01-30-2021, 04:02 PM
I like to see how creative I can get with managing the offseason and the draft for our beloved Bengals. I did a complete overhaul of the roster. I cut several vets and underwhelming players and signed a few key free agents. Before anyone says that this player or that player is going to go for more, consider that all my signings with exception of some of the smaller ones were in line with projected signings. Carl Lawson is not projected to get anywhere near 15mil/per. I've actually seen a few places peg him in the 8-10mil range so take this into consideration before you get your panties in a bunch and honestly try to enjoy what I did and give me input on what you would like to do as well.
KEY CUTS:
Geno - this hurts as he is my all-time favorite, but at this point, we can't keep him at his cap and age
Gio - good all-around guy who's been underused and is overpaid
Bobby - stinks
XSF - solid stop-gap/backup but not for almost 4mil per year
CJ Uzo - good dude and made plays from time to time, but grossly overpaid
BJ Finney - better pro career than Price, but Price is younger and I'm hoping the signing of Pollack helps him grow as a player
Josh Tupou - Hasn't done much in his time as a pro even though you'd get the vibe that he would flash some talent
RESTRUCTURES:
Trey Waynes - overpaid, but definitely a need
Joe Mixon - great player, but I'd convert some of his salary to a bonus to free up some extra cap
Trey Hopkins - average player at best, good to have, but could be a cut candidate for this, I think a restructure works here.
These moves along with parting ways with a few PS players created 77mil in cap space.
INTERNAL RESIGNINGS:
Carl Lawson - 9.5 per on a 4-year deal. Seen projections of 4yr/35ish so this is a solid deal for a guy who has great ability but still needs to show he can become a dominant player
Mack Alexander - 5.5 per on a 3 year. Projections close to 3yr/18mil. Like that he's a good tackler and tough player. Helps in the slot.
Christian Covington - 1.7mil/yr on a 2-year deal. Solid depth and can come in and give starters a breather
Kevin Huber - 1.8mil/yr on 2 years. Probably finishes out his career after this, but continues to be one of the more consistent punters in the NFL
Brandon Wilson - 1.3mil/yr on a 2-year deal. Great returner, but hasn't shown much as extra safety. Still young and has excellent athleticism.
Samaje Perine - 775k/yr on a 1-year deal. Played well last year once given a chance. Uses this year to prove whether it was a fluke or not.
Brandon Allen - 1.75mil/yr on a 2-year deal. Showed he has some ability to come in when needed. With an improved roster, he could be a very solid backup to Burrow.
Mitchell Wilcox - 575k/yr on a 1-year deal. Had promise coming out of college last year as a UDFA. Gets a chance to show if he's a capable backup.
KEY OUTSIDE FREE AGENTS:
Taylor Moton - 14.5mil/yr on a 4-year deal. Finally a good offensive lineman at RT. Young and gives us two talented tackles that start.
Joe Thuney - 13mil/yr on a 5-year deal. Ohio boy that is very durable and solid in all aspects. Comes home to Ohio to help protect Joe and does it a lesser value than his projected 13.9. Pair him next to Jonah and this is a good thing.
Ryan Kerrigan - 7mil/yr on a 2-year deal. He's going to be 33, but he would bring tremendous value not only as a pass rusher but as a vet who could help the younger guys. Not sure about his market value, but I have a hard time seeing anything above 9-10 mil unless it is a 1 year deal.
Gareon Conley - 4.5mil/yr on a 2-year deal. Hard to project what he gets. Draft only a few seasons ago and has already been traded. Has a ton of athleticism, but needs to prove he can be more than what he is.
I've done a number of mock drafts and wouldn't have anything against getting Sewell, Slater, or Darrisaw in the first, but due to addressing the line in free agency, I was able to open up my draft to try and address other needs.
17.
- traded back to try and load up on a few extra picks. Dude is a matchup nightmare, WR with the build of a TE. He would open up the field so much for Boyd and Higgins and he's the type of player that could help Burrow become great.
38.
- was hoping for Creed Humphrey, but he went a couple picks ahead. Collins gives us an explosive athlete that can cover rb's and TE's as well as rush the passer. Seen as a mid to late 1st rounder so this is great value here.
43.
- our first pass-rusher of the draft. Has good size and is quick. Can rotate in with Kerrigan and Hubbard as well as play outside in a 3-4 if we go that route.
48.
- Good consolation for not getting Humphrey. One of the better interior lineman in the draft and allows us to move Trey to backup C/G
69.
- Second pass-rusher drafted. We had a problem creating pressure and sacks this year which meant our LB's and secondary had to play even better. Jones is one of the top pass-rushers in this year's draft and gives us a better rotation which we saw how effective our line was back in '15 when we had a great season.
78.
105.
- Mississippi has a recent history of producing super athletic WR's. Elijah Moore is next in line. Gives us a great compliment to our WR core. Body, Higgins, Pitts, Tate, Sample, and Moore screams depth and matchup nightmares.
128.
-reminds me of an Aaron Donald/Geno Atkins hybrid. Produces a great interior pass rush which helps our DE's get more 1v1's.
136.
- And the next pass rusher on our roster is Toney. A guy who may need a 1 or 2 to groom, but could be a nice replacement for Kerrrigan or Hubbard should they Retire/Leave.
169.
- smooth CB to add to a pretty decent group. Takes over for Phillips if he leaves after this year.
201.
- depth along the line.
208.
- gives us some competition amongst the backup rb's.
