2024 Bengals Free Agency/Roster Thread

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

OK, time for some adjustments with our first four draft selections added to the mix:


Round 1: #18: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia 
Round 2: #49: Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan 
Round 3: #80: Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama
Round 3: #97: McKinley Jackson, NT, Texas A&M

A. Offense: (25)
QB (2): Burrow; Browning
RB (4): Moss; C. Brown, T. Williams, Evans
WR (6): Chase, Higgins, Burton; Irwin, Iosivas, C. Jones
TE (3): D. Sample; Gesicki, Hudson
OT (6): O. Brown, T. Brown; Mims, Ford (OT/G), Carman, D. Smith
OG (2): Cappa, Volson; (Ford, T. Hill)
C (2): Karras; T. Hill (C/G)
----------------

B. Defense: (27)
DE (5): Hendrickson, Hubbard; Murphy, C. Sample, Ossai
DT (7): BJ Hill, Rankins; M. Jackson, Jenkins; Carter, Tufele, Bell
LB (5): Wilson, Pratt; ADG, Bachie, Harper
CB (5): CTB, Turner, Hilton; Ivey (inj), J. Davis
S (5): Battle, Stone; Bell, D. Hill, Anderson (inj)
-------------

C. Special Teams: (3)
PK: McPherson
P: Robbins
LS: Adomitis
----------

D.  Future's (9) + Practice Squad (3) = 12

QB: Woodside
WR: S. Jackson, Lassitter, Pryor
OT: Cochran
OG: Gilliam, Kirkland
DE: Gunter
DT: D. Davis, Maxwell
LB: Heyward
CB: George
----------------

E.  Ins & Outs

1.  Ins: 21 Players + 2 picks

Signed (7): Rankins (2/$24.5, $11.9), Stone (2/$14, $6.025), T. Brown (1/$4.4),  Moss (2/$8, $2.972), Gesicki (1/$2.5), Bell (1/$1.21), Woodside (1 yr, $???).

Re-Signed (9): D. Sample (3/$10.5, $4.9), ADG (1/$2.54), Irwin (1/$1.472), Ford (1/$1.35), T. Williams (1/$1.1525), Hudson (1/$1.1525), Bachie (1 yr/$1.135k), Adomitis (1 yr/$985k), Browning (2 yr, $???).

Tagged (1): Higgins (1/$21.8).

Drafted (4): Mims (Rd1/#18), Jenkins (Rd2/#49), Burton (Rd3/#80), Jackson (Rd3/#97).

Draft Captlital (2): 6th (NFL comp), + 7th (Mixon trade)

2.  Outs (7)

Traded (1): Mixon (Hou, 3 yrs, $25.5 mil deal)

Waived/Cut (2): Scott (Carolina, 1 yr/$1.152.5 mil), McCarron (??/$??).

Signed Elsewhere (5 FAs + 2 post release = 7): Reader (2/$27, Det), Jonah Williams (2/$30, ARZ), Awuzie (3/$36, Tenn), I. Smith Jr. (KC, 1 yr/$1.1525 mil), Scott (Carolina, 1yr/$1.1525 mil), Morgan Jr (1/$985k, NO), McCarron (UFL, STL).

[wanga]

Vaguely posted something in another thread along the lines of how we’ve beefed up both sides of the ball in FA and the draft so far as well as picked up an explosive WR. It’s good.
TE up next and then some fillers in tomorrows draft will be nice.

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

I.  Roster Tiers


A.  Roster Locks/Starters (23): Burrow, Moss, Chase, Higgins, D. Sample, O. Brown, Volson, Karras, Cappa, T. Brown; Hendrickson, BJ Hill, Rankins, Hubbard, Wilson, Pratt, CTB, Turner, Hilton, Battle, Stone; McPherson, Adomitis.

B.  Roster Locks/Reserves (14): Browning, C. Brown, Burton, Irwin, Iosivas, C. Jones, Gesicki, Mims; Murphy; M. Jackson, Jenkins, ADG, V. Bell, D. Hill.  

Not sure about who the starter is at TE (D. Sample/Gesicki) or SS (Battle/Bell), but all are roster locks either way. Ditto at slot receiver (Burton, Irwin, C. Jones) and how DT shakes out between Hill, Rankins, Jackson, & Jenkins.

