02-23-2021, 02:27 PM
(02-23-2021, 12:36 PM)TJHoushmandzadeh Wrote: I know you aren't advocating this but Bates for a player and a third or Bates for a second and a third would be truly horrific.
Nobody is giving up a quality O-lineman in a trade for a player - you might at best get a serviceable one or a formerly good one that they want to get rid of (Cordy Glenn MKII) and in case you've forgotten the Bengals last fifteen (15!) 3rd round picks:
Logan Wilson
Germaine Pratt
Sam Hubbard
Malik Jefferson
Jordan Willis
Nick Vigil
Paul Dawson
Tyler Kroft
Will Clarke
Shawn Williams
Brandon Thompson
Mo Sanu
Dontay Moch
Brandon Ghee
Jordan Shipley
You'd want to give up Bates for a 2nd round pick/player they want to bin and a 1 in 5 chance of getting a Hubbard/S Williams/Sanu type player if it pans out?
And the Bengals have zero depth at safety. Other than Bates there is Bell and that's it for safeties under contract.
Bates is ridiculously cheap (even with the performance enhanced pay) in 2021 and the franchise tag for safeties is very affordable ($11m this year) so you could just tag him in 2022 if you can't work out a deal.
To even start conversations the starting point would have to be a first round pick and then something extra. Otherwise this just doesn't make sense from the Bengals' perspective.
LOVE the conversation!
Bates has had one amazing year, one good year, and one so so year. After this season, he will be due an absolute MASSIVE deal. I'm not sure that's a great investment at this point.
I also 100% see the need to add S to the roster. The trade only works if Williams and Wilson come back and another guy is added back there for depth.
My thoughts on the trade came down to....
- Trading him for a cheaper (keeping the Bates upcoming extension in mind here) first rounder AND keeping that money free'd up for a player at more of an immediate, impacting spot may be attractive.
- Trading him for a 2nd and a 3rd might be interesting. Even thought the Bengals 3rd round history isn't incredible, I can't subscribe to the Bengals just physically being unable to draft 3rd rounders.
Plus, this draft is DEEP at O-Line, D-Line, and WR. 2nd & 3rd rounders could yield potential starters at those spots given the talent this year.
- A 2nd & a starter or a 3rd & a starter wouldn't be horrible, either, depending on the player and draft position.
While Bates had an a amazing 2020 season, I'm not in the came that that's repeatable for him. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. His season by season performances have been all over the place. Anyway, I just thought I would have some fun thinking wayyyy outside the box.
Let's be honest, the Bengals need elite talent all over the field. Lawson, Hubbard, & Bates look to be the 3 on D and 1 of them is leaving. Not sure jettisoning another one would be ideal!
