HoosierCat

And to be fair that’s the situation for most teams. Few if any can boast having three or four starting caliber tackles. Given that the Bengals have dipped in FA twice in two offseasons at tackle, my guess is that they privately agree with you, Army. Which is why an OT sooner rather than later in the draft wouldn’t surprise me.

I’m sure he meant 2052. Or possibly 2205…or 5202…

It’s really not too bad of a backup. Brown - starting LT Jonah - starting RT (let’s just grant for sake of argument) Carman - backup OT/OG Smith/Adenji/Ford - backup OT Collins - PUP at least to start the year Cochran - back to the PS So really it’s three guys (Smith, Adenji and Ford) fighting for one spot. And yeah, that’s hardly a battle of great talents.

Yeah he is one of the handful of legit blue chip prospects in the draft. Landing a player of that caliber, even at a “devalued” position, at 25 or 28 would be almost unthinkable. Which is why I doubt he will slip anywhere near that far. Worst case scenario I think is LA grabs him at 21.

Hell just imagine a back who doesn’t go down the second the shadow of a defenders hand passes over his shoes.

Yeah, Musgrave at 28 is a no. Forbes would be fine though the pick instantly puts me to sleep. I’d say it’s a coin flip as to him being there. He’s been going in the teens in a lot of recent projections.

Gibbs is definitely the wild card at 28. There’s a good chance he will be there and is the kind of weapon Burrow could do a whole lot with. In the end I don’t think they pull that trigger and end up boring us all with a corner, but it’s not easy to let him go.

Also in today, longtime sports journo San Farmer with his mock, the make Army happy special: https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2023-04-25/final-nfl-mock-draft-2023-sam-farmer

PFF with the make Hoosier happy & ruin TJ’s day mock: https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2023-nfl-mock-draft-pff-analysts-seven-rounds-four-qbs#RD1 Bengals trade 28 and 163 for the 25th overall to select Bijan Robinson. TE Musgrave in the second after a trade down from 60 to 66.

All the smoke is making my eyes water.

I think it’s more of a positional thing. He’s still Mel’s No. 2 guard prospect (Avila is No. 1 at 42). I wouldn’t be surprised if he still went in the first.

Mel’s put out his final top 150 list. Prospects in the 28 range: 26. Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma 27. Lukas Van Ness, DE, Iowa 28. Calijah Kancey, DT, Pitt 29. Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU 30. Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan At 60: 58. Jack Campbell, ILB, Iowa 59. Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M 60. Derick Hall, OLB, Auburn 61. O'Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida 62. Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA At 92: 90. Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State 91. Kendre Miller, RB, TCU 92. Jason Brownlee, WR, Southern Mississippi 93. Zacch Pickens, DT, South Carolina 94. DeMarvion Overshown, ILB, Texas At 131: 129. Karl Brooks, DT, Bowling Green 130. Mekhi Blackmon, CB, USC 131. Trey Palmer, WR, Nebraska 132. Zach Evans, RB, Ole Miss 133. Mike Morris, OLB, Michigan

Yeah I don't see how they pass on him if he's there. Which he won't be.

The flip side is that at some point, you have to say enough. The Bengals have poured a ridiculous amount of resources into the oline over the past 13 or so months. Not one, not two, not three, but four free agents totaling almost $140 million in contracts, a $12 million option for a fifth guy, Jonah, and a second, two fourth, and sixth round picks. Oh, and also Cody Ford. Now you want another FA and another high OT pick? I don’t think you are getting that, so you better hope that Collins isn’t full of crap, or that Carman has pulled his head out of his ass, or Adenji found a magic lamp on the beach and wished to become a real NFL tackle. Now, maybe they’ll manage to pull off some draft day deal and swap Jonah out for a prospect, but outside of that any more oline is tough to justify imo.

Interesting seven rounder here. https://gbnreport.com/pigskins-2023-nfl-draft-team-mocks-bengals/

I can’t say what’s going on. But it’s also possible that Cincy has proven to be a much better place for him than Jerrah’s joint. Change of scenery and all that. He still has to prove it, obviously. But I can’t complain about what we are hearing so far.

Well, they did sign Orlando Brown so they kind of covered that whole LT thing. That said I think you can make a case that TE, RB and a pass rusher are bigger needs than CB.

Collins: challenge accepted. https://local12.com/sports/bengals/cincinnati-bengals-quandary-right-tackle-4-months-after-knee-surgery-lael-collins-hopeful-ready-regular-season-opener-nfl-pro-football-jonah-williams-orlando-brown-zac-taylor-jackson-carman-hakeem-adeniji

Tanier's three-round projection: https://www.footballoutsiders.com/walkthrough/2023/mike-taniers-final-three-round-mock-draft Had to see Forbes lasting until 60. I've seen some mocks with him going early to mid-first. Hampton is an intriguing role player. Lou would have fun with him.

Back to topic, The Deal finally got done. https://www.footballoutsiders.com/extra-points/2023/aaron-rodgers-jets-its

Yeah, the '05 squad was a juggernaut. D was incredibly opportunistic and the O felt like it could score at will. I have no doubt they would have won the whole thing if it hadn't been for Kimo von Kneecapper. I would probably rank them: 1. 2005 2. 2021 3. 2015

Cool. And as long as we're on the topic of announcing picks, apparently the Bengals' second-rounder will be announced by AJ Green.

Over behind the ESPN paywall today, McShay has a new draft rumors column, and one of them is that the Steelers are looking to trade up for a tackle. Given that virtually every mock has them taking a corner, usually Porter Jr., that could help with creating a trade partner for Jonah.

Matt Miller goes the distance behind the ESPN plus paywall. Guys still on the board at 28 include Adebawore, Branch, Gibbs, Harrison, Hiatt, White, Bresee and McDonald IV. Turner would be fine but if you prefer another direction there’s lots to choose from. Guys still there at 60 include Dawand (goes at 61), Foskey, LaPorta and Charbonnet. Spears is fine. Most of the late guys seem like throwaway picks except maybe Hayes. Sounds like he could develop into something.

Only if we re-sign AJ Green because AJ TO AJ IS THE FUTURE!