I used FANSPEAK for this mock with their most recent player ratings. There was enough whining about my 6.0 draft that said how 80 different players are first round picks and would never be there when I selected them. Well, this simulator used the most current ratings and this is what I went with:

R1 P5 OT Penei Sewell - Oregon: He was there, which isn't impossible.

R2 P5 DL Christian Barmore - Alabama: Second biggest agenda after protecting Burrow and providing him with weapons is to improve the talent and competition in the interior of the defensive line. Barmore next to Reader could be outstanding for the entire defense.

R3 P5 OT Daniel Faalele - Minnesota: Mammoth man to be our RT. Where does Jonah go if Sewell is our LT? Glad you asked: LG. Let Spain and XSF fight it out to see who starts at RG. It will make some cringe, but I am keeping Price until Hopkins returns.

R4 P5 WR Anthony Schwartz - Auburn: Burner that can help take the top off the defense as well as take a quick hitch or screen the distance.

R5 P5 EDGE Chris Rumph II - Duke: Pass rushing specialist that just finds a way. Love his energy, athleticism, and ability to rush the passer from all over the field.

R6 P5 CB Deommodore Lenoir - Oregon: Smooth, speedy, and capable project that could provide dividends with good coaching.

R7 P5 TE Tre' McKitty - Georgia: Athletic move TE that can poke holes in cover 2 defenses.

Address the trenches. Great mock.

Schwartz is an interesting prospect with his speed/athleticism. I've looked at him in a few of my own mocks, and I just keep finding myself question if is physical stature will hold up to NFL hits?

(01-10-2021, 11:46 AM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Schwartz is an interesting prospect with his speed/athleticism.  I've looked at him in a few of my own mocks, and I just keep finding myself question if is physical stature will hold up to NFL hits?

He is roughly the same build and weight as Devonta Smith, but in my eyes (and yours, apparently) he would be a risky proposition at the NFL level due to his slight nature.  He is nowhere near as refined a route runner as Smith, but he also played in that gimmick High School offense under Gus Malzon.  He has incredible speed, shiftiness, and is a really good hands-catcher.  In the fourth round, I will take him as a rotational player that could share time as our #3 WR with Auden Tate.  

I like the idea of keeping LBs looking multiple ways and having Schwartz run jet sweeps on numerous routes and even if the majority of the time the ball isn't handed off, just the threat of it and the so-called window dressing can help open up the defense a bit.  I love him for vertical routes, sweeps, and screens.  This season he played the entire year in the SEC which showed he has pretty good toughness.  He is a bit like Russell Wilson in that he has a knack for avoiding the big hit.  No one seems to get squared up on him very easily.  He gets out of bounds or gets tackled with a trip or shove, but rarely a real smashing hit.  

Solid job..very balanced draft

(01-10-2021, 11:10 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: I used FANSPEAK for this mock with their most recent player ratings.  There was enough whining about my 6.0 draft that said how 80 different players are first round picks and would never be there when I selected them.  Well, this simulator used the most current ratings and this is what I went with:

R1 P5 OT Penei Sewell - Oregon:  He was there, which isn't impossible.  

R2 P5 DL Christian Barmore - Alabama:  Second biggest agenda after protecting Burrow and providing him with weapons is to improve the talent and competition in the interior of the defensive line. Barmore next to Reader could be outstanding for the entire defense.

R3 P5 OT Daniel Faalele - Minnesota:  Mammoth man to be our RT.  Where does Jonah go if Sewell is our LT?  Glad you asked:  LG.  Let Spain and XSF fight it out to see who starts at RG.  It will make some cringe, but I am keeping Price until Hopkins returns.  

R4 P5 WR Anthony Schwartz - Auburn:  Burner that can help take the top off the defense as well as take a quick hitch or screen the distance.  

R5 P5 EDGE Chris Rumph II - Duke:  Pass rushing specialist that just finds a way. Love his energy, athleticism, and ability to rush the passer from all over the field.

