(03-10-2025, 09:39 AM)Au165 Wrote: Rumor is the guard market is going to explode, even for bad ones. Apparently it was the talk of the combine which is why Poles in Chicago just went ahead and traded for some.

(03-09-2025, 11:57 PM)Synric Wrote: Alex Cappa who was literally the worst guard in football last year signed a 2 year 11 mil 5.5m APY. I have a hard time believing any OL with starter potential will be a "good deal".

(03-10-2025, 10:19 AM)TJHoushmandzadeh Wrote: My expectations:

Veteran versatile lineman to compete for a starting job with Volson, Ford and round 3-5 draft pic. Patrick Mekari on a Karras type deal might be a decent shout here given his age, experience of AFC N and it’s always good to take from your rivals.

Still ascending (?) DE looking for a second contract. This could be Ossai returning, it could be someone like Koonce, Ojulari or even Chase Young (who played on a one year deal last year). This will likely be their biggest splash.

Veteran DT - someone on the way down but hopefully still has some juice left. Maybe Jonathan Allen is the hope here but I think he’ll be too expensive and they’ll get a lower tier guy instead.  
I’d also expect a second veteran to be added later on a one year deal as well to compete in camp

Veteran RB - a proven pass protector who can be RB2 without getting Burrow killed.

Wild cards
Safety & LB - if someone they like’s market is weaker than expected (like Vonn Bell in 2020) they may sign Stone/Pratt’s replacements in FA.


That would be enough to give them some flexibility in the draft (they’ll still need to draft DT, DE, G and likely LB and RB but if they’re not ready before the bye the veterans can hold the fort) so they can still take the better prospect not just those ready to start week 1.

(03-10-2025, 09:39 AM)Au165 Wrote: Rumor is the guard market is going to explode, even for bad ones. Apparently it was the talk of the combine which is why Poles in Chicago just went ahead and traded for some.

One source said “$20M a year” is a possibility for #Steelers free agent OT Dan Moore Jr. https://t.co/TjLVtkNfoq

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 10, 2025

(03-10-2025, 10:26 AM)Ell Prez Wrote: Does anyone see a realistic path to being a Super Bowl contender next year? As someone else said, at best our offense is the exact same just 3x more expensive. Which means we don’t have money to fix the defense. So many holes. We need better LB, 2-3 DE depending on Hendrickson, DT, better CB, better S maybe even 2 S.

I fully expect the bengals to sit on their hands and sign a B level player, 1 C and 2D. I mean this by timing, like the first guys signed are A. We’ll jump in at the second wave and third, and then the last wave of players we’ll grab a couple. It won’t push the team forward, we’ll all get hyped over the draft, and come game opener when we can’t stop the run or pass again, it won’t matter.

I hate being so pessimistic but this team does it to me

(03-10-2025, 10:26 AM)Ell Prez Wrote: Does anyone see a realistic path to being a Super Bowl  contender next year? As someone else said, at best our offense is the exact same just 3x more expensive. Which means we don’t have money to fix the defense. So many holes. We need better LB, 2-3 DE depending on Hendrickson, DT, better CB, better S maybe even 2 S.

I fully expect the bengals to sit on their hands and sign a B level player, 1 C and 2D. I mean this by timing, like the first guys signed are A. We’ll jump in at the second wave and third, and then the last wave of players we’ll grab a couple. It won’t push the team forward, we’ll all get hyped over the draft, and come game opener when we can’t stop the run or pass again, it won’t matter.

I hate being so pessimistic but this team does it to me

(03-10-2025, 10:19 AM)TJHoushmandzadeh Wrote: ****
Veteran DT - someone on the way down but hopefully still has some juice left. Maybe Jonathan Allen is the hope here but I think he’ll be too expensive and they’ll get a lower tier guy instead.  

(03-10-2025, 11:54 AM)TJHoushmandzadehs Shiny Shoes Wrote: Yes. This is a team that won its last 5. It lost 7 games by one score. It should have beaten the Chiefs but for a BS call; it took the Ravens to OT and should have won in OT and then was a missed 2point conversion from beating them in the other game.

It’s possible that the O actually gets better (better G play, Chase Brown as starter for whole season).

The D-line should be much improved by not having Lawrence Guy or Zach Carter in there. They should add at least four DL through FA/draft. Let’s say two or them hit in a big way (last time they signed an Edge in FA they signed Hendrickson, they got Hubbard in the 3rd round; Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins were in the same draft class so they do know what they are doing at DL from time to time). They then need two of Murphy, Ossai (if he re-signs), McKinnley Jackson and Kris Jenkins to take that next step. Murphy had above average win rates, he needs to convert those to sacks; the two 2nd year DTs are primed to breakout now they have a year in the NFL and the game has slowed down for them).

The secondary has flashed and has shown signs of getting it more together down the stretch. The upside of CTB is pro bowler. Dax Hill showed real promise, DJ Turner has flashed too. They need consistency.

It may not happen but there’s definitely a path and it’s not a path that requires every signing to be a hit but they will need some hits.

(03-10-2025, 12:52 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: Relax people. The Bengals will be big time players in free agency, starting next Monday, as usual. 

(03-10-2025, 03:04 PM)Ell Prez Wrote: We have more holes than last year and last years team wasn’t very good.

(03-10-2025, 09:30 AM)RunKijanaRun Wrote: You’re being silly if you think Burrow won’t demand a trade if this doesn’t improve. There’s still hope that they can salvage things this year, but if they don’t, those rumblings will eventually come.