Free Agency Approach

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(02-06-2024, 04:39 PM)Whatever Wrote: Guys like Fant and Henry are not going to sign here to be a TE2 behind Schultz.

Coming away with four Day 1 starters in the draft really isn't realistic.

If they're a starter and they're getting paid, they sure would. Playing time and money are the two things that matter and as long as those are met, guys will sign. If it's a winning team that makes it all that much of an easier sell. I mean, Henry signed with the Patriots 1 day after they signed Jonnu Smith, Jonnu got 1 more year on his contract than Henry at the same yearly amount and Henry still signed.

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Literally anyone can be a Day 1 starter as long as they are draft eligible. Coming away with 4 quality Day 1 starters is tough, and I don't expect them to do that. 
-We're not a run heavy team, just need someone athletic who can pass block to split carries with Chase Brown.
-The WR2 is going to be the 4th option in the passing game if you sign 2 starting caliber TEs to go with Chase, maybe 5th if you include the RBs. Run deep routes.
-The RT I don't have a ton of faith in the Bengals ability to draft and sign but that just basically has to happen. Hopefully in the 1st round.
-The NT, there seems to be like 5 guys in the NFL who are elite talents at NT, and then there seems to be an absolute sea of just guys. Just a guy will have to do, he will be surrounded by 3 paid DL and 2 paid LBs. Eat blocks, our run defense can't really be worse than 2023.

I don't think we've had a $16m+ cap hit since AJ Green's franchise tag and now we have a $20m and almost a $30m (that will jump to $46m in 2025). You're going to have some spots that aren't going to be quite as fixed as you hope. The goal now is just to make sure that Burrow is protected and has enough around him to succeed while the rest of the team isn't terrible, in that order of priority. They're going to need to hit on draft picks if they want anything more than that.