My realistic best-case scenario for improving the roster

[*SHRacerX*]

(01-27-2017, 02:52 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: When I say realistic, I'm taking into account how the Bengals do things. I'm not going to forecast them signing Bell and Berry in free agency.

1 ) We draft 2 starters in the draft. (Typically we don't draft any Day 1 starters so this is a big improvement.) I'll say we add Rueben Foster and a starting C that is an upgrade to Bodine.

2 ) We keep Zeitler and Whitworth and leave Kirkpatrick leave. The salary cap keeps rising and Whitworth will only be here 1 or 2 more years so it's doable. (Offensive line is Whitworth, Boling, Zeitler, Drafted C, Fisher.)

3 ) Maualuga is waived.

4 ) Jackson and Vigil become starters. Billings becomes a solid rotation player at DT. (Linebackers are Vigil, Foster, and Burfict.)

5 ) We add a guy in the 2nd Round with the pick obtained at #7 that can pass rush from the DE spot. He's not a starter Year 1, but a situational rusher.

6 ) Sign Stephon Gilmore or Prince Amakumara to be a starting CB. (Amakumara signed a 1 year $5.5 million deal with the Jaguars. We paid Kirkpatrick around $7.5 million...so it's doable.) I like Ross Cockrell from the Steelers also.

7 ) Trade McCarron for a 2nd and 4th Round pick.

8 ) Retain Lafell and Burkhead. Rely on Boyd and Core to continue development at WR. Let Burkhead, Hill, and Bernard compete for snaps. Ideally the offensive line is improved with a Center.

9 ) Draft a QB that you can develop somewhere in the 3rd to 5th Round.

10 ) Draft a kicker. Hold a competition in camp to see who can win the job.

11 ) Sign Nick Fairley. He has signed back to back 1 year deals...and has played well. Offer him a 2-3 year deal. We'd then pair Fairley with Atkins with Billings, Thompson, and Sims as the backups.

12 ) Bring in a veteran TE like Vernon Davis. I feel like our offense needs more experience at backup at that position.

13 ) Bring in a coverage safety like DJ Swearinger to compete with Williams at S. On some downs, move Williams down like a LB to add speed to the defense.

1.) I am not in the Reuben Foster camp, nor do I wish to use a first round pick on a LB when they already have Burfict and Vigil for nickel, which is 70% of their snaps.  I am more than supportive of a Center in the second round.

2.) I will be the minority here and say that Zeitler will be let go.  $10 million a year is just too much to pay a good, but not dominant player.  Dre and Whit must be re-signed, and I would also try to sign Sexy.

3.) It isn't the Bengals style to terminate a contract early, but I would have no problem with this...a short-yardage, goalline player at best.  

4.) Agree with everything except Foster.  I would take a later round selection on a LB to develop....Vinny Rey is a very capable rotational player.

5.) I'm looking at Thomas from Stanford, Barnett from Tennessee, but in Rd 1.  Pass rush from the RDE spot is a huge vacancy right now.

6.) The Bengals will likely draft another CB in the middle rounds to try and develop for depth, but right now, I would go with WJIII, Dre, Dennard, Russell, and Shaw as the swing CB/FS guy.

7.) I would trade McCarron only if they got a fairly high second rounder or higher...use that pick on depth on the offensive line.  There needs to be competition for jobs.

8.) I don't re-sign Lafell...Cody Core is my X next year when they go three-wide....I would look at Galloway as a backup to him (out of Northern Illinois).  

9.) No QB drafted....use the pick on someone like Jake Butt, that has to sit out all year on IR anyway...like a stock, buy low.  They have Driskell who they kept on the roster all year ;ast year.  

10.) Love the Gonzalez kid from ASU.  I would even use a 5th rounder on him to make sure they get him. 

11.) No Nick Fairly, they have Billings and Hardison.  

12.) Any additional TEs means they would have to release Hewitt, Kroft, Uzomah, or Eifert....no more TEs except Butt, on IR. 

13.) I like Derron Smith as the cover guy, and I also like Fej.  WIlliams improved as the year wore on...I like our depth here as well.