Hernandez cleared.

https://www.profootballrumors.com/2025/07/g-will-hernandez-receives-medical-clearance

Come on, Duke, get this done.

(07-29-2025, 01:05 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: I have no inside info, but here is my thinking on the roster, and, obviously, YMMV. 

First off, what is the minimum number we need to carry at each spot? Are there battles for those spots or are they clear cut? Then you have to make decisions on how to allocate the remaining spots on the roster: by player & position. 

Minimums: QB 2, RB 3, WR 5, TE 4, OL 9, DL 9, LB 5, CB 5, S 4, PL 1, P 1, LS 1 = 49. 23 O, 23 D, 3 ST.

That leaves 4 choices for other spots: QB3, RB4, WR 6, TE 5, OL10/11, DL 10/11, LB 6, CB 6, S 5. 

A. QB (2). Burrow; Browning. PS: Ridder.

Signing Ridder and releasing Woodside has some folk believing we could carry 3, or trade Browning to Tenn after Levis' injury. But I think we stick with Browning, he knows the system. If Burrow gets a knock, I'd much rather have Browning forca game ir teo than Ridder. 3 QBs is not impossible, though. Ridder to PS. Thorne is a camp body. 

RB (3). C. Brown, Perine, Brooks. PS: Brightwell. IR/PUP/NFI: Moss.

With Moss on the shelf, this is easy. With him available, keeping 4 is more probable, and I am not sure who the top 3 are if we keep only 3. Brown  obviously, plus I'd say Brooks (who we really like), with Perine & Moss battling for the last spot  which might be RB2, ironically. With Moss' restructure, the savings on cutting him or Perine is virtually identical ($1.242 vs $1.2 mil). I think we like Moss and want to do right by him, he might get IR'd. I don't think Brightwell, Milton, or Conley are serious threats to make the 53. That is a PS battle. If Perine or a healthy Moss are cut, they probably get signed somewhere. 

WR (5). Chsse, Higgins, Iosivas; Burron, C. Jones. PS: I. Williams, Pryor.

First 3 are obvious locks. Burton is as well if his head is on straight, and it looks like it is. I. Williams filled in nicely last year with Jones hurt and Burton AWOL. Both returning punts and in the slot. But I think Sizzle beats him out. 

I go light here with Gesicki & Hudson as de facto WRs, and Burton looking more dependable. Plus, I actually like some of the guys sitting 7 & lower on the depth chart (Pryor, Burgess, Mayes, Tinsley), so even if we loose Williams, I still feel OK about WR6 on the PS. I think we keep 2, or most likely 3 on the PS. Owens & Moore also battling for those spots.

TE (5). D. Sample, Gesicki, Grandy, Hudson, McLachlan. PS: None. 

I hate my decision here. But the one dimensional nature of our top TEs (Sample & Gesicki) and the lack of quality deeper on the roster, makes it too risky not to roster the deputies at each role (Grandy & Hudson). Cannot risk losing them. We rostered McLachlan all year, despite not even getting ST snaps. He was coming off injury, but we fid not want to risk losing him with a cut last year, has that changed? 

If he can play, maybe the dynamic changes. Though I do not know if we see him as more of a blocker or receiver (both?). Or if we decide he cannot play and try and stash him on the PS. Taylor is huge and could be Grandy cover. But I think he is PS at best. McLachlan is de facto PS here. 

Bringing in Fant shows we realize we need help. And him signing would be bad news for Hudson, as he is more of a receiver. Though possibly one of the others as well. Sample gettingvcut would save us $2.75 mil on the cap. Peanuts for the others. 

OL (9). OBJ, Fairchild, Karras, Patrick (G/C), Mims; Ford (T/G), Rivers (T/G), Volson (G), Lee (C/G). PS: Cochran, Kirkland. IR/PUP/NFI: McLaughlin.

I like to have 4 feasible OT options, 4 feasible G options, and 2 feasible C options, and think 3 C's is better. I think I can get there with only 9 guys, though it is easier if Ford isn't a starter, as he is OT3/OG3 for me.

OT: OBJ, Mims; Ford, Rivers
OG: Fairchild, Patrick; Ford, Volson, Rivers, Karras.
C: Karras, Lee, Patrick.

OBJ, Mims, and Karras are lock starters. Fairchild is being given every opportunity to start at LG. RG looks to be a battle between Ford & Patrick. Ford started at LG last year late (for Volson) and played LT and RT. Patrick has played both G spots and C, though he has done better at G. For my money, both guys are ere better suited as versatile backups rather than starters. And I prefer Ford as OT4/OG4 to OT3/OG3, or, heaven forbid, starting. But that is wishing & hoping. They are who we have now. That is clearly our top 6. 

I'd put Volson 7th. He has been LG only as a pro, and was our best run blocker last year  but he just whiffs too much snd was benched late. Peters must have seen something  because he eas not cut. He did restructure his contract, but still, $3 mil for G4 seems a bit pricey, though we'd only save $2.5 mil by cutting him now. I think he is safe unless we sign another FA OL snd need $$$.

