Who do you sign? (With salary projections)

[puddycat]

Thoughts:
Cutting Hopkins. If we don't replace Hopkins in free agency this year. he's locked in as the 2022 starter. He's a free agent next year. If he does well he'll want more than the 6+M he's making. If he doesn't do well then what. We don't really have anyone behind him. IMO next years FA class at center will be worse.
Keeping Hopkins: the only veteran on the OL who's not in their rookie contract. Bengals have 7 OL with less than 2 years of playing time. OL needs veteran leadership and experience, otherwise we have college linemen who only see pros on the other side of the ball.

Right Now:
The only 3 offensive starters with 3+ yrs. experience are Hopkins, Boyd, and Mixon. Williams will be in 4th year after sitting out year 1.
In contrast. the only defensive starters on their rookie contracts are Wilson and Pratt. Everyone else except Hubbard is a free agent And I don't even know who's gonna play DT next to Reader (Shelvin is the only one under contract).

My conclusion is that most of FA will be dedicated to the OL and most of the draft will be dedicated to the defense.