KEY CUTS:
Geno - this hurts as he is my all-time favorite, but at this point, we can't keep him at his cap and age
Gio - good all-around guy who's been underused and is overpaid
Bobby - stinks
XSF - solid stop-gap/backup but not for almost 4mil per year
CJ Uzo - good dude and made plays from time to time, but grossly overpaid
BJ Finney - better pro career than Price, but Price is younger and I'm hoping the signing of Pollack helps him grow as a player
Josh Tupou - Hasn't done much in his time as a pro even though you'd get the vibe that he would flash some talent
RESTRUCTURES:
Trey Waynes - overpaid, but definitely a need
Joe Mixon - great player, but I'd convert some of his salary to a bonus to free up some extra cap
Trey Hopkins - average player at best, good to have, but could be a cut candidate for this, I think a restructure works here.
These moves along with parting ways with a few PS players created 77mil in cap space.
INTERNAL RESIGNINGS:
Carl Lawson - 9.5 per on a 4-year deal. Seen projections of 4yr/35ish so this is a solid deal for a guy who has great ability but still needs to show he can become a dominant player
Mack Alexander - 5.5 per on a 3 year. Projections close to 3yr/18mil. Like that he's a good tackler and tough player. Helps in the slot.
Christian Covington - 1.7mil/yr on a 2-year deal. Solid depth and can come in and give starters a breather
Kevin Huber - 1.8mil/yr on 2 years. Probably finishes out his career after this, but continues to be one of the more consistent punters in the NFL
Brandon Wilson - 1.3mil/yr on a 2-year deal. Great returner, but hasn't shown much as extra safety. Still young and has excellent athleticism.
Samaje Perine - 775k/yr on a 1-year deal. Played well last year once given a chance. Uses this year to prove whether it was a fluke or not.
Brandon Allen - 1.75mil/yr on a 2-year deal. Showed he has some ability to come in when needed. With an improved roster, he could be a very solid backup to Burrow.
Mitchell Wilcox - 575k/yr on a 1-year deal. Had promise coming out of college last year as a UDFA. Gets a chance to show if he's a capable backup.
KEY OUTSIDE FREE AGENTS:
Taylor Moton - 14.5mil/yr on a 4-year deal. Finally a good offensive lineman at RT. Young and gives us two talented tackles that start.
Joe Thuney - 13mil/yr on a 5-year deal. Ohio boy that is very durable and solid in all aspects. Comes home to Ohio to help protect Joe and does it a lesser value than his projected 13.9. Pair him next to Jonah and this is a good thing.
Ryan Kerrigan - 7mil/yr on a 2-year deal. He's going to be 33, but he would bring tremendous value not only as a pass rusher but as a vet who could help the younger guys. Not sure about his market value, but I have a hard time seeing anything above 9-10 mil unless it is a 1 year deal.
Gareon Conley - 4.5mil/yr on a 2-year deal. Hard to project what he gets. Draft only a few seasons ago and has already been traded. Has a ton of athleticism, but needs to prove he can be more than what he is.
I've done a number of mock drafts and wouldn't have anything against getting Sewell, Slater, or Darrisaw in the first, but due to addressing the line in free agency, I was able to open up my draft to try and address other needs.
17.
Kyle Pitts
TE Florida- traded back to try and load up on a few extra picks. Dude is a matchup nightmare, WR with the build of a TE. He would open up the field so much for Boyd and Higgins and he's the type of player that could help Burrow become great.
38.
Zaven Collins
LB Tulsa- was hoping for Creed Humphrey, but he went a couple picks ahead. Collins gives us an explosive athlete that can cover rb's and TE's as well as rush the passer. Seen as a mid to late 1st rounder so this is great value here.
43.
Jaelan Phillips
EDGE Miami (FL)- our first pass-rusher of the draft. Has good size and is quick. Can rotate in with Kerrigan and Hubbard as well as play outside in a 3-4 if we go that route.
48.
Landon Dickerson
OC Alabama- Good consolation for not getting Humphrey. One of the better interior lineman in the draft and allows us to move Trey to backup C/G
69.
Patrick Jones
EDGE Pitt- Second pass-rusher drafted. We had a problem creating pressure and sacks this year which meant our LB's and secondary had to play even better. Jones is one of the top pass-rushers in this year's draft and gives us a better rotation which we saw how effective our line was back in '15 when we had a great season.
78.
Dillon Radunz
OT North Dakota State
- not sure how Dillon projects, but he's been rated between the 2-4th rounds so here we get at worst a solid backup at tackle.105.
Elijah Moore
WR Mississippi
- Mississippi has a recent history of producing super athletic WR's. Elijah Moore is next in line. Gives us a great compliment to our WR core. Body, Higgins, Pitts, Tate, Sample, and Moore screams depth and matchup nightmares.
128.
Jaylen Twyman
DT Pittsburgh-reminds me of an Aaron Donald/Geno Atkins hybrid. Produces a great interior pass rush which helps our DE's get more 1v1's.
136.
Shaka Toney
EDGE Penn State- And the next pass rusher on our roster is Toney. A guy who may need a 1 or 2 to groom, but could be a nice replacement for Kerrrigan or Hubbard should they Retire/Leave.
169.
Deommodore Lenoir
CB Oregon- smooth CB to add to a pretty decent group. Takes over for Phillips if he leaves after this year.
201.
Jordon Scott
DT Oregon- depth along the line.
208.
Brian Robinson
RB Alabama- gives us some competition amongst the backup rb's.
