The 2023 off-season - what do you want to see?

[*ochocincos*]

(01-31-2023, 12:22 PM)WeezyBengal Wrote: My main wants:

1. Cut Mixon
Nothing against him, but we just arent a running team. Paying the third most money on the team (12 million) to a guy that barely touches the ball and isn't super effective when he does is asinine. Draft some speed out of the backfield or go pick up a FA for cheap.

2. Find a punter.
Christman was freaking awful on Sunday and field position has been a problem for us all year. I am over it. Either draft one or bring in one in FA. It's a cheap upgrade that can pay huge dividends.

3. Bring these guys back.
Eli Apple, Pratt, Vonn Bell, Perine, Hurst, Flowers. None of these guys will break the bank and have been solid players for us.

4. Upgrade the OL
What happened with injuries in the playoffs was unlucky. The OL was OK this year, but nothing special. Go out and get that elite guy on the OL that we need. Joe goes from a good to best QB on the planet when he has time to throw and is comfortable in the pocket.

5. Find that elite game wrecker on defense
The Chiefs have one in Chris Jones. We need a guy like that on defense. Our defense is solid, but it's missing that one guy that can just wreck a game.

None of these things are huge asks. The Bengals have 44 million in cap space right now - third most in the league. Bates leaving and cutting Mixon would free up another 20 million at least.

I doubt the Bengals would look to move on from Chrisman so quickly, but if they chose to, they don't need to spend anything higher than a 6th rounder to find a new one. The best punter in the league this year in YPP, Ryan Stonehouse, was an UDFA rookie. Townsend, the Pro Bowl and All-Pro punter for the Chiefs, was also an UDFA.

I would be ok cutting Mixon. It's hard to justify paying a RB so much when they can't pass block, the running game isn't a focal point, and the OL isn't great at opening running lanes. Perine was just as effective as Mixon this year on the ground and catching passes, but he had added value of pass blocking. And he's way cheaper.

Bengals need another pass rusher and some OL depth something fierce. It was said all year that we would be right back to a sieve of an OL if the Bengals suffered a couple injuries to their starters. Low and behold, it happened.

Bengals either this year or next year will need to start figuring out a replacement plan for Higgins and/or Boyd. They won't be able to keep them long-term along with new contracts for Burrow and Chase. Boyd and/or Higgins will not be in stripes after this coming season.