R6 P5 CB Deommodore Lenoir - Oregon:  Smooth, speedy, and capable project that could provide dividends with good coaching.

R7 P5 TE Tre' McKitty - Georgia:  Athletic move TE that can poke holes in cover 2 defenses.

I like the mock overall.
With that said, I don't see FA mentioned anywhere in this other than Spain. I'd like to know how FA is approached to get a better feeling of the team post-draft.
Are we to assume the general approach is to re-sign their own internal FAs?

(01-11-2021, 12:19 PM)ochocincos Wrote: I like the mock overall.
With that said, I don't see FA mentioned anywhere in this other than Spain. I'd like to know how FA is approached to get a better feeling of the team post-draft.
Are we to assume the general approach is to re-sign their own internal FAs?

Good question.  I tried to make this as realistic as possible, so I assumed the Bengals re-signed Lawson, WJIII, and Alexander, but lost Hart and Geno to clear cap space.  

(01-11-2021, 01:49 PM)SHRacerX Wrote: Good question.  I tried to make this as realistic as possible, so I assumed the Bengals re-signed Lawson, WJIII, and Alexander, but lost Hart and Geno to clear cap space.  

Maybe I'm reading too far into this, but are you saying that basically all that happens in FA is:
- WJ3, Lawson, Spain, Alexander main guys re-signed
- Atkins, Hart cut
- No big outside FA signings such that only "new" adds are coming from draft?

If the last point is true, I would have reservations that enough would have been done to get this team to approaching the playoffs for 2021.
I think rolling with same team, getting Reader and Waynes back, and adding the draft would result in probably 9 wins max.

(01-11-2021, 03:15 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Maybe I'm reading too far into this, but are you saying that basically all that happens in FA is:
- WJ3, Lawson, Spain, Alexander main guys re-signed
- Atkins, Hart cut
- No big outside FA signings such that only "new" adds are coming from draft?

If the last point is true, I would have reservations that enough would have been done to get this team to approaching the playoffs for 2021.
I think rolling with same team, getting Reader and Waynes back, and adding the draft would result in probably 9 wins max.

If you sign Jackson + Lawson that's going to be close to 30 million combined. Not to mention the big money that will go to Bates in the off-season. Expecting the Bengals to sign multiple FAs along with those three is asking a hell of a lot in new contacts.

(01-11-2021, 03:33 PM)J24 Wrote: If you sign Jackson + Lawson that's going to be close to 30 million combined. Not to mention the big money that will go to Bates in the off-season. Expecting the Bengals to sign multiple FAs along with those three is asking a hell of a lot in new contacts.

You don't have to throw a ton of money at Bates for this season to extend him. Look at Mixon for an example.
His 2020 cap hit was $4.3 mill, but it jumps up to $8 mill in 2021, $11.5 mill in 2022, etc.
So what I'm getting at is Bates' 2021 cap hit may only go up a few mill.

As for Jackson and Lawson, I agree it could be about that. However, cutting Hart and Atkins frees up $5.9 mill + $9.6 mill = $15.5 mill.
Remove CJ Uzomah ($5.3 mill) and Bernard ($4.1 mill) and you save another $9.4 mill.

So yes, there are ways to bring in multiple new quality FAs if they are willing to part ways with some more vets who are C-tier-or-lower quality.

(01-11-2021, 03:15 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Maybe I'm reading too far into this, but are you saying that basically all that happens in FA is:
- WJ3, Lawson, Spain, Alexander main guys re-signed
- Atkins, Hart cut
- No big outside FA signings such that only "new" adds are coming from draft?

If the last point is true, I would have reservations that enough would have been done to get this team to approaching the playoffs for 2021.
I think rolling with same team, getting Reader and Waynes back, and adding the draft would result in probably 9 wins max.

