The Bengals currently have around 25 million in cap space. If they were to cut Germain Pratt, they'd free up an additional 5 million putting them at around 30 million in cap space. That would put us NEAR the top 10 in 2025 cap space.

So, my question is this...what are they going to do with it?

There are basically three options, they could use it to continue to sure up the roster (sign a vet guard like Scherff), they could use it on an extension/raise (Trey), or they could roll it over to next year. 

I'd find it very disheartening if they were to roll a bunch of cap space over in a Super Bowl window with so many holes on their roster, especially going into the draft. They could have used that money to fill holes which would have freed up the draft that much more.

Either way, let's hope they continue adding to the roster. There are still FAs out there that could really help this team.

Offense = 25

QB (2): Burrow, Browning
RB (4): Brown, Perine, Moss, Brooks*
WR (6): Chase, Higgins, Iosivas, Jones, Williams, Burton
TE (4): Gesicki, Sample, Grandy, McLachlan
OT (3): Brown, Mims, Rivers*
G (4): Ford, Patrick, Volson, Fairchild*
C (2): Karras, Lee
----------------
Defense = 25
DE (5): Hendrickson, Ossai, Murphy, Johnson, Stewart*
DT (5): Hill, Slaton, Jenkins, Jackson, Sample
LB (6): Wilson, Pratt, Burks, Njongmeta, Knight*, Carter*
CB (5): CTB, Hill, Turner, Newton, Ivey
S (4): Stone, Battle, Anderson, Anthony
---------------
Special Teams = 3
PK: McPherson
P: Rehkow
LS: Adomitis

I'm looking for big things if we break camp looking like that.

Now that I’ve had a couple days to digest the picks and see the direction it appears Golden is taking the defense, either my light bulb came on or I’m still in the dark.

The bengals hired golden on January 23. Pratt requested a trade on February 12. I don’t find this to be a coincidence. Some analysts have assumed it Pratt being unhappy with Lou leaving. That may be part of it, but I don’t think there is much love lost between the two. I, and probably others in here, have heard rumblings about Wilson as well.

Now if golden is moving to more of a 4-3-4 the signing of burks and the drafting of two linebackers makes sense. Now I don’t want this to turn into a bash the draft thread. I have never been fully sold on battle. I think stone disappointed last year. I read somewhere on here earlier someone commenting on how slow he looked. In my unlearned opinion I would think we need at least faster guy back there.

I know a lot of us are hoping for a veteran guard, I’d like to see an upgrade at safety brought in too.

On a side note the colts lost lb ej speed to free agency. I don’t know that signed one. They didn’t draft one. I don’t know if love has any interest in having Pratt on the colts. Too bad they didn’t send us something for him on draft day.

The draft targeted several glaring holes on the roster, yet a few (Safety, CB depth, starting RG, WR depth) remain. Who would you like to see the Bengals sign ? address needs?

My personal choices are Justin Simmons and one of Brandon Scherff/Dalton Risner. Simmons played well last year, and has been a perennial Pro Bowler/upper tier safety. Risner or Scherff would solidify RG and allow Patrick to serve in the swing role. After Pratt gets released there should be money to do a deal or two.

Listen up, we've had enough of BOTH of your shit. The message board, dating all the way back to the Mother Ship days has always been a place for ALL Bengal fans to freely express their thoughts and opinions on all things Bengals. Lately the banter between the extremely positive outlook fans and the negative outlook fans has become rather volatile. It needs to end.

If you cannot communicate in a fashion that is cordial and polite, then simply choose not to communicate. If the personal attacks, name calling and harsh rhetoric continue, then disciplinary sanctions are going to start happening. That is all.

I want to take my nephew to a training camp practice, when do they release the schedule for that?

This is for last year:
https://www.bengals.com/team/trainingcamp

Also what's the best place to stay in? Looks like The Westin is fairly close.

I've seen some people post their grades in various threads.  Thought I'd make a poll for a more central location.

I appreciate the discussion and knowledge shared from those that participated here during this years draft.  

Now that the Bengals draft is done...all thoughts turn to the UDFA class. Last season they didn't formally announce this part of the newcomers until after Rookie Camp so until then all we will have is rumors

Rahj Brooks a 5-9, 214, RB from Texas Tech had 2 1500-yard seasons. He was among the fastest RBs in the shuttle run, I could see him competing for KR/PR

Rivers from Miami is a swing G/T