Lou speaks on the state of the defense

[SunsetBengal]

(12-29-2023, 05:01 PM)007BengalsFan Wrote: The draft is a crap shoot.  If you lose 2 or 3 proven starters that played good, you cant expect that just because you use a 1st or 2nd round draft pick on their replacement those draft picks are going to make up for the loss of the proven player.  The defense is not doing as well this year because we let some talent leave and the guys we drafted to replace them are not performing as well.  Just because we spent a #1 draft pick on Dax Hill, doesnt mean he is going to help the defense like Jessie Bates.  If the Bengals want to get serious about improving the defense and in particular the defensive line, this offseason they need to go after some good free agents.

The draft is even more of a crap shoot when the last few drafts at a given position group don't develop into dependable starters in 2-3 years.  

To second bolded, the Bengals already did that.  They went out and got Reader, Awuzie, Apple, Hendrickson, Bell, etc.  Those guys were supposed to provide immediate results while the young guys on the roster in the position group developed.  Now, with Joe B on a mega deal and Chase coming up fast, can they really afford to "buy" another set of good defenders?