Rivers is a lock for the roster. Most projected him as a G in the pros, though he played more OT at the U. We said we are starting him off at OT. If Ford is the starter at RG, that would make Rivers OT3. Either guy as OT3 scares me. But let's see how camp goes. 

Lee did play some as the 6th OL at OT/TE last year, in fact, ALL his snaps were there. I know the previous regime was high on him, but these are new OL coaches. 

We picked up the injured McLaughlin as an UDFA. If he was healthy, I thinknhe makes the 53. He'd have certainly been drafted if mot for the injury. Nation's top C last year in college. 

Speaking of the 53, Kirkland, Cochran, and Stueber were all on it last year. Kirkland before getting hurt (again) and Cochran later. With Cochran even starting a start or two, and playing both sides. Steuber a mid-season pickup that bounced between PS and 53 (got G snaps gere, not OT).

That is 13 guys I think who at least have a shot at the 53, and are NFL level (or at least practice squad worthy). 

Recent signee C Andrew Raym made Carolina's 53 out of camp as an UDFA, but spent most of the year on their PS. 

OT Coker was on our PS and OT Etienne an UDFA out of BYU. Either would be happy to stick on the PS.
-------------------

Damn, this is too long. And likely too early. 

Offensive summary so far: 

24 players: QB 2, RB 3, WR 5, TE 5, OL 9. 

Sketchiest inclusion: McLachlan 
Next sketch: Grandy/Hudson 
Toughest Cut: I. Williams 
Next toughest: Cochran, Kirkland 
Real shot if healthy: Moss, McLaughlin 

Cuts I'd want on my PS for sure, or would be willing to stash on IR/PUP/NFI: Moss (PS/IR), McLaughlin (PS/,IR), PS:  I. Williams, Cochran, Kirkland, Pryor, Ridder. 

I used on of my "extra" spots at TE, and kept McLachlan because we seemed to value him so much last year. I'd love to only keep 4 and use that spot elsewhere (WR6, OL10, RB4, S5, QB3). 

thanks for detailed info on the roster

Moss released, McLaughlin off NFI, cleared to practice.

https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-release-zack-moss-seth-mclaughlin-bengals-roster-update

Looks like 3 RBs. From a cap perspective, we'd have been better releasing him before reworking that contract. But in terms of the human side, it was the right thing to do.

$1.875 mil in dead cap, $1,243,941 in cap savings. Not much over what a replacement guy will cost.

It does show that the guys with reworked vontracts are not safe (Volson). But I think there are special circumstances here. I wonder if Moss retires?

(07-30-2025, 12:27 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: Moss released, McLaughlin off NFI, cleared to practice.

https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-release-zack-moss-seth-mclaughlin-bengals-roster-update

Looks like 3 RBs. From a cap perspective, we'd have been better releasing him before reworking that contract. But in terms of the human side, it was the right thing to do.

$1.875 mil in dead cap, $1,243,941 in cap savings. Not much over what a replacement guy will cost.

It does show that the guys with reworked vontracts are not safe (Volson). But I think there are special circumstances here. I wonder if Moss retires?

you think Mclaughlin sticks on the roster ? 

RB Zack Moss released. C Seth McLaughlin cleared to practice. All now the only player on a PUP/NFI/IR list. 


https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-release-zack-moss-seth-mclaughlin-bengals-roster-update


I wonder if Moss will retire? From a cap perspective, cutting him before the restructure would have saved us a bit more cap. But from a human perspective, giving him some more guarantees was totally the right thing to do. Wish him the best. 


On McLaughlin, not ready to project him to the 53 yet, but I think that is where this is heading (bad news for Mike Lee). 


I believe we are at 90, though that is counting All. If we moved him to PUP/Inactive or IR, we'd have a spot.
----------------------
II.  Current Projected Roster: Signed/Draft = 53

Italics denotes a player with a zero dead cap hit.

Offense = 24
QB (2): Burrow; Browning
RB (3): C. Brown; Perine, Brooks
WR (5): Chase, Higgins, Iosivas; Burton, C. Jones
TE (5): D. Sample; Gesicki, Hudson, Grandy, McLachlan
OT (4): O. Brown, Mims; Ford (T/G), Rivers (OT/G)
G (3): Patrick (G/C), Fairchild, Volson
C (2): Karras (C/G); Lee (C/T/G)
----------------
Defense = 26
DE (6): Hendrickson, Ossai; Stewart, Murphy, C. Sample (DE/DT), C. Johnson
DT (5): BJ Hill, Slaton; Jenkins; Jackson, Bryan
LB (5): L. Wilson, Knight; Burks, Carter, Heyward
CB (6): CTB, D. Hill; Turner, Newton, Ivey, M. Wilson
S (4): Battle, Stone; Anderson, Anthony
---------------
Special Teams = 3
PK: McPherson
P: Rehkow
LS: Adomitis
=================

III.  Injured Reserve = 1 (54)
A. PUP/Active (1)
1. Erick All, TE, (knee). Likely season-ending 2nd surgery.
=============

