Bengals can create more cap space in 2021, by extending players this week.

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(12-31-2020, 01:34 PM)fredtoast Wrote: But who do you replace him with that is better and cheaper?

Draft picks are a big gamble and even average edge rushers get paid well in free agency.

I am also concerned about his injury history (it was even worse in college) but every player we let walk just creates another hole. We don't have any good players developing to step up.

Honestly? I don't particularly care about the defense this offseason. The vast majority of all draft capital and FA $ needs to be spent on the offense. They already tried spending on defense in FA, and it got them a hurt QB, a bad defense, and a losing record. Surround Burrow with all the OL and offensive weapons you can possibly draft and buy, then worry about defense. 

This league has gotten horribly stilted towards offense, so roll with it. Make sure your future franchise QB is protected and can thrive.

There are 12 teams with 10+ wins right now. 
-10 of those 12 teams are Top-12 in Scoring Offense.
-7 of those 12 teams are Top-12 in Scoring Defense.

Score points first. Then worry about stopping scoring.  


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(Interesting side fact, the Browns are the only 10+ win team this year to not be Top-12 in either.)

(12-31-2020, 01:56 PM)ochocincos Wrote: While Carl Lawson doesn't have a lot of sacks, he has 31 QB Hits this year, which is 2nd in the NFL behind TJ Watt.
He also has 40 total pressures, which nearly double last year's.
For comparison, that's more than Carlos Dunlap or Geno Atkins have had in a season since prior to signing their extensions with the Bengals going into 2018. I can only get numbers for 2018, 2019, and 2020, as that's all that pro-football-reference shows.

Obviously sacks are preferred, but there is value to both hits and hurries.

I'm all for pressures and all that, but at some point you need to tangibly produce. It's been 3 years and he's never finished like his rookie year. If you pressure the passer and slide off him, that isn't getting it done. There's too many QBs who can throw on the move out of the pocket now for that to be enough. 

Paying a 5 sack guy like he's a 12 sack guy because of pressures is going to backfire big time. Even without taking Lawson's injury history into account.