Besides Burrow

[*ochocincos*]

(02-03-2020, 02:13 AM)J24 Wrote: The Bengals have reason for optimism
1.) AJ is coming back and he will solidify the rest of the offense. It allows Boyd to be a natural 2 and Ross as a 3. 
2.) Jonah Williams will be our LT. A lot of people forget that he was expected to have a Quinton Nelson like impact to our Offensive line this past season. People are going to role there eyes but it is like we're going to get to top 15 picks next season at the most two critical positions.
3.) Joe Mixon was playing lights out during the second half of last season. If we can get that production for an entire season it will make Joe's rookie campaign a lot easier.
4.) The defense. It improved immensely after the home loss to Baltimore especially the D- line. With Hubbard, Dunlap, and Lawson we have some of the better pass rushers in the NFL. Pratt looked like a top level LB at the end of last season. Yes there questions about the unit but there was enough positives to think that 2020 could be a good season for them.

If AJ does return and doesn't put up over 1100 yards and 6 TDs, it will be considered a disappointment in my book.
For the contract he'll likely sign, you expect him to be one of the top receivers in the league.

Also, Bengals have to look for a new WR1 either in this draft or next year's draft. Boyd is a great WR2 but he's not a WR1. Ross isn't consistent enough to be a WR1 or WR2 yet.

Regarding defense, I could see the Bengals re-signing Vigil, as he did improve once Preston Brown was gone. As I've said before, he's a decent LB3. The Bengals need to get a LB (or two) via outside FA given the weakness of this LB draft class as whole. Outside of Simmons and maybe Murray, the rest have some big question marks. Definitely worth taking one in the middle rounds though for depth.
The Bengals also need to draft a true 3T to rotate with Atkins. If Atkins is ever down, the interior pass rush will suffer significantly.