IV. Signed, Projected Outside 53 = 12 (66)


1.  QB: Ridder
2.  RB: Milton
3.  WR: I. Williams
4.  OT: Cochran
5.  OG/OT: Kirkland
6.  OG/OT: Stueber
7.  C: Raym
8.  DE:  I. Thomas
9.  DT: Agim
10.  LB:  Giles-Harris
11.  LB: Njongmeta
12.  CB: L. Robinson
---------------------

V. Signed to Future's Contracts, Projected Outside the 53 = 11 (77)


These guys do technically take up roster spaces and cap space at the moment. But effectively  they do not, as none of them have any Dead Cap hit if released. These are camp bodies, practice squad types with perhaps a dark horse candidate to make the 53 or two.

But it does give one a better idea if how much space we'd have with a full toster instead of only 44.

#, Pos, Player, # Acc Yrs, Salary, Dead Cap
1. RB Gary Brightwell, 3, $1,100,000, Zero

2. WR Kendric Pryor, 1, $1,030,000, Zero

3. WR Cole Burgess, 0, $840,000, Zero

4. WR Mitchell Tinsley, 1, $960,000, Zero

5. OT Andrew Coker, 0, $840,000, Zero

6. DE: Raymond Johnson III, 1, $960,000, Zero
7. LB Craig Young, 0, $840,000, Zero

8. CB Jalen Davis, 4, $1,030,000, Zero
9. CB Nate Brooks, 0, $960,000, Zero

10. S PJ Jules, 0, $840,000, Zero

11. S Jaylen Key, 0, $840,000, Zero

https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-sign-11-players-to-reserve-future-contracts-bengals-roster-update
--------------

VI. UDFA's: Projected Outside the PS = 13 (90)


1. QB Payton Thorne, Auburn
2. RB: Quali Conley, Arizona
3. WR: Jordan Moore, Duke 
4. WR: Rashod Owens, Oklahoma State
5. WR: Jamoi Mayes, Cincinnati 
6. TE: Kole Taylor, West Virginia
7. OT: Trevor Etienne, BYU
8. C: Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State
9. DT: Eric Gregory, Arkansas
10. DT Howard Cross, Notre Dame
11. CB: Bralyn Lux, Texas Tech 
12. S: Shaquan Loyal, Rutgers
13. LS: William Wagner, Michigan
-----------------

VII.  Projected Practice Squad = 16

1.  QB: Ridder
2.  RB: Brightwell (Future's)
3.  WR: I. Williams
4.  WR: Pryor (Future's)
5.  OT: Cochran
6.  OG/OT: Kirkland
7.  C: McLaughlin (UDFA)
8.  DE: R. Johnson III (Future's)
9.  LB: Giles-Harris
10. LB: Njongmeta
11. CB: J. Davis (Future's)
---------------
12. CB: Brooks
13. S: PJ Jules
14. S: Key
-------------
15. DT/NT: Gregory (UDFA)
16. ??? Open

The top 11 above the line are the guys I think are the most NFL ready amongst the guys who are not currently projected to the 53. With the exception of DE I. Thomas, who belongs there, but since I kept 6 DEs on the 53, I did not go 2 deep on the PS at DE. I have cover everywhere save for TE (where I went heavy on the 53) and DT/3T, where have I have Sample/Stewart and Bryan backing up the top 4 on the 53. Surely, some of those guys will get snatched up if waived, and some have decent shots to make the 53 outright (Williams, Giles-Harris, Njongmeta, McLaughlin, Cochran, Kirkland, Davis). 

Below the dotted line, I am pretty clueless. But I thought we'd need another boundary corner (Davis being pretty slot only), cover at both S spots, and cover at the run-stuffer spot. Last spot is probably WR/TE but could go anywhere. Maybe even the loser of the LS competition.
-------------------------------------------------

VIII. Bengals Free Agents: 53/IR/PS = 4

Pos, Player
1. S3: Vonn Bell
-------------
2. PK: Cade York 
3. RB5: Chris Evans
4. OG/OT: D'Ante Smith
------------

IX. Bengals FA's, Re-signed/Extensions = 15

1. TE Cam Grandy, ERFA, 1 year, $980,000.
2. CB Jalen Davis, Future's/Reserve, $1,030,000
3. P Ryan Rehkow, ERFA, 2 yrs, $960,000 in 2025
4. LS Cal Adomitis, RFA, 1 year, $1,100,000
5. OG Jaxson Kirkland, ERFA, 1 yr $960,000
6. TE Tanner Hudson, 1 year, ??? $$$
7. TE/WR Mike Gesicki, 3 years, $25.5 mil
8. OG/OT Cody Ford, 2 years, $6,000,000
9. DT BJ Hill, 3 years, $33 mil, $16 G.
10. DE Joseph Ossai, 1 year, $7 mil
11. CB Marco Williams, 1 year, $1.52 mil
12. DE Cam Sample, 1 year, $1.6 mil
13. WR Tee Higgins, 4 years, $115 million
14. WR Ja'Marr Chase, 4 years, $161 mil (extension)
15. QB Logan Woodside, 1 year, ?$$ (Likely PS QB)
-------------------

