01-29-2023, 05:28 PM
OK, on to some draft/FA general stuff.
As fans, we find this Bengal squad in unfamiliar territory. Perennial contenders? A roster with competent to plus to elite players almost everywhere. Good depth in many places. A very good coaching staff & FO that has drafted well, recruited FA's well, and built a great culture through those draft picks and FA signings.
We are contenders. In terms of the draft, that means we will mostly be picking in the 20s,,often lated 20s or even 30+. It will be hard to find elite prospects/immediate upgrades at the most valued groups (QB, WR1, LT, EDGE, CB, DT) at those spots. Somewhat easier at the less valued positions (RB, WR2, slot WR, TE, RT, OG, OC, NT, ILB, slot corner, S). Furthermore, regardless of position, plug & play guys are less plentiful later on. Especially with a team where the established starters are all already pretty good or better.
Normally, the solution would be to fill the spots you are unlikely to fill in the draft via FA. Or spots where you need immediate help. I have read stuff where the FO did a good job of identifying strong/weak postion groups in the draft and concentrating on weak groups in FA. Smart.
But we are running out of cap space in the near future and keeping the good players we already have is gonna cost more than we can afford, starting this off-season (Bates). Drafting well, planning well, amd making smart, increasingly cost-effective FA signings are gonna be how we maintain & restock. Smart trades. Hard decisions on guys are coming, and high picks and $15-$20 mil FA contracts may be out of our reach soon.
Another change is that FA is before the draft this year, and while there will be certainly be some guys unsigned come draft day, gone are thecdays when you could see how thecdraftcshakes our & THEN make your FA calls. Circling back & signing the FA after the draft if you don't land a guy at that position may not be possible anymore unless the guy is a low value FA.
As fans, we find this Bengal squad in unfamiliar territory. Perennial contenders? A roster with competent to plus to elite players almost everywhere. Good depth in many places. A very good coaching staff & FO that has drafted well, recruited FA's well, and built a great culture through those draft picks and FA signings.
We are contenders. In terms of the draft, that means we will mostly be picking in the 20s,,often lated 20s or even 30+. It will be hard to find elite prospects/immediate upgrades at the most valued groups (QB, WR1, LT, EDGE, CB, DT) at those spots. Somewhat easier at the less valued positions (RB, WR2, slot WR, TE, RT, OG, OC, NT, ILB, slot corner, S). Furthermore, regardless of position, plug & play guys are less plentiful later on. Especially with a team where the established starters are all already pretty good or better.
Normally, the solution would be to fill the spots you are unlikely to fill in the draft via FA. Or spots where you need immediate help. I have read stuff where the FO did a good job of identifying strong/weak postion groups in the draft and concentrating on weak groups in FA. Smart.
But we are running out of cap space in the near future and keeping the good players we already have is gonna cost more than we can afford, starting this off-season (Bates). Drafting well, planning well, amd making smart, increasingly cost-effective FA signings are gonna be how we maintain & restock. Smart trades. Hard decisions on guys are coming, and high picks and $15-$20 mil FA contracts may be out of our reach soon.
Another change is that FA is before the draft this year, and while there will be certainly be some guys unsigned come draft day, gone are thecdays when you could see how thecdraftcshakes our & THEN make your FA calls. Circling back & signing the FA after the draft if you don't land a guy at that position may not be possible anymore unless the guy is a low value FA.
