HoosierCat

Overall I liked what he said today. Sounded like us, frankly. We’ll see if he can turn it into reality.

Also re Hendrickson:

Tobin... https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/allbengals-insiders-plus/duke-tobin-provides-latest-update-on-tee-higgins-at-2025-nfl-combine-01jmyrv3zat7 Alrighty then. Let's get 'er done, Duke.

YOU CANT STOP THE SAMPLE!!!

That reminds me, Joe did Shemar Stewart the other day. Bottom line, he wouldn’t touch him in the first or second, and based on the chart he uses toward the end of the video, I think he’s going to hate Mel’s pick too. https://youtu.be/w_mm-rcEsYQ?si=jI6YOGcc1pTStRc7

Kiper gives us Williams in his latest mock. https://www.on3.com/pro/news/2025-nfl-draft-mel-kiper-releases-mock-2-updated-predictions-for-all-32-first-round-picks-before-nfl-combine/

https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/2/24/24372190/sean-desai-cincinnati-bengals-los-angeles-rams

Trey all lovey-dovey… https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/news/trey-hendrickson-shares-update-on-contract-talks-with-bengals-we-ve-had-multiple-good-conversations-01jmwkhhjp71

Yup. And the other part, as Amphar noted recently, is that when they do use a premium pick on interior OL and get a good player, they won’t pay for a second contract (see Steinbach, Zeitler). One scenario I could see playing out this time around is that Kelvin Banks is BPA at 17, they draft him, and stick him at LG, with a potential shift to LT in two years when Brown’s contract is up.

I don’t think a one year deal expresses any real confidence. You’re going to need a body for spring workouts, OTAs and camp anyhow, and if he gets cut the cost is $0 beyond the per diem. We’ll see if there’s any competition signed, but based on this I’d guess there will be.

Coach speak alert! https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/news/cincinnati-bengals-nfl-combine-schedule-announce-when-we-ll-hear-from-zac-taylor-and-duke-tobin-01jmn1z9sjng

Adomitas re-signed. One year deal. https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-sign-ls-cal-adomitis-to-contract-extension-bengals-roster-update

Rankins cut. No surprise there. https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-release-dt-sheldon-rankins-bengals-roster-update

Meant to mention this yesterday but kept getting sidetracked. NFL announced yesterday that the Chargers would open the season in Brazil, which reminded me of this piece from Jay Morrison last month that the two most likely opponents for the Dolphins in Madrid were the Chargers and the Bengals.

Trey(Hendrickson, not Smith)’s entire situation is screwed up, and it’s pretty much all his fault. He signed that one-year, $21 million extension in July 2023, then like eight months later was bitching about being underpaid. Well, congratulations champ, you played yourself. If you hadn’t grabbed that bag which you now complain was too small, it would probably be your name, not Tee’s, at No. 1 on all the 2025 FA lists. The Bengals were clearly flummoxed by his attitude last year, and based on Duke’s senior bowl comments are not exactly chomping at the bit to give him more this year. They might toss him a few more bucks but nothing like what he would get on the open market. And honestly in this case I don’t blame them one bit.

Just to update, deal is for $2.035 million, $960k this year, $1.075 million in 2026. Reportedly no SB, nothing guaranteed.

Outside of Tee and Gesicki, I can sum up my attitude towards free agency this year in one word: "whatever." On offense it would be nice to get a decent guard. Maybe root around in the RB pile for a better option than Moss. On defense, the bottom line is that they were terrible last year, and I frankly don't care who leaves, up to and including trading Trey. The more turnover the better as far as I'm concerned. Even if we just replace trash with trash, at least it's new trash and we can all pretend they'll be better until September.

Yah I had Booker and Walker available today at pff. Went with Mykal Williams though. Got the LB in the second, Campbell, and Emmanwori in the third. I'd take that all day in real life but it will never happen!

Cap going up, up and away. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43921969/nfl-salary-cap-increases-substantially-2nd-consecutive-year The final number should come next week.

I’m with Army. LB is a glaring need. Goodberry might not like Walker as a DE but that’s fine by me, I’m not looking for a DE at LB, I’m looking for a LB. Here’s a fun fact. In the last four drafts, the Bengals have picked 9 defensive linemen, 8 defensive backs and one — one! — linebacker, Jeff Gunter, who retired last August. And that was a 7th round pick. Pratt turns 29 in May and looked washed for a lot of last year. He’s likely to be traded or cut. Wilson still has some life but he will be 29 before next season too, and ADG ticks over 28 in September. Bottom line, the position is overdue for an infusion of youth.

THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!!!

And Bengals creepypasta is born…No. 14 is Slandyman.

Jalon Walker. Joe’s not a fan at 17. https://youtu.be/R7l8k_wk-uY?si=3A_vbpUx_1hLhiIt

Andy gets an $8 million extension ($6 million guaranteed) from Carolina. https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/news/former-cincinnati-bengals-player-andy-dalton-inks-new-deal-with-carolina-panthers-01jmdgrvbrpf