X. Outside FA's brought in (9)

1. RB Samaje Perine, 2 years, $3.8 mil.
2. NT/DT TJ Slaton, 2 years, $15.1 mil
3. LB Oren Burks, 2 years, $5 mil
4. OG/C Lucas Patrick, 1 year, $2.1 mil
5. LB Joe Giles-Harris, 1 year, ??? (on PS briefly in '24)
6. QB: Desmond Ridder
7. C: Andrew Raym
8. DT: Taven Bryan
9. DT: McTelvin Agim
----------------

XI. Bengals FA's, Signed elsewhere = 9

1. DT: Dominique Davis (PS), 1 year, $840,000 (future's)
2. LB: Akeem Davis-Gaither, AZ, 2 yrs, $10 mil, $3.805 cap
3. RB Khalil Herbert, Indy, 1 year, $1,197,500
4. DT Jay Tufele, Jets, 1 year, $1,030,000
5. OT Trent Brown, Texans, 1 year, $1,732,353
6. C/G Trey Hill, Packers, 1 yr, $1,100,000
7. LB Joe Bachie, Colts, 1 yr, $1,030,000
8. RB Trayveon Williams, Patriots, 1 yr  $1,030,000
9. CB Mike Hilton, Dolphins, $???
----------

XII. Bengals Retirements/Cuts from last year's 53 = 5

#, Pos, Player, Cap Savings, Dead Cap
1. DT Sheldon Rankins, $9.618 mil, $2 mil (Texans, 1/$7)
2. G Alex Cappa, $8 mil, $2.25 mil (Raiders, 2/$11.2)
3. DE Sam Hubbard, $9.5 mil, $2 mil (retired)
4. LB Germaine Pratt, $5.85 mil, $2.33 mil
5. RB Zack Moss, $1,242,941, $1,875,000
==========================

(07-30-2025, 12:32 PM)Essex Johnson Wrote: you think Mclaughlin sticks on the roster ? 

Yes. I think it is likely. Or at least possible. Depends on how he recovers from the injury. And how fast. Backup center is Lee at the moment, and Patrick can play there as well. But Lee is the guy he has to beat out. And I know the past OL coach liked Lee, and the internet does, but he has 0 NFL snaps at C or G (though he did get some at TE/6th OL). 

McLaughlin is a straight C, no versatility. Which is a negative for a reserve. But he also won the Rimington as the nation's top center on a National Championship team before the injury. I think there is a a chance he is a future starter. Karras up after next year. 

Plus, I think there is a greater chance McLaughlin gets picked up if we cut him. He was certainly getting drafted if he hadn't gotten hurt, and probably in 3-4-5 rounds. If he's the player he was before injury (or close enough they think he can get all the way back), then yes. If he is significantly diminished, then probably not. 

Lee could get snapped up, too. Which might be the reason we brought in Raym. So he can be the PS center if things shake out with one of Lee/McLaughlin getting cut but claimed by someone else.

(07-30-2025, 02:23 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: RB Zack Moss released. C Seth McLaughlin cleared to practice. All now the only player on a PUP/NFI/IR list. 


https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-release-zack-moss-seth-mclaughlin-bengals-roster-update


I wonder if Moss will retire? From a cap perspective, cutting him before the restructure would have saved us a bit more cap. But from a human perspective, giving him some more guarantees was totally the right thing to do. Wish him the best. 


On McLaughlin, not ready to project him to the 53 yet, but I think that is where this is heading (bad news for Mike Lee). 


I believe we are at 90, though that is counting All. If we moved him to PUP/Inactive or IR, we'd have a spot.
----------------------
II.  Current Projected Roster: Signed/Draft = 53

Italics denotes a player with a zero dead cap hit.

Offense = 24
QB (2): Burrow; Browning
RB (3): C. Brown; Perine, Brooks
WR (5): Chase, Higgins, Iosivas; Burton, C. Jones
TE (5): D. Sample; Gesicki, Hudson, Grandy, McLachlan
OT (4): O. Brown, Mims; Ford (T/G), Rivers (OT/G)
G (3): Patrick (G/C), Fairchild, Volson
C (2): Karras (C/G); Lee (C/T/G)
----------------
Defense = 26
DE (6): Hendrickson, Ossai; Stewart, Murphy, C. Sample (DE/DT), C. Johnson
DT (5): BJ Hill, Slaton; Jenkins; Jackson, Bryan
LB (5): L. Wilson, Knight; Burks, Carter, Heyward
CB (6): CTB, D. Hill; Turner, Newton, Ivey, M. Wilson
S (4): Battle, Stone; Anderson, Anthony
---------------
Special Teams = 3
PK: McPherson
P: Rehkow
LS: Adomitis
=================

III.  Injured Reserve = 1 (54)
A. PUP/Active (1)
1. Erick All, TE, (knee). Likely season-ending 2nd surgery.
=============

IV. Signed, Projected Outside 53 = 12 (66)


1.  QB: Ridder
2.  RB: Milton
3.  WR: I. Williams
4.  OT: Cochran
5.  OG/OT: Kirkland
6.  OG/OT: Stueber
7.  C: Raym
8.  DE:  I. Thomas
9.  DT: Agim
10.  LB:  Giles-Harris
11.  LB: Njongmeta
12.  CB: L. Robinson
---------------------

V. Signed to Future's Contracts, Projected Outside the 53 = 11 (77)


These guys do technically take up roster spaces and cap space at the moment. But effectively  they do not, as none of them have any Dead Cap hit if released. These are camp bodies, practice squad types with perhaps a dark horse candidate to make the 53 or two.

