I’ll be happy with either chase or Sewell. I think it comes down to which unit the team is more comfortable going into the season with as it stands and honestly I think they are happy with the line they have. Not saying they don’t want to improve it but I get the sense they would happily strut out Jonah, Xavier, trey, Spain and Reiff. I could be way off but I just get that feeling they are satisfied. I feel they are way less confident in the wide receiver room.

I have been going back and forth between Chase and Sewell but lately I'm really hoping we take Chase.
As others have stated and from what I have read, the OL class is very deep this year and I would be happy to go OL in the 2nd & 3rd round but the WR class isn't that deep. I know we have Higgins, Boyd, Tate and Thomas but I really feel like we need a difference maker
Another big factor for me is getting Pollack back

(04-16-2021, 12:57 AM)bengaloo Wrote: In almost any other year I would already be ready to order my Chase jersey. But as I was saying in another thread. Higgins had 900 yards last year and Boyd had over 840. Higgins would've no doubt went over 1000 yards in his rookie season if Burrow didnt get hurt. He would've been one of 3 rookie WR's to get 1000+ since 2005. I think Boyd would've went over 1000 as well. So, imo we already have two pro bowl or borderline pb caliber WR's on the team right now. We have nothing like that on the OL. Not one. How many 1000 yard type WR's do we really need especially if we want be able to run again?

I was wondering the same thing.  If we draft Chase, how do you pay all 3 WR's if they all have 1,000 yard seasons?  Or, who gets the heave ho?
You would have two of them on their rookie deals so that would help.  Secondly, if you're going with a pass-happy offense, what happens to Mixon and the big contract that he just signed last year?  Does he get cut to help pay for the WR's?  I think it's senseless to pay him that much money if he can't get yards behind an OL that can't run block.

Also, would we even need to spend much money on the OL if they didn't need to run block well?  Right now we're ranked 24th in spending on the OL because we do have a lot of backups playing as starters.  If Chase is drafted, hopefully Pollack can salvage what we do have to keep Burrow upright long enough to hit an open receiver.  Somebody should be open if you have Chase, Boyd and Higgins all on the field at the same time.
I think it's risky, but I'm thinking that's exactly what Taylor is going to do.

To me, the whole drafting issue boils down to the following:

1) We need OL

2) We need WR

3) The OL class this year is both high quality and VERY deep.

4) The WR class this year is high quality at the top but with little depth.

From these points the course of action would seem to be go WR first then OL because the depth of the OL class means good OL will be there in Rd 2. Of course, I would rather we traded back up into 1 as the “top” OL I think fits us best is Vera Tucker.

(04-15-2021, 10:33 PM)CanadianBengal Wrote: I love Chase --would love him on the Bengals but when I think about our OLine I simply cannot justify passing on an elite offensive lineman. So if you are committed to drafting Chase --please explain how you think the OLine will give Burrows enough time to use the weapons he will have.

Here is my assessment of the line --please share yours

Williams is average but getting better and a long term piece.Reif is solid but signed for one year.

Hopkins is below average and coming back from an injury.

Spain, XSF are back ups. XSF was a back-up for Dallas, he signed for a back-up salary. Spain was cut by Buffalo during the year when they had title hopes. He just resigned for a back up salary. Which means the Bengals, the other teams and the player all accept that at least for this year --they look like a back up. If they or other teams thought they were starters --they wouldn't have signed for back-up salary

Pollack is better than Turner --but we had Pollack before and the line was not great. So why do we believe he can turn poor players into sound players?

I think because we watched Turner coach Redmond, Hart and Jordan --we overvalue Pollack, Spain and XSF.

Sewell or Slater become our best OLineman. They guarantee we have three strong OLineman. Waiting to round two is just to great a risk for me.

Love to hear your argument

I'm not #TeamChase, but I am #TeamPitts, so I guess we can be clumped together as #TeamPassCatcher.

If we give the weather analogy to players, here's my weather forecast for each of the expected starters:
- Jonah Williams - Partly cloudy, could be sunny
- Trey Hopkins - Cloudy as a run blocker, sunny as a pass blocker
- Riley Reiff - Mix of sunny and partly cloudy, but not expected to stick around long term
- XSF and Spain - Cloudy with a chance to be partly cloudy (could just need more acclimation to this scheme)

In terms of the draft, Any first round OL I would expect to come in immediately as partly cloudy with a high chance of being sunny.
Any OL picked at 38 I would expect to come in cloudy to partly cloudy as a rookie, chance to become sunny down the road.
Any OL picked in Rd 3 I would expect to come in cloudy or maybe some scattered showers, chance to become partly cloudy down the road.
Any Day 3 pick I expect to be rainy early on but hopefully clear up more year-by-year.

