AMPHAR

WRs are the most "in season" traded position. A lot of it is teams have buyers remorse after the big contract. Tee is a fan favorite. I have always wanted the Bengals to keep the trio together. So I wouldn't be mad, but looking at Tee's availability his actual numbers produced and even his projected numbers thinking he can once get 17 games isn't elite. He's in a good situation playing with one of the best QB and the best WR taking coverage away from him. Tee with a top of market deal scream buyers remorse by the 3rd year of his contract and fans living on his name from his hey day. OBJ is probably the best example. He made a living off that catch, the last 8 years he put up JAG or worse numbers. Higgins has put up JAG for his whole career if you look at it without fandom glasses on. I would say tag him with the intent to trade or lift the tag. Take advantage of your cap situation. They'll have enough cap room to do whatever they want even with a chunk taken up with a tag. These projected annual numbers of $28m for Tee while at the same time Chase is going to be $30m+ don't make a whole lot of sense unless its for a year or 2. I doubt Higgins would be willing to do a 2 year deal. I doubt Trey will want just a 2 year either. I would seriously consider trading him IF he want 4/5 years and the amount cap that takes. He's been incredible. He's played a bunch of snaps. Sometimes you get Whitworth other time you get Geno.

Tee Higgins is consistently rated a top Free Agent in the 2025 class. Tee is a fan favorite but not elite player. I could go either way on him. The further his price tag gets from $20m a year the more questionable it becomes. With a Higgins deal near Tag level or Tag ($26m), Burrow ($46m), and Chase ($22m) just on 5th year option. That's 40% of your cap for 2025. Cash for a Higgins deal and Chase in the same year using established frame works would be $55m-$60m. Anyway, Higgins leading the FA class prior to tags and extensions means its a so so FA class. Might not want to dumb long term elite money to anyone singular player but grab 2/3 decent ones.

Some Bengal fan need to realize the reason why Marvin Lewis didn't win playoff games is because of Marvin Lewis and Andy Dalton choking. Not because they didn't have talent. Bengals haven't been in the playoffs the past two seasons because Burrow wasn't healthy OR he flat out sucked. Take your pick. I think he's great and those early season numbers were the result of a calf recovery. Last year Lou couldn't get a unit to get a handful of stops, period. He's let an average to bad Pittsburgh offense dominate him 3 out of 4 games and that's been your playoff spot that's been lost.

There's no need to get yourselves worked up. They'll classify the players how they see fit. Assign a value. The player in question will get an offer in that value range. They don't want it, then its on to the next player. That's how they've operated for years. At the end of the day its a zero sum game. Assume Tee's projection is legit $25m a year. OK. If the Bengals pay him that then its several spots having to rely on a young 2nd day draft pick to contribute. If they don't pay him the $25m then its a combination of players getting that amount. Its how they build the AFC Champion squad. Lawson didn't want the money, Trey did. William Jackson III didn't want the extension so I think they got 3 players for the same total cap hit. There have been misses as well, because Bates hasn't been replaced. At the end of the day in August you'll wake up and Vegas will have them top 5 in AFC. They are already top 10 for Superbowl 60 winner. Front office deserves way more benefit of the doubt. The 2 playoff misses is completely on the field related not because they don't have talent. Quite frankly you hand Al Golden what they handed Lou last year, I'll say its a good guess they aren't going give up more points.

From the way the analyst talk you could get a high end DT in the 20s and could realistically get a solid starter in Round 4. That's not even factoring in that the DB depth seems better this year vs. last. I think this is all pointing to a Higgins coming back on Tag at min. You can dump the salary cap on him and realistically grab some key defensive pieces. Just spit balling based on what the dudes are saying

Getting carried away with all the influx of draft info. My early take is there will be a good DL prospect in the 1st and 2nd round. Which leads them to tagging/extending Tee for 2025.

One thing mentioned about him was he's so quick off the ball AND he slashes so much eventually he'll guess wrong and gets washed out of the play. So you are going to get a mix of big and not so great plays. I was very impressed with the Tenn DT at the Senior Bowl Norman-Lott. Right now he's got the development, 4th round tag on him. Nolen has a slightly higher draft prospect grade on him than last year's favorite Newton. Just searching around this appears to be a more talented and deeper selection of DTs this year. Hopefully they can land one.

OT: This guy has made a lot of "standout" lists.

CB: Kentucky CB got a lot of praise from NFL Network guys.

WR: Several outlets.

Interior DL From NFL.com and now various sources: FYI: From the coverage I watched the Tenn DT was very impressive. Darius Alexander from Toledo a mountain of a man. Had a good showing on Day 2. I'd expect to see him on "winners" list from several people.

Edge: From NFL.com

Tight Ends are impressive group. Write up from NFL.com

Hate to say it, but solid TE draft class this year. All looked like a player and it sucks his knee gave out again. The recovery/rehab of those is tiresome.