But it does give one a better idea if how much space we'd have with a full toster instead of only 44.

#, Pos, Player, # Acc Yrs, Salary, Dead Cap
1. RB Gary Brightwell, 3, $1,100,000, Zero

2. WR Kendric Pryor, 1, $1,030,000, Zero

3. WR Cole Burgess, 0, $840,000, Zero

4. WR Mitchell Tinsley, 1, $960,000, Zero

5. OT Andrew Coker, 0, $840,000, Zero

6. DE: Raymond Johnson III, 1, $960,000, Zero
7. LB Craig Young, 0, $840,000, Zero

8. CB Jalen Davis, 4, $1,030,000, Zero
9. CB Nate Brooks, 0, $960,000, Zero

10. S PJ Jules, 0, $840,000, Zero

11. S Jaylen Key, 0, $840,000, Zero

https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-sign-11-players-to-reserve-future-contracts-bengals-roster-update
--------------

VI. UDFA's: Projected Outside the PS = 13 (90)


1. QB Payton Thorne, Auburn
2. RB: Quali Conley, Arizona
3. WR: Jordan Moore, Duke 
4. WR: Rashod Owens, Oklahoma State
5. WR: Jamoi Mayes, Cincinnati 
6. TE: Kole Taylor, West Virginia
7. OT: Trevor Etienne, BYU
8. C: Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State
9. DT: Eric Gregory, Arkansas
10. DT Howard Cross, Notre Dame
11. CB: Bralyn Lux, Texas Tech 
12. S: Shaquan Loyal, Rutgers
13. LS: William Wagner, Michigan
-----------------

VII.  Projected Practice Squad = 16

1.  QB: Ridder
2.  RB: Brightwell (Future's)
3.  WR: I. Williams
4.  WR: Pryor (Future's)
5.  OT: Cochran
6.  OG/OT: Kirkland
7.  C: McLaughlin (UDFA)
8.  DE: R. Johnson III (Future's)
9.  LB: Giles-Harris
10. LB: Njongmeta
11. CB: J. Davis (Future's)
---------------
12. CB: Brooks
13. S: PJ Jules
14. S: Key
-------------
15. DT/NT: Gregory (UDFA)
16. ??? Open

The top 11 above the line are the guys I think are the most NFL ready amongst the guys who are not currently projected to the 53. With the exception of DE I. Thomas, who belongs there, but since I kept 6 DEs on the 53, I did not go 2 deep on the PS at DE. I have cover everywhere save for TE (where I went heavy on the 53) and DT/3T, where have I have Sample/Stewart and Bryan backing up the top 4 on the 53. Surely, some of those guys will get snatched up if waived, and some have decent shots to make the 53 outright (Williams, Giles-Harris, Njongmeta, McLaughlin, Cochran, Kirkland, Davis). 

Below the dotted line, I am pretty clueless. But I thought we'd need another boundary corner (Davis being pretty slot only), cover at both S spots, and cover at the run-stuffer spot. Last spot is probably WR/TE but could go anywhere. Maybe even the loser of the LS competition.
-------------------------------------------------

VIII. Bengals Free Agents: 53/IR/PS = 4

Pos, Player
1. S3: Vonn Bell
-------------
2. PK: Cade York 
3. RB5: Chris Evans
4. OG/OT: D'Ante Smith
------------

IX. Bengals FA's, Re-signed/Extensions = 15

1. TE Cam Grandy, ERFA, 1 year, $980,000.
2. CB Jalen Davis, Future's/Reserve, $1,030,000
3. P Ryan Rehkow, ERFA, 2 yrs, $960,000 in 2025
4. LS Cal Adomitis, RFA, 1 year, $1,100,000
5. OG Jaxson Kirkland, ERFA, 1 yr $960,000
6. TE Tanner Hudson, 1 year, ??? $$$
7. TE/WR Mike Gesicki, 3 years, $25.5 mil
8. OG/OT Cody Ford, 2 years, $6,000,000
9. DT BJ Hill, 3 years, $33 mil, $16 G.
10. DE Joseph Ossai, 1 year, $7 mil
11. CB Marco Williams, 1 year, $1.52 mil
12. DE Cam Sample, 1 year, $1.6 mil
13. WR Tee Higgins, 4 years, $115 million
14. WR Ja'Marr Chase, 4 years, $161 mil (extension)
15. QB Logan Woodside, 1 year, ?$$ (Likely PS QB)
-------------------

