Alec Pierce visit

[BFritz21]

(04-12-2022, 09:07 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: I should get this out ahead of time because I realized I didn't earlier so it looked like I was arguing for taking a WR in the 1st (I am not)... but if we're being honest and looking at the numbers, a quality 4th WR would actually make a big difference for the Bengals now.

In 2021 Mike Thomas/Trent Taylor/Auden Tate/Trenton Irwin/Stanley Morgan Jr combined to play 508 offensive snaps.
In 2021 Chase/Higgins/Boyd played 939, 710, and 807 offensive snaps, respectively.

So that's a whole slew of pratice squad type guys combining for significant playing time. If you get yourself a quality 4th WR, they would actually be able to receive a pretty serious amount of snaps. That's also not including hopefully reducing Drew Sample's 459 offensive snaps he saw in 2021 since he'll be needed less to block with an improved OL, which could then go towards more snaps with a 4th WR.

It's not a stretch to say a good #4 WR could easily get 700 offensive snaps even with Chase/Higgins/Boyd on the team if the 2021 offense is anything to go by as how they'll attack 2022... and keeping Thomas/Taylor/Tate/Irwin/Morgan/Sample OFF the field would also be a plus for the passing game too. 700 snaps is ~2/3rds of an entire 17 game season worth of snaps.

Good points and a quality 4th WR could make a big difference but I still don't think we should spent a first rounder on one (I know you're saying that you're not arguing for that) or even a pick anywhere in the early rounds because, like I said, we can get a free agent WR to fill the role of our 4th WR if we need one.

If it comes down to it, bring AJ back because, even if he's lost a step, he could still be better than any of the players that we'd have for our fourth WR. Sign him to a one or two-year deal to chase a ring and let him finish what he came here to do.