Glass half full...from a normally glass half empty guy... future outlook

[*ochocincos*]

(01-02-2024, 03:29 PM)WeezyBengal Wrote: Team can still be in contention but it's going to take a really good off-season and money spent by the organization. They need to fill holes with quality players in free agency.

Yep they could lose some key cogs this offseason in Higgins (WR2), Boyd (slot WR), Reader (NT), and Jonah (RT).

Yes, some seem to have no issues letting Boyd and even Jonah walk to try to find a replacement, but it is possible to get worse at those positions based on the guys they currently have and the uncertainty that comes with a draft pick or new FA filling that spot instead.
Look at Nick Scott/Jordan Battle replacing Vonn Bell as an example.

Bengals will also likely be losing Chido, but some/many think that backfill is essentially covered in Turner's growth.
However, even if Turner gets promoted after Chido's departure, CB typically has injuries and thus quality depth is needed there.
It's possible the Bengals get worse at CB.

The Bengals do have the ability to tag one player if they need/want to reduce the need for replacements, and I would think they'd try to retain (at least) one of the incumbent guys mentioned above aside from whoever gets tagged, but I do think we'll see (at least) two departures.
We can't have the Bengals thinking guys like Irv Smith or Nick Scott will be quality replacements if any of the key guys leave. That's a recipe for disaster.