold to cross that they should be good. Go ahead and pencil in Tyler Booker and I'm good. A late round guy I like is Clay Webb. Thought to be a little undersized at 6'3 and 315lbs. However, he placed as the 2nd most athletic center in the draft and a RAS of 9.17. He was a top rated center and went to Georgia, but simply couldn't crack the lineup and left after 3 seasons. He played OG after he transferred to Jacksonville State. If we were to take two OG's, I like him.

Yeah, he should not lose sight of the fact he's not 25-28 any longer. Or the fact he signed the last deal offered to him. It's one thing to bet on yourself and lose. It's another to NOT bet on yourself, win, and still lose.

Yeah, I don't watch much of any sports guys on the networks and prefer to read takes on football. Probably part of the reason I enjoy coming to the forum as much as I do. That and the stories of Mike Brown's Rascal Freedom Power Chair and TJ's dead gramma. I made a post over in the draft section that I'm not sold on the DE at #17 being much, if any, better than a DE we could get in the 2nd round. I really don't like the idea of Trey being traded at this point, simply because I don't think you can replace him with one player. Now if we are talking the "ridiculous" first rounder and another sweetener, then maybe, but I don't think we will see that at this point. Honestly, I expect Trey back now that they better know with Tee and Ja'Marr being done.

Never heard of them, but it's whatever. Wouldn't be surprised to hear there are good points. I think that's normal regardless of the side taken. We've discussed many here on the board, but by in large this is not the norm for the Bengals. I don't think it would have happened if Burrow hadn't raised it to the degree that he did. Was it all Burrow, as I've seen suggested? No, but I don't dismiss his input in the least.

The point I was trying to make was, I'm not sure the DE we can hope to get in the 1st is going to be significantly better than the DE we can get in the 2nd round. If that's the case, #17 can really be an open book for BPA within reason.

I've always held out hope for Kirkland, as once upon a time (prior to injury) he was a top end OT prospect. Not sure if that ever comes to fruition for him but not willing to play wait and see. That would be a welcomed problem for the o-line to have.

I have liked the thought of Pearce dropping to us, but I've cooled somewhat on him. He eerily reminds me of what we currently have in Myles Murphy when taking a closer look. Like Murphy, Pearce was thought to be a lock for the top 10. Murphy fell and now Pearce projections have him doing the same. It made me curious, so I went to take a look at the two of them from a stat perspective. Both of them played 3 college seasons with Murphy playing in 38 games and Pearce playing in 39. In 3 seasons, Murphy had 119 combined tackles, 37 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks and 6 forced fumbles. In 3 seasons, Pearce had 71 combined tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. From a college production standpoint, Pearce was worse than Murphy. Again similar, they had almost identical prospect grades for the draft (Murphy 6.42 and Pearce 6.40). That grades equates to them being a good starter within two years. While understanding this isn't a "Definitive" by any stretch, it's the only comparison we have. We need Murphy to finally realize his potential and not have to wait that much time for another 1st round pick. An impact player on the defensive side of the ball on day one is sorely needed. However, if that would be at the DE spot, I'm not sold the guys outside of Abdul Carter are much better. Just get Trey extended already.

Good article. Trying to outrun other teams failed miserably last year, but even a slightly improved defense should help turn those closer losses from last season into wins in 2025. That's what I'm hoping for heading into this season at least.

I wonder how Al Golden is feeling today with all the money being thrown around on the offensive side of things? Haven't really heard much from him regarding the team extending Trey's contract, but have to think he has to be wanting to keep him for his defense and hoping to get some of that coin used on his side of the ball. Either that or being told minus an OG, the rest of the draft picks are his to use. LOL...

Glad to see both Chase and Tee getting done. Love being able to give the media the finger today. Oddly, I haven't seen too much of the "Stupid Bengals" take, but more the "This was unexpected" thought process. Agree with the Peters thinking he can help Volson, but I think that's going to be a short leash. Cappa was never the OG he was in Tampa and that was unfortunate because I LOVED that signing at the time. I'm hoping we see another situation play out where they take an OG early without anointing him day one. Much like Mims wasn't expected to start, but injuries happened and when he got his chance, he did well with it. Draft at least one OG early and maybe even a second one later on depending on how things fall. Scherff? They should have him on a plane right now and not let him leave. It's getting to be bare bones. No FA OG signing at this point is going to keep them from drafting one though. Really excited to hear TJ's dead gramma is 100% and expects to be ready to go. CHAMPIONSHIP !!!