C.  Inner Roster Fringe (10): T. Williams, Hudson, Ford; C. Sample, Ossai, Bachie, Ivey, J. Davis, Anderson; Robbins.

D.  Outer Roster Fringe (8): Evans, Carman, D. Smith, T. Hill; Carter, Tufele, Bell, Harper.

E.  Practice Squad Territory (12): Woodside; S. Jackson, Lassiter, Pryor, Cochran, Kirkland, Gilliam; Gunter, D. Davis, Maxwell, Heyward, George.

As we make more signings and make picks, some guys will move around some.

[phil413]

(04-27-2024, 03:44 AM)wanga Wrote: Vaguely posted something in another thread along the lines of how we’ve beefed up both sides of the ball in FA and the draft so far as well as picked up an explosive WR. It’s good.
TE up next and then some fillers in tomorrows draft will be nice.

Yeah they're really free to take true BPA rather than need. There are too many solid/passable CBs and Gs on the free agency market that they can get one each rather than reach.  

[Stewy]

(04-27-2024, 12:40 PM)phil413 Wrote: Yeah they're really free to take true BPA rather than need. There are too many solid/passable CBs and Gs on the free agency market that they can get one each rather than reach.  

well said - the draft can just come to the Bengals now.

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

Time for some more adjustments with Day 3 of the draft in the books and the first wave of USFA's signed. 


Draft (6):
Round 4 (#115): Erik All, TE, Iowa 
Round 5 (#149): Josh Newton, CB, TCU 
Round 6 (#194): Tanner McLachlan, TE, Arizona
Round 6 (#214): Cedrick Johnson, DE, Ole Miss
Round 7 (#224): Daijahn Anthony, DB, Ole Miss
Round 7 (#237): Matt Lee, C, Miami (FL) 


UDFAs (14): 
1. P: Austin McNamara, Texas Tech 
2. QB: Rocky Lombardi, Northern Illinois 
3. RB: Elijah Collins, Oklahoma State 
4. RB: Noah Cain, LSU 
5. WR: Sam Wiglusz, Ohio 
6. WR: Cole Burgess, SUNY Courtland 
7. TE: Cam Grandy, Indiana State 
8. OT: Eric Miller, Louisville 
9. DE: Justin Blazek, Wisconsin-Prattville 
10. LB: Maema Njongmeta, LB, Wisconsin
11. LB: Aaron Casey, LB, Indiana 
12. S: Michael Dowell, Miami (OH) 
13. S: Lance Robinson, Tulane 
14: S: PJ Jules, Southern Illinois 


The influx of picks (6) and UDFA signings (14) bring us to 87 players, by my count. Close to the max of 90. 


I still think we could use proven depth at guard, another true nose, and maybe another LB. 


I am gonna list players who made the 53 last year + picks in the offense/defense/special sections, and the UDFA's in the section with the Future's/Practice Squad guys from last year. McNamara is the exception, as he is clearly competing with Robbins for a starting spot.

A. Offense: (28)
QB (2): Burrow; Browning
RB (4): Moss; C. Brown, T. Williams, Evans
WR (6): Chase, Higgins, Burton; Irwin, Iosivas, C. Jones
TE (5): D. Sample; Gesicki, All (inj), McLachlan, Hudson
OT (6): O. Brown, T. Brown; Mims, Ford (OT/G), Carman, D. Smith
OG (2): Cappa, Volson; (Ford, T. Hill)
C (3): Karras; T. Hill (C/G), Lee
----------------

B. Defense: (30)
DE (6): Hendrickson, Hubbard; Murphy, C. Sample, Ossai, Johnson
DT (7): BJ Hill, Rankins; M. Jackson, Jenkins; Carter, Tufele, Bell
LB (5): Wilson, Pratt; ADG, Bachie, Harper
CB (7): CTB, Turner, Hilton; D. Hill, Newton, Ivey (inj), J. Davis
S (5): Battle, Stone; Bell, Anderson (inj), Anthony
-------------

