03-04-2021, 07:37 PM
(03-04-2021, 03:50 PM)Bengalholic Wrote: Other than Thuney and Scherff (who will both be crazy expensive) and maybe Feiler, who could potentially end up playing G for someone...how many guards out there are better than Jackson?
Better than 2016 Jackson or better than 2021 and 2022 Jackson is likely to be?
I don't think the free agency guard class is very deep this year after the big names but that's not the only pool for recruiting. There's the draft, there may be trade possibilities and then there's likely to be more cap casualties given the cap squeeze. If you want a stopgap someone like old friend Kevin Zeitler may become available and whilst he's older he always kept himself in good shape and I think he may be a better bet to age better than Jackson. Trai Turner struggled with injury last year but he's another potential cap casualty and I think offers a better bet of bouncing back along with being a better scheme fit. Maybe if someone like Greg van Roten who Pollack worked with at the Jets is cut he can provide a similar level of play for less money whilst not blocking a day 2 draft pick and letting you spend money on another position on the line in free agency like Corey Linsey or Taylor Moton (if he isn't tagged) or even trade for Rob Haverstein.
Overpaying for a past his prime Gabe Jackson just seems like the bare minimum move that the Bengals historically like to make. Enough to make them not want to invest a top pick in the draft on the position, enough to show the fans that they are sort of trying but not enough to truly move the needle on the O-line.
