HoosierCat

Speaking of edge, more chatter today from Tony Pauline, passed along by Sheeran. https://atozsports.com/nfl/cincinnati-bengals-news/nfl-draft-insider-teams-trading-up-in-front-of-bengals-first-round-pick/ Pauline had a report last week that the expectation around the league was that Cincy would go edge at 17, and if so that would light off a run on edge rushers, with like seven more going before the end of the round. Today's update is expectations have risen that someone below the Bengals will swap with either the Cards or Falcons to jump us and grab an edge. Also some chatter that the Bengals might go DT instead. Give me Nolen at 17 and I'm content.

Stewart has been losing steam for a while. It's all laid out in the last five minutes of Joe's video from a couple weeks back: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_mm-rcEsYQ His college production puts him in the same class as...Myles Murphy. Not only wouldn't Goodberry take him at 17, he wouldn't take him in the second either. Like I said a few days ago, I've gotten increasingly jittery about this edge class, to the point where I would really, really, like to see any other position at 17. Stewart is the leading example of why.

Risner still talking with Minny, Denver and Cincy. https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/17/24410254/bengals-news-dalton-risner-watch-minnesota-vikings-denver-broncos I’d guess that all three teams have guys targeted in the draft, but are keeping in touch in case things don’t fall the way they think.

Had another go-round with the PFN simulator over lunch. I think I'd be pretty happy with this draft. I did indulge the AI's trade hyperactivity but just once and only slightly, sliding down from 17 to 20 in the first in return for swapping 81 for 51. 20 Malaki Starks. was planning on taking him at 17 anyway. 49 Carson Schwesinger. Considered my usual Landon Jackson pick here but decided to go a little different and see how things rolled. 51. Jonah Savaiinaea. This could have been Jackson or Ersery, too, if you like. But if you go Jackson you will be kicking yourself... 119. Jack Sawyer. No way in hell this happens, but wow that would be a nice top 4 picks, imo. 153. Rylie Mills, DT, Notre Dame. DT with a knack for getting after the QB (7.5 sacks last year) and one of Al's guys. Did miss the last three games of 2024 with a knee injury. 193. Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame. Sticking with the ND theme here. Something of a poor man's Tyler Eifert, complete with Eifert-like struggles to stay healthy. I could have had my pick of project DTs and CBs, or fumble-prone RBs, here, if you prefer any of those.

Well, however you feel about players currently on the roster, most of the ones we’re currently talking about starting aren’t going to be here for long. Patrick, Volson and Karras — that’s the entire starting IOL — are set to be free agents in 11 months. Ford and OBj are up the following March. Mims is the only guy signed long-term right now. Now, I’ve been high on Matt Lee, so maybe we have an answer for Karras. Then there’s Kirkland, who was getting some buzz last season before he got hurt — but he’s a free agent in ‘26 too. Beyond that it’s some camp bodies and taxi squad types. So unless the front office is planning to drop a bunch on money on FA offensive lineman over the next couple years, they’re gonna have to draft some guys.

Excellent breakdown of the guard situation from Dehner today. His prediction: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6270997/2025/04/15/bengals-nfl-draft-needs-guard/ Also, combined with his look at LB and safety yesterday: https://archive.ph/n1tTq …his rounds 1-3 prediction is now: 1 Starks, 2 Ratledge, 3 LB Demetrius Knight. Works for me.

Nah, it just says they know they need to keep adding youth to the line. Both Hill and Slayton are basically one year rentals with one (Slayton) or two (Hill) club option years. If both were cut after this season, the team would pick up a combined $11 million in cap space.

Well sh*t, now I guess the Bengals are going to have to get UC to hire Hendrickson for their front office now or something... https://emueagles.com/news/2025/4/14/maxx-crosby-named-assistant-general-manager-for-emu-football.aspx

Didn't get around to throwing this up yesterday but La Canfora had a bit on Trey in his column yesterday. Nothing much we didn't already know or hadn't guessed, really. Nut grafs: Translation: "interested" teams aren't offering anything more than trash picks, but someone might get desperate and pony up some decent comp on draft day.