C. Special Teams: (4)
PK: McPherson
P: Robbins, McNamara (UDFA)
LS: Adomitis
----------

D.  Future's (9) + Practice Squad (3) + UDFA's (13) = 25

QB: Woodside, Lombardi
RB: Collins, Cain
WR: S. Jackson, Lassitter, Pryor, Wiglusz, Burgess
TE: Grandy
OT: Cochran, Miller
OG: Gilliam, Kirkland
DE: Gunter, Blazek
DT: D. Davis, Maxwell
LB: Heyward, Njongmeta, Casey
CB: George
S: Dowell, Robinson, Jules
----------------

E.  Ins & Outs

1.  Ins: 27 players (7 signed, 9 re-signed, 1 tagged,10 picked). 

Signed (7): Rankins (2/$24.5, $11.9), Stone (2/$14, $6.025), T. Brown (1/$4.4),  Moss (2/$8, $2.972), Gesicki (1/$2.5), Bell (1/$1.21), Woodside (1 yr, $???).

Re-Signed (9): D. Sample (3/$10.5, $4.9), ADG (1/$2.54), Irwin (1/$1.472), Ford (1/$1.35), T. Williams (1/$1.1525), Hudson (1/$1.1525), Bachie (1 yr/$1.135k), Adomitis (1 yr/$985k), Browning (2 yr, $???).

Tagged (1): Higgins (1/$21.8).

Drafted (10): Mims (Rd1/#18), Jenkins (Rd2/#49), Burton (Rd3/#80), Jackson (Rd3/#97), All (Rd4/#115), Newton (Rd5/#149), McLachlan (Rd6/#194), Johnson (Rd6/#214), Anthony (Rd7/#224), Lee (Rd7/#237).


2.  Outs (7)

Traded (1): Mixon (Hou, 3 yrs, $25.5 mil deal)

Waived/Cut (2): Scott (Carolina, 1 yr/$1.152.5 mil), McCarron (??/$??).

Signed Elsewhere (5 FAs + 2 post release = 7): Reader (2/$27, Det), Jonah Williams (2/$30, ARZ), Awuzie (3/$36, Tenn), I. Smith Jr. (KC, 1 yr/$1.1525 mil), Scott (Carolina, 1yr/$1.1525 mil), Morgan Jr (1/$985k, NO), McCarron (UFL, STL).

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

I. Roster Tiers (53 + 2 PUP Available)

A.  Roster Locks/Starters (23): Burrow, Moss, Chase, Higgins, D. Sample, O. Brown, Volson, Karras, Cappa, T. Brown; Hendrickson, BJ Hill, Rankins, Hubbard, Wilson, Pratt, CTB, Turner, Hilton, Battle, Stone; McPherson, Adomitis.

B.  Roster Locks/Reserves (14): Browning, C. Brown, Burton, Irwin, Iosivas, C. Jones, Gesicki, Mims; Murphy; M. Jackson, Jenkins, ADG, V. Bell, D. Hill.  

Not sure about who the starter is at TE (D. Sample/Gesicki) or SS (Battle/Bell), but all are roster locks either way. Ditto at slot receiver (Burton, Irwin, C. Jones) and how DT shakes out between Hill, Rankins, Jackson, & Jenkins.

C.  Inner Roster Fringe (7): T. Williams, All (inj), Ford; C. Sample, Ossai, Bachie, Newton. 

D.  Outer Roster Fringe/Roster Bubble (18): Evans, Hudson, McLachlan, Carman, D. Smith, T. Hill, Lee; Johnson, Carter, Tufele, T. Bell, Harper, Ivey (inj), J. Davis, Anderson (inj), Anthony; Robbins, McNamara. 

Assuming both PUP spots are used, 11/18 from that last group make it. With 7 being excellent PS candidates. 

E.  Practice Squad Territory (25):
QB: Woodside, Lombardi
RB: Collins, Cain
WR: S. Jackson, Lassiter, Pryor, Wiglusz, Burgess
TE: Grandy
OT: Cochran, Miller
IOL: Kirkland, Gilliam;
DE: Gunter, Blazek
DT: D. Davis, Maxwell,
LB: Heyward, Njongmeta, Casey
CB: George.
S: Dowell, Robinson, Jules

My count is 87. 3 open spots. Let me know if I messed anything up.