X. Outside FA's brought in (9)

1. RB Samaje Perine, 2 years, $3.8 mil.
2. NT/DT TJ Slaton, 2 years, $15.1 mil
3. LB Oren Burks, 2 years, $5 mil
4. OG/C Lucas Patrick, 1 year, $2.1 mil
5. LB Joe Giles-Harris, 1 year, ??? (on PS briefly in '24)
6. QB: Desmond Ridder
7. C: Andrew Raym
8. DT: Taven Bryan
9. DT: McTelvin Agim
----------------

XI. Bengals FA's, Signed elsewhere = 9

1. DT: Dominique Davis (PS), 1 year, $840,000 (future's)
2. LB: Akeem Davis-Gaither, AZ, 2 yrs, $10 mil, $3.805 cap
3. RB Khalil Herbert, Indy, 1 year, $1,197,500
4. DT Jay Tufele, Jets, 1 year, $1,030,000
5. OT Trent Brown, Texans, 1 year, $1,732,353
6. C/G Trey Hill, Packers, 1 yr, $1,100,000
7. LB Joe Bachie, Colts, 1 yr, $1,030,000
8. RB Trayveon Williams, Patriots, 1 yr  $1,030,000
9. CB Mike Hilton, Dolphins, $???
----------

XII. Bengals Retirements/Cuts from last year's 53 = 5

#, Pos, Player, Cap Savings, Dead Cap
1. DT Sheldon Rankins, $9.618 mil, $2 mil (Texans, 1/$7)
2. G Alex Cappa, $8 mil, $2.25 mil (Raiders, 2/$11.2)
3. DE Sam Hubbard, $9.5 mil, $2 mil (retired)
4. LB Germaine Pratt, $5.85 mil, $2.33 mil
5. RB Zack Moss, $1,242,941, $1,875,000
==========================

Do you honestly think we'll keep 5 TEs on the roster?

I'd rather hang on to Lee and cut Volson. Lee showed promise though in limited action whereas Volson has shown nothing now for years.

(07-30-2025, 02:48 PM)BigRed75 Wrote: I'd rather hang on to Lee and cut Volson.  Lee showed promise though in limited action whereas Volson has shown nothing now for years.

Not true. That is not true at all and you should be ashamed of yourself for saying something so untrue. Volson HAS shown us something: that he's not a quality guard and should certainly NOT be starting for any team in the NFL.

I was wondering if they were going to keep Z. Moss or not? I guess not

(07-30-2025, 02:37 PM)PhilHos Wrote: Do you honestly think we'll keep 5 TEs on the roster?

We did last year: Sample, Gesicki, Hudson, McLachlan, and All/Grandy. 

With Fant now here? Maybe not. Hudson & Grandy both showed they can help us last year. We re-signed both at the start of FA. And we just drafted McLachlan last year, we rarely give up on a guy so early. 

One of them has to go. Two? 

At a min: 
QB 2, RB 3, WR 5, TE 4, OL 9. O = 23. 
DE 5, DT 4, LB 5, CB 5, S 4. D = 23. 

4 non-special teams spots left. 

Most likely: 
CB6: M. Wilson or Davis 
DT5: Bryan
OL10: Kirkland, Cochran, McLauglin
WR6: I. Williams 
TE5: 2 of Grandy, Hudson, McLaughlin

Less likely: 
DE6: C. Johnson, R. Johnson, I. Thomas
LB6: 2 of Heyward, Njongmeta, Giles-Harris
RB4: Brightwell, Milton 
QB3: Ridder 
S5: Jules, Key

From that list, players contending for CB6, DT5, TE5, WR6, DE6, and LB6 are the ones who are the most proven at an NFL level. 

For the last couple spots, it is always some combo of:

1) Readiness. If this guy has to play, is he ready?
2) Ceiling. If no, is there future upside? 
3) Risk. Do I lose him if cut, or PS likely? 
4) Depth. If I lose him, is there a roughly equivalent guy I can get on the PS? 

M. Wilson, Cochran, I. Williams, Hudson, Grandy, McLachlan, C. Johnson all ended the year on our 53. Kirkland made the initial roster & got hurt. 

Milton, Giles-Harris, & Davis either played some or spent time on the 53. 

Bryan played 300+ snaps last year. And Ridder has started at QB. 

Except for the safeties, I can make a reasonable case for everyone. 

I'd pick:

DT5: Bryan
CB6: Wilson or Davis
TE5: Grandy & Hudson (TE4/5), McLachlan PS
DE6: C. Johnson

I think we will go:

DT5: Bryan
CB6: Wilson
OL10: Cochran
WR6: Williams

We keep 4 TEs and they are Fant, Gesicki, Sample, and McLachlan.

(Yesterday, 02:35 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: 1) Readiness. If this guy has to play, is he ready?
2) Ceiling. If no, is there future upside? 
3) Risk. Do I lose him if cut, or PS likely? 
4) Depth. If I lose him, is there a roughly equivalent guy I can get on the PS? 

