03-02-2024, 04:08 PM
(02-29-2024, 09:16 AM)SunsetBengal Wrote: That would be fantastic if he were able to defy the odds for a second time, with pretty much the same injury. However, every incident is unique in it's own way and might present complications that weren't present the first time he rehabbed a similar injury. Also worth mentioning that he's now three years older, and has put his body through a lot of battles between then and now, which also might cause him to need the traditional amount of recovery time.
However, he's currently not even under contract. There are no guarantees that his agent will be willing to have Reader to sign for a "let's see how this rehab goes" type of contract. The Bengals were needing to think about restocking the NT shelf even before DJ went down with another catastrophic injury, as the guys underneath of him are all pretty much just "bodies".
Bottom line is that if the Bengals are going to improve upon the disastrous year they had in defending the run, they need a serious NT on the roster for training camp. You know that all three of the teams in our division love to run the ball, right?
OK, how to respond? I have largely said my piece here.
First, I am fully aware stopping the run is a necessity. That is why I am arguing for bringing Reader back. And not just on some one year, cheapie, "if the price is right" type of deal. He is the best run stopper out there by a country mile. I would hope the injury would lead to a mildly cheaper deal, but I fully expect it to be around $8-$10 mil year1 vs cap and more in Y2 or Y3.
We still have $34-$36 mil in cap, without cutting (Scott) or restructuring anyone.
Second, the staff & FO seemed to finger the safeties for some of the LB/run defense issues. We had been pretty stout vs the run with the same front 6 before. I think a vet S will go some distance to fixing those problems, or at least improving them. It is a good S FA class, and the glut should mean bargains are possible. Say $6-$8 mil. Plus you get to cut Scott as a result, so now at around $28-$32 mil left.
Third, I am much more concerned about NT come December than I am in June. I think Tupou (UFA), can be brought back for MIN salary. He is not great but we can
DT & RT still need addressed. And even if you want to lock in at one at #18 (CB or Bowers are your other options), I am not sure I want to count on a rook to protect Burrow's blind side. Latham or Fuaga I am OK with it, but both could be gone by #18. Mims or Guyton? I might want a stopgap RT. Murphy is probably gone at #18.
Outside of Onwenu, none of the FA OT prospects would make me pass on a stud RT prospect (Fuaga, Latham, Guyton, Mims). One of whom WILL be there at #18. Bowers would if I have a stopgap (Smith, Brown, Eluemunor) in hand, but I seriously doubt he is there. Plus, landing a stopgap FA will be harder if they know we are likely to go OT at #18.
For the sake of argument, let us plug in OT at #18. Committ to Sweat/Jackson at #49. And assume Tee stays, Reader is inked and back sometime, and we land a vet S for around what I guessed earlier.
What does FA have to look like to make me feel comfortable doing that?
1. We have to land a DT who can upgrade Carter & rush the passer. If we haven't, I draft DT instead of NT Rd2 (if not CB/WR).
Leonard Williams would be my pick. $15 mil. Roughly $15 mil left in piggy bank.
I do not trust Rd4 to get a starter level guy at TE/WR3/CB4. That means I need FA to take 2 off the board. Or OT. Or more Day 2 picks.
I'd be more comfortable living with Tupou/Jordan Jefferson at NT until DJ comes back, with Williams & Hill playing some NT, than relying on a Rd4 pick at WR3/TE1/CB4.
Obviously, YM has varied. Which is fine.