I don't think the OL has to be fully sunny for the offense to succeed, but they need to mostly be at least partly cloudy. 1 or maybe 2 can be cloudy.

So basically, I think the Bengals will be fine with Williams and Reiff at OT, Hopkins at C, and one of Spain or XSF at one OG spot with a Day 2 draft pick holding down the other OG spot.
The Bengals also could use a replacement for Reiff set to take over in 2022, which I think can be done with a Day 2 pick who is groomed for a year.
Any Day 3 pick I would expect to be a pure backup this year and probably for an extra year (or two) beyond that.

The biggest concern for me is we don't know if Sewell/Slater or Jonah would re-sign as a right tackle. So if they wont then either way we wasted a top 10 pick on an olineman that walks.

(04-15-2021, 10:40 PM)Big Boss Wrote: Because the draft is more than one round and the team will presumably draft guys from a deep offensive line class and hand them off to a better coach than the clown we had the last two years.

This.

And it needs to be said a lot it seems. We can Draft 7 OL after Chase, I think we could find some gems.

(04-16-2021, 12:21 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Well, I can only speak for myself, but I promise to jump right on board with you guys if we make a surprise choice and go with the big Samoan.

I am with Nicomo as well. We take Sewell and I am happy right along with all the Chase/Pitts haters.

(04-16-2021, 11:14 AM)2MinutesHate Wrote: I was wondering the same thing.  If we draft Chase, how do you pay all 3 WR's if they all have 1,000 yard seasons?  Or, who gets the heave ho?
You would have two of them on their rookie deals so that would help.  Secondly, if you're going with a pass-happy offense, what happens to Mixon and the big contract that he just signed last year?  Does he get cut to help pay for the WR's?  I think it's senseless to pay him that much money if he can't get yards behind an OL that can't run block.

Also, would we even need to spend much money on the OL if they didn't need to run block well?  Right now we're ranked 24th in spending on the OL because we do have a lot of backups playing as starters.  If Chase is drafted, hopefully Pollack can salvage what we do have to keep Burrow upright long enough to hit an open receiver.  Somebody should be open if you have Chase, Boyd and Higgins all on the field at the same time.
I think it's risky, but I'm thinking that's exactly what Taylor is going to do.

Here is when each would hit FA:
Boyd - 2024
Higgins - 2024
Chase - 2026 (assuming the Bengals use the 5th year option)

Boyd will be 29 years old when he hits FA.

So my expectation would be that in 2024, the Bengals might either move on from Boyd or give him just a 2 year deal such that they aren't paying three WRs top dollar when Chase hits FA.

(04-16-2021, 04:47 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Here is when each would hit FA:
Boyd - 2024
Higgins - 2024
Chase - 2027 (assuming the Bengals use the 5th year option)

Boyd will be 29 years old when he hits FA.

So my expectation would be that in 2024, the Bengals might either move on from Boyd or give him just a 2 year deal such that they aren't paying three WRs top dollar when Chase hits FA.

Sounds good as this was my question as well if we take Chase. Thanks Ocho.

A real off-season will be huge being able to get the Offensive Line working together earlier than August.

(04-16-2021, 04:52 PM)Synric Wrote: A real off-season will be huge being able to get the Offensive Line working together earlier than August.

No doubt, plus guys like Spain and XSF actually being able to get into the system.

Spain was brought in in the middle of the season on a Thursday and started on Sunday for heck sake.

I say considering this he played well.

Thanks

I can definitely get behind Chase --probably could get behind Pitts but less excited about a TE than WR. My dream scenario is swapping the fifth with Denver (this may be an option if SF take Jones at 3 leaving Lance and Fields to go 4 and 5. I like the idea of grabbing Slater at 9 and then getting Batemon/Brown and Creed in second round.

Last year's draft was exciting because we knew we were getting Burrows. This year is also super exciting because we are getting an elite talent!

And ESPN won't cut to commercial right before the Bengals pick for a change

(04-15-2021, 10:33 PM)CanadianBengal Wrote: I love Chase --would love him on the Bengals but when I think about our OLine I simply cannot justify passing on an elite offensive lineman. So if you are committed to drafting Chase --please explain how you think the OLine will give Burrows enough time to use the weapons he will have.

