Hopkins

[*ochocincos*]

(11-01-2021, 10:11 PM)Bilbo Saggins Wrote: He was the best offensive lineman on the team just a year ago. 

I like to look at precedent. The Chiefs had a pair of tackles not long ago who were considered to be one of the best tandems in the NFL in Schwartz and Fisher. They decided that they could replace those two guys without attenuating their offense. The Bills recently had both Quinten Spain and Wyatt Teller on their roster at some point or other. Spain is currently one of the best pass blocking guards in the league this year, while Teller is being discussed as a likely pro-bowler for the Browns. 

Sometimes it's really hard to know when to cut bait or when to hold onto a guy. Good OL is hard to find. I don't see why Hopkins can't bounce back from his injury given enough time.

Jonah Williams was in the games he played, but definitely 2nd-best.
Note that Wyatt Teller is set to hit FA next year unless he gets a deal done with the Browns or is tagged, so he could be an option if you want to upgrade RG.
There are a couple FA C's that I'd take to upgrade Hopkins - Kelce and Ben Jones.
Other than that, I really like Linderbaum (C, Iowa) if the Bengals pick in the 15-20 range.
He's PFF's highest-rated ever C prospect, passing Frank Ragnow (who is a beast).
If the Bengals were willing and able to re-sign Spain and Reiff (or get Morgan Moses), sign Teller, and draft Linderbaum, this OL could be about the best in the league.
I'm fine waiting to see how Carman does by season's end though before dropping the money on Teller.