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

OK, some updates on some of our own moving on: 


1) Boyd to Tennessee, 1 year, $4.5 mil.


https://www.nfl.com/news/titans-tyler-boyd-former-bengals-wr-one-year-contract


2) LB Bailey to Arizona. 1 year deal, uncertain $$$. 


https://www.cincyjungle.com/2024/5/7/24151546/markus-bailey-bengals-arizona-cardinals-free-agents-cincinnati


I believe the only two guys from last year's 53 who are still unsigned FA's are Scharping & Tupou. 


I apparently snoozed on Wilcox to the Patriots in late April. We get Gesicki, they get Wilcox. I will take it.


https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-sign-te-mitchell-wilcox

A. Offense: (28)
QB (2): Burrow; Browning
RB (4): Moss; C. Brown, T. Williams, Evans
WR (6): Chase, Higgins, Burton; Irwin, Iosivas, C. Jones
TE (5): D. Sample; Gesicki, All (inj), McLachlan, Hudson
OT (6): O. Brown, T. Brown; Mims, Ford (OT/G), Carman, D. Smith
OG (2): Cappa, Volson; (Ford, T. Hill)
C (3): Karras; T. Hill (C/G), Lee
----------------

B. Defense: (30)
DE (6): Hendrickson, Hubbard; Murphy, C. Sample, Ossai, Johnson
DT (7): BJ Hill, Rankins; M. Jackson, Jenkins; Carter, Tufele, Bell
LB (5): Wilson, Pratt; ADG, Bachie, Harper
CB (7): CTB, Turner, Hilton; D. Hill, Newton, Ivey (inj), J. Davis
S (5): Battle, Stone; Bell, Anderson (inj), Anthony
-------------

C. Special Teams: (4)
PK: McPherson
P: Robbins, McNamara (UDFA)
LS: Adomitis
----------

D.  Future's (9) + Practice Squad (3) + UDFA's (13) = 25

QB: Woodside, Lombardi
RB: Collins, Cain
WR: S. Jackson, Lassitter, Pryor, Wiglusz, Burgess
TE: Grandy
OT: Cochran, Miller
OG: Gilliam, Kirkland
DE: Gunter, Blazek
DT: D. Davis, Maxwell
LB: Heyward, Njongmeta, Casey
CB: George
S: Dowell, Robinson, Jules
----------------

E.  Ins & Outs

1.  Ins: 27 players (7 signed, 9 re-signed, 1 tagged,10 picked). 

Signed (7): Rankins (2/$24.5, $11.9), Stone (2/$14, $6.025), T. Brown (1/$4.4),  Moss (2/$8, $2.972), Gesicki (1/$2.5), Bell (1/$1.21), Woodside (1 yr, $???).

Re-Signed (9): D. Sample (3/$10.5, $4.9), ADG (1/$2.54), Irwin (1/$1.472), Ford (1/$1.35), T. Williams (1/$1.1525), Hudson (1/$1.1525), Bachie (1 yr/$1.135k), Adomitis (1 yr/$985k), Browning (2 yr, $???).

Tagged (1): Higgins (1/$21.8).

Drafted (10): Mims (Rd1/#18), Jenkins (Rd2/#49), Burton (Rd3/#80), Jackson (Rd3/#97), All (Rd4/#115), Newton (Rd5/#149), McLachlan (Rd6/#194), Johnson (Rd6/#214), Anthony (Rd7/#224), Lee (Rd7/#237).


2.  Outs (10)

Traded (1): Mixon (Hou, 3 yrs, $25.5 mil deal)

Waived/Cut (2): Scott (Carolina, 1 yr/$1.152.5 mil), McCarron (??/$??).

Signed Elsewhere (8 FAs + 2 post release = 10): Reader (2/$27, Det), Jonah Williams (2/$30, ARZ), Awuzie (3/$36, Tenn), Boyd (Tenn, 1 yr/$4.5 mil), I. Smith Jr. (KC, 1 yr/$1.1525 mil), Scott (Carolina, 1yr/$1.1525 mil), Bailey (AZ, 1 year, $??), Wilcox (NE, 1 yr, $??), Morgan Jr (1/$985k, NO), McCarron (UFL, STL).