02-05-2022, 05:02 PM
(02-05-2022, 04:58 PM)leonardfan40 Wrote: We beat the number 1,2 and 5 seeds in the playoffs without Reiff. We can bring back that same line next year. And yes one of the 1-2 big FA signings I was getting at would be RT which would be part of upgrading the line and team as a whole. That’s the spot I start with. Then I’d probably go to center if we can find a true stud there (not sure there will be one available). If so we could cut Hopkins to help pay for the upgrade there or move him to compete with Carman/etc at guard next year. I like Williams/Spain and I’m not going to throw in the towel on Carman after one year (we need a backup plan/competition for him tho). RT and then C are the potential upgrades in FA/draft I’d look at.
I like how Apple has improved this year but don’t see a huge bidding war for him. Teams are reluctant to sign guys to big deals after half a good season. Plus he talks a lot which I don’t see helping his FA appeal. Spain is and has always been a tough one to predict. For whatever reason the NFL does not seem to like him all that much. I don’t see him a year older suddenly proving a whole lot to other teams when he basically got a min deal last year. I think he’ll probably get $5-6 mil on medium length at best and who knows, maybe another shockingly low price.
Regarding Carman, I'm trying to think of examples where linemen have gotten better over the years. I've never paid hard attention to the growth of linemen on other teams but it seems like in the Bengals case, we know after the first year if they're going to be worth a damn or not. I'd love to hold out some hope with these guys if it's possible they can improve.
