(02-15-2022, 09:03 AM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Agreed on not trusting Reiff.


Expecting a 34-year-old OT who hasn't played a full season since 2015 (6 straight seasons of being hurt) to suddenly stay healthy is a foolish bet.


So you want at least 4/5ths of the OL to stay the same? Again? After watching Burrow get battered for the second straight year? 

They already did the "trust Frank Pollack" thing for 2021. 4 of the 5 starting OL who were in the game Burrow got his knee destroyed in 2020 continued to be starters for the 2021 playoffs that saw him get pummeled. 

That's insanity. 


I would. Dude can't stay healthy. He's missed multiple games each of the last 5 years, and at least 5 games missed in each of the last 4 years. He's only played 43 out of his last 81 games and now he's heading into his age 31 season. He won't get MORE durable in his 30s and all those injuries will add up to shorten careers anyway.

That seems like a poor plan. Reiff wasn't the answer and he was a B guy. XSF was C+. A large pile of mediocrity is still just mediocrity. Go out there and fix the problem with proper talent and go win a Super Bowl. Get me 3 A tier guys and a 1st rounder to go with Jonah, protect Burrow, and lets roll over the NFL for the next couple years.

(02-13-2022, 01:30 PM)ochocincos Wrote: I highly doubt they shift Jonah Williams at this point.
I think it's more likely they sign a FA to cover one (or both) of the right side spots.

They'll have up to 4 OL spots to replace:
Fred Johnson (highly likely gone)
XSF (highly likely gone)
Riley Reiff (potentially gone)
Quinton Spain (lowest chance of being gone)

As such, I think the OL could break down like this:

• Williams
• Hopkins
• Carman
• Adeniji
• Smith
• Spain
• Vet OT (Morgan Moses my pref)
• OT draft pick
• IOL draft pick
• Hill/Prince/late draft pick
  

If Linderbaum somehow fell to the Bengals, I'm snagging him up instantly and putting him at C. Hopkins is cheap enough that he could be kept even with Linderbaum, potentially putting him back at RG like Pollack did with him in 2018. As much as people were frustrated with Hopkins back in 2018 at RG, he was a good pass blocker there.

(02-15-2022, 09:37 AM)SuperBowlBound! Wrote: It takes 2-3 years to develop Offensive lineman. Pollack has to decide if these guys are worth a 3rd year.
Reiff is 33 by the way turning 34 in Dec. It is not as easy as going down to the corner store and buying a 12 pack of beer.
The "A" free agents have to be available cant be franchised and they have to want to come to Cincinnati.

You understand there is a salary cap to consider.

Why don't you respond by checking available free agents and their Market Value, age and durabilty..
Would love to know what 3 offensive line free agents and what lineman you know for sure we can target with the 31st pick.


It seems easy until you start filling out a 53 man roster. Cap goes down fast especially when you sign 23 million dollar free agents.
Currently we only have 36 guys under contract.
Here is a list of some of the more important ones that need to be signed or replaced. 

Tight End - Uzomah, Gronk could be available if a deal can be worked out
Safety - Bates or a different Free agent
Def Tackle resign BJ Hill or a different Free agent, re-sign
Def Tackle resign Josh Toupou or a different Free agent, I would bring up Daniels
Def Tackle resign Larry Ogunjobi or a different Free agent
Cornerback - resign Eli Apple or a different Free agent, he would make a good backup if we can sign an elite CB
Cornerback - resign Tre Flowers or a different Free agent, re-sign and designate him as S - he is an island against star TEs
Linebacker - resign Markus Bailey or a different Free agent
Long Snapper - Clark Harris 
Back Up QB - Brandon Allen or a different Free agent, Brian Hoyer maybe?


Good Luck!

(02-15-2022, 09:37 AM)SuperBowlBound! Wrote: It takes 2-3 years to develop Offensive lineman. Pollack has to decide if these guys are worth a 3rd year.
Reiff is 33 by the way turning 34 in Dec. It is not as easy as going down to the corner store and buying a 12 pack of beer.
The "A" free agents have to be available cant be franchised and they have to want to come to Cincinnati.

You understand there is a salary cap to consider.

Why don't you respond by checking available free agents and their Market Value, age and durabilty..
Would love to know what 3 offensive line free agents and what lineman you know for sure we can target with the 31st pick.


It seems easy until you start filling out a 53 man roster. Cap goes down fast especially when you sign 23 million dollar free agents.
Currently we only have 36 guys under contract.
Here is a list of some of the more important ones that need to be signed or replaced. 

Tight End - Uzomah, 
Safety - Bates or a different Free agent
Def Tackle resign BJ Hill or a different Free agent
Def Tackle resign Josh Toupou or a different Free agent
Def Tackle resign Larry Ogunjobi or a different Free agent
Cornerback - resign Eli Apple or a different Free agent
Cornerback - resign Tre Flowers or a different Free agent
Linebacker - resign Markus Bailey or a different Free agent
Long Snapper - Clark Harris 
Back Up QB - Brandon Allen or a different Free agent


Good Luck!

