AMPHAR

Finding an up tier starting tackle in the draft certainly would help a lot with filling out next year's roster.

They could take 2 OTs in this draft. Everyone except Orlando Brown is a free agent after the season right now.

After seeing contract breakdown. Bengals passed on Reader. They could have easily paid the Rankins money to him IF they wanted to. Reader is on a prove it deal in Detriot. 1yr $9m up to $11m pending incentives. If he proves it he can earn another $11m in 2025. Rankins on the other hand gets $14m this year. The Bengals could elect to cut him after 1 year ($10.5m cap savings) but they can take it all the way up to start of 2025. His 2025 cap hit is mostly salary and game time incentives. Reader simply is not worth all the hand wringing from Bengal Nation.

Unless you favored them paying Jonah Williams $30m there really wasn't any sure fire Free Agent solution. RT was always going to be a focus when TC came open. They were always going to be looking at some kind of RT Derby in training camp. No one knows the participants yet. Trent Brown has been available before. I don't think they ever bit on his availability. Took a look back and he was the 40th ranked NFL Free Agent in 2022. A lot of ifs. Also fans are doing the classic PFF comparison which is fundamentally flawed. You can't compare 1 guy's PFF with a different team doing different things against different opponents to another. Its pointless. PFF is silo system that's only determining how a particular player played in a particular game, evaluation done with 0 knowledge of game plan, play call, scheme. Yeah, hopefully they draft a couple tackles and hit on them. I would say Brown is a better option than Becton if you are looking at 2024 opening day starter.

They have to close the gap to Burrow and Lamar Jackson somehow.

The problem the Steelers face is they have to pick up the option May 2nd or nothing. They won't know jack about their QB options by then. I'm not sure they'll even have OTA before then. So its commit $25m of 2025's cap blindly or face your entire QB room from 2024 becoming UFA in 2025.

Teair Tart - I wouldn't say the door closed, but its looking unlikely according to reports. This is a miss from the Bengals pending on what he eventually signs for. Adding him and Rankins to the D-line although not getting younger in all aspects and short term deals. Tart would add a little more pass rush over Reader. Unfortunately doesn't look likely. Becton - I think people lost their mind on this one jumping to conclusions he's the starter (if signed) at RT. I even saw someone suggest a $15m deal. I'm for the signing but it (looks unlikely) but this I would hope be a reclamation project and a contract that reflects that. No way do you take RT off your board or pencil him in at any starting spot. You have to think back to Levi Jones. As some may remember Levi had a promising rookie season, better 2003. Then tried to play through a knee injury in Baltimore since the division was on the line. Injured it worse. He was horrible in 2004. Then rebounded back to be one of the best LTs in 2005. But the knee issue kept coming back along with other lower leg stuff. He was a shell of himself in 2008. Becton you just can't invest much hope IF his knees cost him that bad. Ronnie Staley over in Baltimore is another sad story. Becton hasn't put anything on film consistently since his injury that suggests he beyond that. I don't know what the Bengals will do but I do think they try to find some sort of NT and RT in FA.

I'd have no problem with that trade if at 6 you are picking between a Chase or Sewell. Never really thought about it so I don't know how those guys grade out as far as franchise changers. During the 2021 draft it was hard to go wrong at 5. Only Pitts has been questionable and that probably is his QB situation. But Chase, Sewell, and Slater have all proven franchise players at franchise spots. I'd give up Tee and the 2nd rounder to land another Chase or AJ Green. Or another Willie Anderson.

If the Steelers decided to pick up the option. Then trade. The contract "option year" goes to the acquiring team. Bengals faced this last year with Jonah Williams. The only way out of that $12m 1yr option was to trade Williams once they decided to pick it up.

Well it sucks the Steelers are improving their QB postion in 2024 on the cheap. However, they got a tough road ahead. By May 2nd they have to commit to Fields 5th year which is $25m for 2025. If they don't then both Wilson and Fields are FAs next year and even marginal QBs are getting big deals. Essentially they will not get the advantage of "franchise qb" on rookie deal years if they want either of those 2 around past this year.

The question will be would Boyd want to come back on a cheap deal? With the off season under way it looks like extreme competition to get on the field as the 10th/11th player. Boyd would be looking at a reduced role. Unless there's some injuries its going to be tough to get those snaps and then targets. Hopefully they'll have a healthy Jones and Brown more this year. Add Gesicki. Bring back Sample and Hudson. What the Bengals have on offense is somehow being overlooked. They get some luck this time with Burrow it really falls on the shoulders of the line to be competent early on so the numbers aren't stunted. If the QB is healthy and OL not giving up a bunch of negative plays. Its going to be hard to stop.

Almost sounds to good to be true. So I'd take it. With some mocks have 3 QBs going in the top 4. I'd take that deal and run. Giants are likely to be mediocre so its a decent 2. You'd be looking at the 2nd best WR at 6, First OT, First Edge.

Orlando Brown Jr is the only tackle under contract after 2024 season. My guess even if Becton signs, they'll be drafting some. That's 3 spots to fill next year if they don't.

98th pick is pretty good for Pickett, IMO.

There's a whole bunch of drama rumored in Cleveland 1. The firing of Van Pelt. Supposedly that was an ownership call 2. Flacco - Watson didn't want him around It'd be nice to have 1 team shit can the season in the North.

1. McDonalds ketchup is not normal ketchup 2. Arby's horsey sauce is the best Fry condiment (I assume mayo base with horse radish) I'm not getting into Becton or Tart talk until they sign. But fair warning there's been a couple comments made and I'm pissed off about it.

TE room shaping up nicely.

The Jeff Ruby rumors have been confirmed with Becton. I'd say that leans towards him signing with the Bengals as long as he gets the ketchup out of the bottle the right way. Edit: Teair Tart is also there.

Probably.

Jeff Ruby's anybody?! Rumor is Joe going to host a dinner. Not sure who's going but it didn't seem like Free Agency until the Ruby's dinner. I would start off with their barrel aged Manhattan. A little Raw Bar action. NY Strip. Cream Spinach. A little cheese cake.

Mixon gettin paid. Makes you wonder if all the local scribes know what they are talking about. If Zac Moss is an upgrade then why didn't the Texans take that great deal?

Never worried about losing Reader. Hopefully they get younger. If Reader signed on the cheap, I'd probably be a little disappointed. Edit: 2 yrs. $27m for Reader. Glad that didn't happen. Good luck to DJ and for Lions sake hope he stays on the field.

Tier Tart visiting. Source: talking box in my car.

Tobin partially justified with his Bates stance because the high price safety took a dump this offseason. However, bringing back Bell and bringing in Stone suggests Hill and Battle aren't locks for snaps so the replacement plan still needs to prove out. Given, that I would assume Zac Carter might be in a crunch with Rankins coming aboard. Not looking rosey with the defender development right now. Just see how it all melts together.

That's pretty good. I thought it was conditional meaning they wouldn't get a pick until next year. Kudos. Mixon/Moss? The reality is Chase Brown is the X factor as of right now. He's going to have to be the one filling the Mixon void. They probably just going to divide snaps up differently. Maybe a draft pick goes to RB as well.