Like I said, I tried to keep it as realistic as possible.  I would rather have Lawson, WJIII, and Alexander back than someone from outside and I just don't know if they would have the cap space to do much more.  I did make improvements on the offensive line with two really strong tackles that allow me to move Williams to LG.  Also was able to add a beast of a DT in Barmore and an all-over speed rusher in Rumph.  Schartz would be a great compliment to our WR corps and also added talented depth at CB and TE.  There are only so many things you can do in the draft and FA with a cap and current players salaries.  

Sure, I could say I also brought in Joe Thuney, but I just don't know if the cap space is there.  

(01-12-2021, 11:20 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: Like I said, I tried to keep it as realistic as possible.  I would rather have Lawson, WJIII, and Alexander back than someone from outside and I just don't know if they would have the cap space to do much more.  I did make improvements on the offensive line with two really strong tackles that allow me to move Williams to LG.  Also was able to add a beast of a DT in Barmore and an all-over speed rusher in Rumph.  Schartz would be a great compliment to our WR corps and also added talented depth at CB and TE.  There are only so many things you can do in the draft and FA with a cap and current players salaries.  

Sure, I could say I also brought in Joe Thuney, but I just don't know if the cap space is there.  

I get why you did it. It is realistic. I just wouldn't set my expectations high if the offseason played out that way, mainly because of FA.

You got some good players in the draft. I like Sewell, Barmore, Schwartz, and Rumph.
CB and TE taken late make sense, as they would still need CB and TE depth.
I would probably go with Teven Jenkins for RT over Faalele because I think Jenkins is a better pass blocker and can move better. I see Faalele working well in a power scheme, but I think there are better options for a zone scheme that Pollack will want to run.
In the past two seasons, Jenkins had 582 pass block snaps, allowing only 11 QB pressures with 0 sacks.

I personally would hope they would be willing to also part ways with CJ Uzomah and/or Gio Bernard to free up nearly $9-10 mill more cap and sign a good starter in FA at either OL or LB.

My main concern with this plan is counting on Faalele to be the guy at RT. He is huge, you're absolutely right; he will be one of the largest players in NFL history. From a playing perspective, he is really slow coming out of his stance and I haven't been able to watch him go against any talented speed rushers. He was also injured for the game against Auburn last year, a leg injury. A guy of that size dealing with some minor, nagging leg injuries concerns me, likely more than it should. If he gets his hands on you, he is incredibly powerful and I can imagine a 260 pound defensive end getting wore out trying to move a 400 pound T all game, but I am concerned with his long term durability and ability to handle speed guys.

(01-12-2021, 11:47 AM)KillerGoose Wrote: My main concern with this plan is counting on Faalele to be the guy at RT. He is huge, you're absolutely right; he will be one of the largest players in NFL history. From a playing perspective, he is really slow coming out of his stance and I haven't been able to watch him go against any talented speed rushers. He was also injured for the game against Auburn last year, a leg injury. A guy of that size dealing with some minor, nagging leg injuries concerns me, likely more than it should. If he gets his hands on you, he is incredibly powerful and I can imagine a 260 pound defensive end getting wore out trying to move a 400 pound T all game, but I am concerned with his long term durability and ability to handle speed guys.

I think this is a common sentiment with Faalele, but after watching Bechton blow up the combine, and then perform very well for a lame Jets team (with little talent around him....let's face it, if you are blocking for Lamar Jackson you are going to give up fewer sacks than Sam Darnold) and I have come to the simple conclusion that there are just not very many people on the planet that have that size, strength, and length.  He punches guys that are running around the edge (with great accuracy) and just sends them flying.  He collapses edges and he moves VERY well for such a big guy.

I am glad everyone isn't as high on him or he would be long gone, but I see him as a perfect fit for the Bengals at RT.  If there is one thing this team needs to get better at on offense, it is running the ball.  So much could open up from there.  That is not to say he is deficient at pass blocking.  But, he simply moves anything in run blocking.