(02-15-2022, 09:49 AM)Interceptor Wrote: I would add James Daniels (can play either G position) and Ryan Jensen (aggressive at C, just needs work on snaps which I think is fixable) as veteran possibilities to go along with as well.

(02-15-2022, 09:03 AM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote:  


I would. Dude can't stay healthy. He's missed multiple games each of the last 5 years, and at least 5 games missed in each of the last 4 years. He's only played 43 out of his last 81 games and now he's heading into his age 31 season. He won't get MORE durable in his 30s and all those injuries will add up to shorten careers anyway.

That seems like a poor plan. Reiff wasn't the answer and he was a B guy. XSF was C+. A large pile of mediocrity is still just mediocrity. Go out there and fix the problem with proper talent and go win a Super Bowl. Get me 3 A tier guys and a 1st rounder to go with Jonah, protect Burrow, and lets roll over the NFL for the next couple years.

(02-15-2022, 10:47 AM)Whatever Wrote: I'm not sure what your plan would be, then.  Most of the A tier OL are guys like Scherff and Armstead who are north of 30 and have a lot of injury history.  Orlando Brown would be the only A tier guy under 30 without injury history.  Ryan Jensen doesn't have the injury history, but is over 30. Brown is projected to get $21-23 mil APY and Jensen $11-13 mil APY, so that doesn't leave enough room to resign guys and fill other holes if you're going after 3 guys in that price range.  Plus, the chances of an OL falling into our laps at 31 that isn't a reach, fits the scheme, can play at a high level immediately, and doesn't play the same position as one of the FA adds is pretty slim.

There are a number of B tier OL this year coming off their rookie deals that are still young, don't have the injury history, are quality starters, and who's play is still trending upwards.

(02-15-2022, 10:58 AM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: I think our divide here in our conversation is what an A tier is vs a B tier.

In my mind...

A Tier: Quality Starter or more
B Tier: Mediocre Starter/Borderline Starter
C Tier: High Quality Backup/Poor Starter

I think you've made A Tier really small. Bozeman was rated the 11th C, Daniels the 19th G, Corbett the 21st G. I think those are A Tier guys if they're in the top dozen or so at their position per starter spot. 

(02-15-2022, 01:32 PM)bfine32 Wrote: Trent Brown is something to explore, but I want RT in RD 1 and go FA on the interior

(02-15-2022, 02:37 PM)Synric Wrote: TDN did a Post Bengals Super Bowl Mock.
https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/bengals-nfl-mock-draft-2022-super-bowl

1. Zion Johnson OL Boston College
2. Damone Clark LB LSU
3. Abraham Lucas OT Washington State
4. Coby Bryant CB Cincinnati
5. Cole Strange OL Chattanooga
6. Jelani Woods TE Virginia
7. Leon O'Neal S Texas A&M
7. Tre Turner WR Virginia Tech

I dont think some of the guys will be there and Cole Strange was up and down st the Senior Bowl but overall I really like this mock.

(02-16-2022, 08:39 AM)Bengalstripes9 Wrote: I get the strategy of picking up multiple C+ to B lineman in FA over one legit A lineman. But if that one legit lineman raises the level of play of those around him and helps teach your draft picks, I think he pushes the needle further. He’ll make everyone else’s jobs easier on the line and in effect make those around him better. Plus, we have tried this C+ to B strategy in the past and we just keep ending up with a terrible offensive line. Just my two cents.

I also am not convinced there is a great olineman available at the bottom of the 1st round. NFL.com has us taking a DT. We need to fix the line in free agency so we aren’t reaching with our picks. Who knows how the draft will fall. Need to be able to pick BPA. Plus, it’s not like we aren’t trying to fix the oline through the draft. It’s not working and our draft position isn’t good to boot.

(02-16-2022, 05:05 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: You really need better depth and draft a starter at #31 or move up. Pick up a top center in FA ( more economical than a top tackle like Armstead ($20 million). Move up 10 or so spots if there’s a tackle you like in the draft. Pick a corner at #62. Then you need to go with your draft board. At this point you are looking for depth. If they become a starter even better depth wise. I think the key is not spending more money than currently allocated to the starters with expiring contracts. Hopefully save some money to use with Wayne’s savings to sign Bates. But I think the strategy of a top center in FA and possibly move Hopkins to guard and a potential starter at tackle with your first pick and a corner at #62 is solid. Resign your free agents that are key like Uzomah, Bates, Spain, and Apple with team friendly deals. Carman needs to emerge. He needs for the light to come on. Showing up as a rookie over weight just was stupid.