Bernard released

[*psychdoctor*]

(04-07-2021, 11:36 AM)ochocincos Wrote: I really can't imagine the Bengals would spend an early-round pick on a Safety when they have one of the best already in Bates plus they have Bell and just re-signed Wilson and also signed Allen to a 1-year stopgap deal.
If they really waste an early-round pick on Safety and Bates then walks out the door next offseason, it's just a dumb move.
At some point, you need to keep your own top talent.

I think the Bengal Front Office may have changed their value chart some but not by a lot.  They value skilled positions like QB and WR and CB and undervalue OL, backers, safeties.  Look at David Fulcher, who left after 6 years or so, considered one of the best safeties for Bengals until Bates.  

Bengals will gear everything toward keeping Burrow.  If that means letting Bates go, so be it. I hope not.  But if they do select Grant which in my mind the top safety, then Bell could be used more as a backer/db hybrid.  Having Grant and Bates would be the top safety position group in the NFL.