M. Wilson, Cochran, I. Williams, Hudson, Grandy, McLachlan, C. Johnson all ended the year on our 53. Kirkland made the initial roster & got hurt. 

Milton, Giles-Harris, & Davis either played some or spent time on the 53. 

Bryan played 300+ snaps last year. And Ridder has started at QB. 

Except for the safeties, I can make a reasonable case for everyone. 

i would add a 5th criteria 

5) can this player be effective on special teams...the back of the roster has to pick up snaps on Darrin Simmons' teams

And I would say Grandy over McLachlan....Grandy is the only real back up to Sample's role

TE Noah Fant, formerly of Seattle & Denver, is reportedly signing. While not official, we released USFA TE Kole Taylor to make room on the 90. 


https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/7/31/24473715/report-noah-fant-signs-with-bengals


https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-waive-te-kole-taylor-bengals-roster-update
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II.  Current Projected Roster: Signed/Draft = 53

Italics denotes a player with a zero dead cap hit.

Offense = 24
QB (2): Burrow; Browning
RB (3): C. Brown; Perine, Brooks
WR (5): Chase, Higgins, Iosivas; Burton, C. Jones
TE (5): Fant; Gesicki, D. Sample, Hudson, Grandy
OT (4): O. Brown, Mims; Ford (T/G), Rivers (OT/G)
G (3): Patrick (G/C), Fairchild, Volson
C (2): Karras (C/G); Lee (C/T/G)
----------------
Defense = 26
DE (6): Hendrickson, Ossai; Stewart, Murphy, C. Sample (DE/DT), C. Johnson
DT (5): BJ Hill, Slaton; Jenkins; Jackson, Bryan
LB (5): L. Wilson, Knight; Burks, Carter, Heyward
CB (6): CTB, D. Hill; Turner, Newton, Ivey, M. Wilson
S (4): Battle, Stone; Anderson, Anthony
---------------
Special Teams = 3
PK: McPherson
P: Rehkow
LS: Adomitis
=================

III.  Injured Reserve = 1 (54)
A. PUP/Active (1)
1. Erick All, TE, (knee). Likely season-ending 2nd surgery.
=============

IV. Signed, Projected Outside 53 = 13 (67)
1.  QB: Ridder
2.  RB: Milton
3.  WR: I. Williams
4.  TE: McLachlan
5.  OT: Cochran
6.  OG/OT: Kirkland
7.  OG/OT: Stueber
8.  C: Raym
9.  DE:  I. Thomas
10.  DT: Agim
11.  LB:  Giles-Harris
12.  LB: Njongmeta
13.  CB: L. Robinson
---------------------

V. Signed to Future's Contracts, Projected Outside the 53 = 11 (78)

These guys do technically take up roster spaces and cap space at the moment. But effectively  they do not, as none of them have any Dead Cap hit if released. These are camp bodies, practice squad types with perhaps a dark horse candidate to make the 53 or two.

But it does give one a better idea if how much space we'd have with a full toster instead of only 44.

#, Pos, Player, # Acc Yrs, Salary, Dead Cap
1. RB Gary Brightwell, 3, $1,100,000, Zero
2. WR Kendric Pryor, 1, $1,030,000, Zero
3. WR Cole Burgess, 0, $840,000, Zero
4. WR Mitchell Tinsley, 1, $960,000, Zero
5. OT Andrew Coker, 0, $840,000, Zero
6. DE: Raymond Johnson III, 1, $960,000, Zero
7. LB Craig Young, 0, $840,000, Zero
8. CB Jalen Davis, 4, $1,030,000, Zero
9. CB Nate Brooks, 0, $960,000, Zero
10. S PJ Jules, 0, $840,000, Zero
11. S Jaylen Key, 0, $840,000, Zero

https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-sign-11-players-to-reserve-future-contracts-bengals-roster-update
--------------

VI. UDFA's: Projected Outside the PS = 12 (90)
1. QB Payton Thorne, Auburn
2. RB: Quali Conley, Arizona
3. WR: Jordan Moore, Duke 
4. WR: Rashod Owens, Oklahoma State
5. WR: Jamoi Mayes, Cincinnati 
6. OT: Trevor Etienne, BYU
7. C: Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State
8. DT: Eric Gregory, Arkansas
9. DT Howard Cross, Notre Dame
10. CB: Bralyn Lux, Texas Tech 
11. S: Shaquan Loyal, Rutgers
12. LS: William Wagner, Michigan
-----------------

VII.  Projected Practice Squad = 16
1.  QB: Ridder
2.  RB: Brightwell (Future's)
3.  WR: I. Williams
4.  WR: Pryor (Future's)
5.  TE: McLachlan
6.  OT: Cochran
7.  OG/OT: Kirkland
8.  C: McLaughlin (UDFA)
9.  DE: R. Johnson III (Future's)
10.  LB: Giles-Harris
11. LB: Njongmeta
12. CB: J. Davis (Future's)
---------------
13. CB: Brooks
14. S: PJ Jules
15. S: Key
-------------
16. DT/NT: Gregory (UDFA)

The top 11/12 above the line are the guys I think are the most NFL ready amongst the guys who are not currently projected to the 53. Plus TE McLachlan. With the exception of DE I. Thomas, who belongs there, but since I kept 6 DEs on the 53, I did not go 2 deep on the PS at DE. I have cover everywhere save for DT/3T, where have I have Sample/Stewart and Bryan backing up the top 4 on the 53. 

