What will Bengals do re: DE in the draft

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(03-20-2017, 11:35 AM)fredtoast Wrote:  That is a great bargain for a player who is still as productive as MJ

A great bargain would be MJ paying the Bengals, and it somehow returned cap space to the Bengals.  MJ is not a great bargain because a lack of a pass rush from the RDE position in a 4-3 defense that stubbornly rarely blitzes for pressure has a negative effect on the performance of the entire defense.  

The bottom line is that when the opposition has gone maximum protection, the Bengals have no answer.  I never see MJ double-teamed but he rarely gets any pressure despite tremendous opportunities.

I don't think the three DEs the Bengals truly covet (Garrett, Thomas, and Barnett) will still be there at #9, so I could see the Bengals going WR in Rd 1, and then getting a more speed-rushing option to partner with MJ on passing downs. 

We know the Bengals rarely if ever terminate contracts early anyways, so I don't see MJ going anywhere.  Pairing him with a speed rusher, instead of a clone (Clarke) makes more sense.