03-20-2017, 11:35 AM
Everydown 4-3 DEs who are strong enough to stop the run and quick enough to rush the passer are first round picks like CBs, LTs, and QBs. They are also one of the most expensive positions to fill in free agency. So it is very possible that the Bengals use the #9 pick on that position.
But it is also possible that the bengals could acquire a guy who is more of an edge rush specialist who would play in a rotation on passing downs. Even though Marvin has not had much luck finding one of these guys lately (Chris Carter, Dontay Moch) he has a history of looking for them (David Pollack, Ahmad Brooks, even Michael Johnson was a 265 lb DE/LB hybrid his first two seasons). Used to these guys would switch back and forth between DE and OLB, but now they just run in a new player on passing situations. The thing about these smaller guys is that they can be found in the second and third rounds instead of being so rare they are a "first round position".
Michael Johnson was still just 29 at the end of the '16 season and is under contract 2 more years for a total of only $8.1 million. That is a great bargain for a player who is still as productive as MJ, but I think he would be even better if he played fewer snaps. And we could upgrade the pass rush by bringing in a speed guys on passing downs.
So my position is. If the Bengals want an every down DE to immediately replace MJ then they need to do it with the #9 pick, but if they want to get a speed guy to rotate in on passing downs they can get one later in the draft.
The Poll question is "What do you think the BENGALS will do?" but you are free to expound on what YOU think they should do.
But it is also possible that the bengals could acquire a guy who is more of an edge rush specialist who would play in a rotation on passing downs. Even though Marvin has not had much luck finding one of these guys lately (Chris Carter, Dontay Moch) he has a history of looking for them (David Pollack, Ahmad Brooks, even Michael Johnson was a 265 lb DE/LB hybrid his first two seasons). Used to these guys would switch back and forth between DE and OLB, but now they just run in a new player on passing situations. The thing about these smaller guys is that they can be found in the second and third rounds instead of being so rare they are a "first round position".
Michael Johnson was still just 29 at the end of the '16 season and is under contract 2 more years for a total of only $8.1 million. That is a great bargain for a player who is still as productive as MJ, but I think he would be even better if he played fewer snaps. And we could upgrade the pass rush by bringing in a speed guys on passing downs.
So my position is. If the Bengals want an every down DE to immediately replace MJ then they need to do it with the #9 pick, but if they want to get a speed guy to rotate in on passing downs they can get one later in the draft.
The Poll question is "What do you think the BENGALS will do?" but you are free to expound on what YOU think they should do.
