La'El Collins opt out

[Bengalholic]

(02-22-2023, 04:12 PM)Housh Wrote: I keep revisiting our T situation and ima say something ppl aren’t gonna like



I don’t think we are signing another top money guy

And i don’t think we’re using a 1st or a 2nd on T either.

Our best case imo is getting a 5M type guy for 1 year and drafting T in the 2nd or 3rd.

I don't think you need a top guy honestly. For somewhere in the 8-9m range, you can probably land 2 veterans that can play multiple positions - Jermaine Eluemunor (free agent) and Matt Feiler (expected release). 

Eluemunor is a former Raven and Patriot who started for the Raiders this year. He's 28 and has played mostly RG and RT in his career. He saw limited action prior to 2020, but had a 75.3 grade this season in 940 snaps. The biggest negative was that he had 10 penalties in 17 starts. He's projected to get a deal in the 3.5-4m range, and while he's not top tier guy, he's definitely adequate as a starter and a huge improvement as depth.

Matt Feiler is a the former Steelers linemen who is projected by most LA beat writers to be released by the Chargers. He had a very tough start to last year in his 2nd season there, but got better as the year went along, although never looking quite as good as previous years. He's a guy I really wanted the Bengals to sign a couple years ago because he can plat LG, RG and RT. He knows AFC North football and he shouldn't cost much...maybe a 1 yr 4-5m type of deal. 

This would allow them to move on from Collins at the soonest they're able to, and allow Eluemunor and Feiler to battle it out for the RT spot, with the guy who doesn't win providing tremendous depth and versatility...something that the line definitely needs, addressing 2 needs relatively cheaply, and also giving you insurance if Volson struggles.

Then, you could grab a guy like Carter Warren from Pitt to groom at LT. It opens up the draft, and doesn't force the Bengals to pick a lineman early...which is probably a good thing considering recent history.