ArmyBengal

Yeah, I won't care about a DT or OT specifically going in either round as long as we get them early. Protect Burrow and get some pressure on the opposing QB. Bengals were in the bottom 3rd of the league with sacks produced and they need to get home more. I know that stat isn't a stand alone regarding the pressure that can also be created without getting home. However, getting home clearly is something you would rather see than simple pressure. All but 3 teams in the top 10 made the playoffs this year. One was a game away and another lost their starting QB.

Ok awake at 3:10am for no damn good reason, so of course you do a mock draft. Got a trade in on this one. I trade #18 overall for #27 and #66. #27. Jer’zahn Newton, DT #49. Jordan Morgan, RT #66. TJ Tampa, CB #80. Cade Stover, TE #111. Braelon Allen, RB I can’t see Newton falling that far, but that’s a steal right there. First two picks address needs with best player available, which is dumb luck. With the extra pick from the trade, we bring in some CB help. Stover’s a clutch pass catcher that can make people miss. And then there’s Allen. We need to replace some RB depth and this dude is BIG. I could see him carving out some snaps due to his size and ability. Then again, this might suck. What do I know ??

Just saw where Pitcher is also taking interviews with both the Patriots and Raiders. If he leaves as well, I go back to my original thought of going after Joe Brady from the Bills.

Yep congrats to him. Not sure they really have a QB with Tannenhill and/or Levis, so that will be a big task to work through. They have #7 overall so they have options to help build the team he wants.

If they were going to trade Tee, it should have happened THIS year before the trade deadline. Had Burrow gotten hurt earlier, I think they might have considered it. Dont get me wrong, I want him to stay, but if they tag him, he’s gone in 2025. They have historically not worked long term deals or manage a tag and trade.

Regarding TE's, I would place a large bet that if Bowers would have been in last years draft, he would be the first TE off the board. Yeah, he's really that good. I would love to see the Bengals take him, but he will be long gone before the 18th pick comes along. We all have seen the tag play out when the Bengals use it. The player walks the next year and we may or may not get a 3rd round comp pick in return, based upon who else they sign in free agency. The thing I hate about that is, you don't get the comp pick until the following year. The WR tag is nearly $22 million, which would place Higgins firmly in the top 15 WR's in the league. If they are willing to pay the tag price, they should be able to work something long term. First and foremost, I love Higgins and love what he brings to this offense. However, I will not simply make the statement that he's a clear #1 on most teams in the league. He appears he could be, but we've all seen players move on to other teams and not have the same type of success. Higgins has been on the field with a tandem consisting of himself, Chase and Boyd. Couple that with an elite QB and a pass catching RB in Mixon in the backfield. Needless to say, there are not many teams loaded like that and his production with a new coach and new system could slip. Obviously, as we've also seen many times, it only takes one team to think he's the absolute MAN and pay him like a top 5 WR and he's gone. I just think there has to be some desire to continue playing with a QB and squad that has played a part in him becoming what he has. I really hope he sticks around on an extension. If not, he's getting the tag for sure. Minus a player in free agency being added, I want the first and second round picks to be DT and RT in either order. That's right, I moved into TJ's annual camp and got the t-shirt. SAY IT TJ !!!

SHOOT ME NOW !!!

I’m all in with the Lions. So more than likely they get blasted by the 49er’s… In all honesty, even if they do win, I don’t think they beat either the Chiefs or Ravens.

Really happy for the Lions. I will be rooting for them.

Well neither of those games worked out the way I wanted. Let’s see what today brings. Hoping for the Lions and Bills to win, although I don’t want either the Bills or Chiefs to win.

Sucks but Houston had a season no one was predicting. Hard to complain about how the season played out.

Great game to this point !!

If they felt strongly enough to make that move, I would support that, but that would be a lot to give up when they are going to need their picks.

I love Bowers, but I don’t think he falls to #18. You never know though. He’s literally a top 10 quality player.

I’m not a betting kind of guy, but know enough to think that 9.5 points is a lot for a divisional playoff game. Teams are usually fairly close in comparison for these matchups. It’s not like they are playing the Panthers or something. I may lose, but I would take the points in both of those games if I were betting.

100% agree with the above. Go ahead and give me the Packers, just because I’m still mad about those two Super Bowls.

Was thinking about going to Baltimore to catch the Texans with my son. Then I decided to stay warm this year instead of chasing playoff games. Would have been fun but I think I will be just as happy in my warm house !! Go Texans !!

Yes, free agency is really going to be the tell tail sign of what to expect in the draft. Rookie LB's probably won't see many snaps, but damn near every backup LB is an UFA. So they either bring those guys back, which should be that expensive, or get new ones. I don't want another DE early only to have him collect dust on the bench. There are some solid guys, but there will be other solid guys at a position of greater need. It's really too hard to say at this point. Free agency, trades to be made and other things that come into play. That's why I find mock drafts to be pretty pointless. That being said, I love doing them. It's a small addiction for me...

The house across from Mixon is currently listed for $4,495,000 million. I think Burrow's house is down the street where they are building newer homes. Still close though. Mixon has a full basketball court, pool and half a football field in his back yard. Really nice views of the river in that neighborhood.

The property tax on a 7.5 million dollar home would terrify me.

Agreed wholeheartedly. They are now in a position where they simply can’t wait a season or two before they get something out of their first and even second round picks. They have to hit to keep this train rolling. I think the changes they have made in their free agency approach are good and I could see a player coming in that will help bolster things as well. Not first day guys that get paid top of the market, just solid to somewhat above average that will help. I just pretend Irv Smith Jr. never happened as well.

I could be wrong, but maybe they were looking at the money they are going to be putting out for Burrow, Chase and maybe Higgins and figured they had to go the route of rookie contracts (for the most part) on defense. I don’t know, just speculating. Obviously I could be wrong.

Since I’m up for some stupid reason at 4:30am, of course this conversation prompted at mock draft. This is kind of what I’m talking about, although on a side note, if Higgins is gone, WR2 jumps up the priority list in my opinion. #18- Amarius Mims, ORT, Georgia #49- Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas #80- Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida St. #111- Jared Wiley, TE, TCU Maybe grab a CB somewhere in the 4th? Who knows, but LB is probably in there later as well.

At this point, based on current projections, there should be some solid talent available to the Bengals in the first round that would not only be the BPA, but also hit a need for them. Again, at this point, it is looking like there should also still be starter quality guys at both RT and DT into the 2nd round. I wouldn’t take issue with a CB like McKinstry in the first either. Awuzie looks terrible this year and Turner coming on in his 2nd year is no guarantee, but I also won’t complain in them giving him the chance to do that and pass up CB early. I was thinking TE early again, but I think it can now wait. I really like Tanner Hudson and want him to start camps as TE1. Burrow loves him as well and they had something going before the injury. With damn near every TE, being a FA, they have to backfill at some point. Right now I’m still firmly in with DT, Jer’zahn Newton, Illinois with our first round pick. Unless someone happens to fall at RT, my next in line in the first is RT, Amarius Mims, Georgia should Newton be gone. I’m still not much past the 4th round in looking at prospects yet. Slow year…

Went and took a look at the Pickett fake slide and agree even more.