Here is my assessment of the line --please share yours

Williams is average but getting better and a long term piece.Reif is solid but signed for one year.

Hopkins is below average and coming back from an injury.

Spain, XSF are back ups. XSF was a back-up for Dallas, he signed for a back-up salary. Spain was cut by Buffalo during the year when they had title hopes. He just resigned for a back up salary. Which means the Bengals, the other teams and the player all accept that at least for this year --they look like a back up. If they or other teams thought they were starters --they wouldn't have signed for back-up salary

Pollack is better than Turner --but we had Pollack before and the line was not great. So why do we believe he can turn poor players into sound players?

I think because we watched Turner coach Redmond, Hart and Jordan --we overvalue Pollack, Spain and XSF.

Sewell or Slater become our best OLineman. They guarantee we have three strong OLineman. Waiting to round two is just to great a risk for me.

Love to hear your argument

Williams had an excellent year and proved he can play at a high level at LT in the nfl. He is an ascending talent.

Hopkins is an average run blocker to below average and an above average pass blocker.

Xsf and Spain are OK guards.

3 of these 4 players could be upgraded. Probably won’t happen all in this draft.

I’m team Pittschasesewell. Picking chase makes sense because of the deep talent available in this draft, and there is a big drop off between round 1 and the rest.

Selecting Sewell is an excellent pick to help an offensive line talent improve. The talent between rounds though...isn’t so steep.

I get either selection. I’ll be excited with either. Just get it right.

(04-16-2021, 05:26 PM)CanadianBengal Wrote: Thanks

I can definitely get behind Chase --probably could get behind Pitts but less excited about a TE than WR. My dream scenario is swapping the fifth with Denver (this may be an option if SF take Jones at 3 leaving Lance and Fields to go 4 and 5. I like the idea of grabbing Slater at 9 and then getting Batemon/Brown and Creed in second round.

Last year's draft was exciting because we knew we were getting Burrows. This year is also super exciting because we are getting an elite talent!

And ESPN won't cut to commercial right before the Bengals pick for a change

The only good thing about being bad, we get to see our pick live lol

I am on team Sewell because we need to protect the family jewels (Burrow).

And because we really do not have a competent backup at ANY OL spot.

However, we do need a WR1 and while the draft has some WR depth, most of that depth is slot/jitterbug types once you get past Bateman & Marshall, who are likely gone by 38.

I will say, if we do go Chase (or Pitts), I'd prefer an elite IOL prospect over a middling OT prospect.

If I had my druthers, I'd do what Miami did. Trade down, then up. Net an extra first (future) and at least an extra 2nd & 3rd, with one being this year.

I'd still go Sewell/Slater (at say 7 or 8), then I might try and trade up using my extra 2nd to nab Bateman. Or stay put and nab IOL + BPA in Rd 2.

I'm now in favor of drafting Chase.

Bet the pick at the casino today so if I'm going to hate it might as well make money.

Also bet the under on wins based on the team as it is plus drafting Chase so more money.

Then there is the best news. After winning both bets and a terrible season Lou and Taylor will finally be gone.

It's a Trifecta.

Plus, it gives me plenty of reasons to check on the Jags on Sunday to see how Lawrence is progressing.

I'll be happy with any of the 3 guys we seem to think we may take... If it's down to 2 now; so be it. I just think that between Sewell, Chase, and Pitts... Sewell has the best chance to be not as advertised in the NFL.

(04-16-2021, 05:26 PM)CanadianBengal Wrote: Thanks

I can definitely get behind Chase --probably could get behind Pitts but less excited 

Oh, really? I didn't think this was THAT type of forum!

It’s simple.We simply have a better lineup on the O-line this year as opposed to last year.XSF is a pretty good lineman.New coach will benefit him.Spain is an above average lineman,when healthy.You need to look at Spain’s PFF grades prior to 2020.For instnance,in 2019,he played in all 16 games,every offensive snap.4 penalties,0 sacks allowed.I’m fine with this lineup,and this new coach.O-line is second deepest position in this upcoming draft.There will plenty of talent there after Sewell.I question the level of talent Sewell played against as opposed to Chase.Plus Sewell is very young and very raw.I think he was only 19 years old when he played his last college game.Chase on the other hand will be an immediate impact player.Chase is the highest rated WR by practically every NFL analyst.This guy is a generational talent.The Bengals cannot afford to pass him up if he is there at 5.Best player available??? I would rate him as the most talented.Not only among wide receivers,but in the entire draft.And that includes Pitts.