Interior O Line Nuggets: Jax State guard (Webb) was very impressive from what I watched. Overall the Interior DL was very good thus alot of interior oline guys struggled. Other odds and in from around the webb: North Dakota players impressed just about everyone.

Starting if off with Bengals.com nugget. Once again the coaches aren't scouting in depth as in former years at the Senior Bowl games.

Overall explosive Interior DL seem to be deep this year at the Senior Bowl.

Looking good at the Senior Bowl so far.

Ultimately the judge of what makes sense will be in the season results. Lou had no shortage of pointing the finger a communication issues, guys not ready etc. Went through cycles of blaming/benching bona fide starting NFL players. Also, Murphy and Battle were buried on the depth chart week 1 of TC. Defense in training camp had the world believing Burrow was washed up (right before a MVP caliber season). Defense played great in shared training camp practices by all reports. Interject game planning etc. They couldn't stop shit with any consistency during the entire season. So maybe there is something to practicing with a purpose not just having extended field trips during OTAs? The health of Burrow during TC has also been an early season factor.

It would be tough to argue against any defensive pick regardless of position after this year. Offensive guard and I'll throw tackle in there as well because there's always the groom at guard then bump out scenario. My devilish joys this year will Mathew Golden - WR Texas. Jeanty Boise State RB. Penn State RB Singleton.

Lol we ended up with Punter and he's pretty goo.

I'm going to enjoy some Operation Mindcrime this afternoon.

Right before the COVID shutdowns. I went in cold for Poison/Cheap Trick concert. Price was under $20. My mind had completely forgotten about Cheap Trick until they started playing. Brett Michaels for all his faults from being a Steelers blow hard, puts on a great show still. I caught Aerosmith, they popped up in the lawn for about 5 of their best know hits it was awesome. There are about a handful of 80s bands I wish I could go see in their prime. Unfortunately, I have heard nightmares about Motley Crue shows and how expensive bad they are. My older brother used to tape his ticket stubs up on a wall, sometimes even burn them a little with a lighter. So bad ass. So metal. It'd be funny to see the names and prices on those.

You got to question what these Bengals fans that talk about Mike Brown; what they truly watch and understand on a weekly basis about the NFL. In 1-4 start. 3 teams were in the Division round. 2 are in the Conference Champ round. They have destroyed the other AFC participant in the most recent match ups. In that 1-4 start all were 1 score or less losses, 2 came down to the last play, all decided in the 4th quarter. Then they win 5 in a row. No matter your opinion on the quality opponent when you factor in the first 5 games and the last 5 games that does not happen without talent. Yeah Burrow may never make a 2nd Superbowl. Too bad. There's been 34 individual Superbowl winning QBs. 50 something individual starters. 2 Heisman winning QBs to win a Superbowl. Out of the thousands that have started NFL games. Yeah its hard. This is historical of the NFL. Warren Moon? Kenny Anderson? Hell Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers have been NFL MVPs multiple times. Played in 3 Superbowls combined? Lamar Jackson? Of course Marino. Its not a HOF QBs birth right to win a Superbowl or go to multiple Superbowls. Quit crying and making Burrow out to be some victim. He's a great QB and surrounded by great play makers. Needs a better line and personal mentality to cut out 15-20 sacks or negative plays a season. Then a competent defense. He'll be on a team this August that will be among the favorites to win the AFC with Vegas.

I was on board with Lou leaving right about the time the Washington Monday Night game ended. I wouldn't be shocked if the Bengals concluded his departure sometime before the season. So? What really went into the search? You'll never know unless an "insider" drops some knowledge. I wasn't too thrilled with Myles Murphy and Battle. Early in camp they were running with the scrub unit, filled with players destined to be cut. Only reason MM moved up was injuries in TC, then he himself gets injured. Even thou Lou deserved to be fired. He's not incompetent. He's a bona fide NFL coach, debate the level you want (position, coordinator, head coach). So Battle and MM scream lack of professional duties, IMO. Myles Murphy, IMO, when he came back played like he was out of shape. His work out clips that make it too twitter scream that as well because they cut them off as soon as he completes the drill and he goes hands on hips immediately. Dax Hill? IMO, 100% Lou's fault. Bengal fans scream about Jessie Bates. Anyone ever compare Jessie's stats Bengals vs Atl? Jessie Bates whether Bengals fans want to admit it or not was a PFF warrior. He had very little impact stats. No one without PFF would ever declare him "elite". With Atlanta Jessie's impact stats are killing his Bengal days mostly because Jessie never had them. 0 sacks as a Bengal, Very few TFL. Very few Ints. Dax Hill has those talents (maybe needs to catch the INT). Lou too busy trying to make him into an invisible Safety. What Al does with Dax will be interesting because he's got ability, range, IMO. Murphy, Battle better shape up, IMO, or they could easily be cut in camp this year. Dax is one former draft pick that could blossom into an elite player, IMO of course he's gotten a shit deal. Could have played more as a rookie. Got thrown under the bus his second year and misused, IMO. Made position switch then hurt (played good)