Imho, the strongest argument for cashing in a premium pick on a running back is that the best way to protect Burrow is a top-tier running game. Having a guy who can just take a handoff and rip off 10-20 yards every time they try to come after Joe would do wonders for his sack numbers. And the best way to make sure guys like Volson and Ford don't choke in pass protection is to not ask them to pass protect as much, just plow the road. Of course, that raises the question of why you need to pay a combined $500 million for a franchise QB and two No. 1 wideouts, but hey, water under the bridge, right? To be clear, I don't really think this is something they are considering. Maybe there's a verrrrrrrrrry slim chance that they take the plunge if Jeanty slips to 17. Otherwise I think round 4 is the earliest we go RB. But it's fun to think about.

Interesting three-rounder here from Chris Roling. His theory going into the mock: I'd say that's true, though I'd add that many if not most teams follow the same pattern. He has them selecting Emmanwori at 17 ("a captain, from a huge program, had incredible testing and can move all over the field, among other things") and Tenn DT Omarr Norman-Lott in the third. I doubt those picks would draw many gripes, but his second-round pick is certainly different. So, yeah, RB in the second. I continue to think they will take a back at some point -- they've certainly been bringing enough of them in for visits -- but a round 2 RB is bound to be controversial (by which I mean TJ will need a new. brick-free TV). Dunno much about Judkins (fwiw Zierlein's player comp is Joe Mixon!) but I'm sure Army can help with that.

Time for Army’s favorite subject, linebacker talk. Hobs interviewed the new LB coach and a couple things jumped out at me. First this: Notice who isn’t mentioned? Well, maybe they can get something for him during the draft, but it appears Pratt is not in their plans. Then there was his take on LBs in the draft. So he isn’t seeing a deep class this year. I get the impression here that they will be sorting through the UDFA pile at LB post draft.

DJ Turner says he's 100% so a bit of good news on the injury front. https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/news/cincinnati-bengals-dj-turner-health-update-offseason-workouts-looming

On the OL front, Savaiinaea coming for a top 30 visit. https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/11/24403862/jonah-savaiinaea-arizona-bengals-draft-visits

Well, I think we all expected they would draft a DT at some point. The only thing bringing a lot of them in suggests to me is that they would prefer to make that selection later (meaning round 2 onward) versus at 17. Not that they wouldn't take, say, Mason Graham if he somehow fell to 17, but it's a pretty deep DT class and I think they are just getting a read on exactly how deep it is. They are also bringing in a boatload of RBs, so don't be surprised if one gets picked in rounds 4-6.

Sad thing is he might be the best QB on their roster right now...

The Bengals and Hamilton County finally agree on something: the state needs to pony up $350 million for the stadium. https://www.fox19.com/2025/04/10/bengals-hamilton-county-seeking-350-million-ohio-stadium-renovations/ Man, 350 for Mike, 600 for Jimmy up in Clown Town, if you ever wondered how billionaire nfl owners stay billionaires, there’s your sign!

Per Breech over at cbs sports, the sked will be announced somewhere around the 13-15th of next month.

The Bengals today signed free agent LB Joe Giles-Harris to a one-year contract for the 2025 season. Originally a college free agent signee of Jacksonville in 2019, Giles-Harris (6-2, 234) was on Cincinnati's practice squad for one game late last season. He also has spent time on the practice squads and rosters of the Jaguars ('19-20 and '24), the Buffalo Bills ('21 and '22) and the New England Patriots (2023 and '24). He has played in 22 total NFL games with three starts and recorded 20 tackles and one sack on defense, as well as 10 tackles on special teams. He will be classified as a second-year player in 2025. https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-sign-lb-joe-giles-harris-bengals-roster-update

Joe is down with Banks. https://youtu.be/jqvdVeYj--s?si=6O7aT3tWjkjKIwst

Katie was asked about playing this year in Spain vs. the Fins, said she doesn’t know. Did note that the Bengals will be the home team for an overseas game in 2027, where/when tbd.

I can dig it.

Clearly the answer is to fund the new stadium with tariffs on visiting teams.

If they were to move the obvious play is Chicago, where they can share a big ass new stadium with da Bears, and it doesn’t geographically mess up the AFCN.

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/04/03/bengals-katie-blackburn-team-leave-lease-talks.html Insert “Well…Bye” gif here.