Surely, some of these guys will get snatched up if waived, and some have decent shots to make the 53 outright (Williams, McLachlan, Giles-Harris, Njongmeta, McLaughlin, Cochran, Kirkland, Davis). 

Below the dotted line, I am pretty clueless. But I thought we'd need another boundary corner (Davis being pretty slot only), cover at both S spots, and cover at the run-stuffer spot. 
-------------------------------------------------

VIII. Bengals Free Agents: 53/IR/PS = 4
Pos, Player
1. S3: Vonn Bell
-------------
2. PK: Cade York 
3. RB5: Chris Evans
4. OG/OT: D'Ante Smith
------------

IX. Bengals FA's, Re-signed/Extensions = 15
1. TE Cam Grandy, ERFA, 1 year, $980,000.
2. CB Jalen Davis, Future's/Reserve, $1,030,000
3. P Ryan Rehkow, ERFA, 2 yrs, $960,000 in 2025
4. LS Cal Adomitis, RFA, 1 year, $1,100,000
5. OG Jaxson Kirkland, ERFA, 1 yr $960,000
6. TE Tanner Hudson, 1 year, ??? $$$
7. TE/WR Mike Gesicki, 3 years, $25.5 mil
8. OG/OT Cody Ford, 2 years, $6,000,000
9. DT BJ Hill, 3 years, $33 mil, $16 G.
10. DE Joseph Ossai, 1 year, $7 mil
11. CB Marco Williams, 1 year, $1.52 mil
12. DE Cam Sample, 1 year, $1.6 mil
13. WR Tee Higgins, 4 years, $115 million
14. WR Ja'Marr Chase, 4 years, $161 mil (extension)
15. QB Logan Woodside, 1 year, ?$$ (Likely PS QB)
-------------------

X. Outside FA's brought in (9)
1. RB Samaje Perine, 2 years, $3.8 mil.
2. NT/DT TJ Slaton, 2 years, $15.1 mil
3. LB Oren Burks, 2 years, $5 mil
4. OG/C Lucas Patrick, 1 year, $2.1 mil
5. LB Joe Giles-Harris, 1 year, ??? (on PS briefly in '24)
6. QB: Desmond Ridder
7. C: Andrew Raym
8. DT: Taven Bryan
9. DT: McTelvin Agim
10. TE: Noah Fant
----------------

XI. Bengals FA's, Signed elsewhere = 9
1. DT: Dominique Davis (PS), 1 year, $840,000 (future's)
2. LB: Akeem Davis-Gaither, AZ, 2 yrs, $10 mil, $3.805 cap
3. RB Khalil Herbert, Indy, 1 year, $1,197,500
4. DT Jay Tufele, Jets, 1 year, $1,030,000
5. OT Trent Brown, Texans, 1 year, $1,732,353
6. C/G Trey Hill, Packers, 1 yr, $1,100,000
7. LB Joe Bachie, Colts, 1 yr, $1,030,000
8. RB Trayveon Williams, Patriots, 1 yr  $1,030,000
9. CB Mike Hilton, Dolphins, $???
----------

XII. Bengals Retirements/Cuts from last year's 53 = 5
#, Pos, Player, Cap Savings, Dead Cap
1. DT Sheldon Rankins, $9.618 mil, $2 mil (Texans, 1/$7)
2. G Alex Cappa, $8 mil, $2.25 mil (Raiders, 2/$11.2)
3. DE Sam Hubbard, $9.5 mil, $2 mil (retired)
4. LB Germaine Pratt, $5.85 mil, $2.33 mil
5. RB Zack Moss, $1,242,941, $1,875,000
==========================

(Yesterday, 03:42 PM)pally Wrote: i would add a 5th criteria 

5) can this player be effective on special teams...the back of the roster has to pick up snaps on Darrin Simmons' teams

And I would say Grandy over McLachlan....Grandy is the only real back up to Sample's role

Spot on on the ST angle. Both for making the 53 and PS. 

I have to admit, part of my confusion at TE is I have no earthly idea what kind of player McLachlan is. Blocker? Receiver? Both? If you keep him, who does he most likely bump? 

I am still keeping 5 TEs. But I think Hudson/McLachlan for 5th is likely correct. Though the decision to keep 5 is somewhat dubious.

(Yesterday, 03:43 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: TE Noah Fant, formerly of Seattle & Denver, is reportedly signing. While not official, we released USFA TE Kole Taylor to make room on the 90. 

Kole Taylor got a little bit of hype when we signed him but I never thought he was athletic enough to play in the NFL.