03-10-2025, 10:19 AM
My expectations:
Veteran versatile lineman to compete for a starting job with Volson, Ford and round 3-5 draft pic. Patrick Mekari on a Karras type deal might be a decent shout here given his age, experience of AFC N and it’s always good to take from your rivals.
Still ascending (?) DE looking for a second contract. This could be Ossai returning, it could be someone like Koonce, Ojulari or even Chase Young (who played on a one year deal last year). This will likely be their biggest splash.
Veteran DT - someone on the way down but hopefully still has some juice left. Maybe Jonathan Allen is the hope here but I think he’ll be too expensive and they’ll get a lower tier guy instead.
I’d also expect a second veteran to be added later on a one year deal as well to compete in camp
Veteran RB - a proven pass protector who can be RB2 without getting Burrow killed.
Wild cards
Safety & LB - if someone they like’s market is weaker than expected (like Vonn Bell in 2020) they may sign Stone/Pratt’s replacements in FA.
That would be enough to give them some flexibility in the draft (they’ll still need to draft DT, DE, G and likely LB and RB but if they’re not ready before the bye the veterans can hold the fort) so they can still take the better prospect not just those ready to start week 1.
Veteran versatile lineman to compete for a starting job with Volson, Ford and round 3-5 draft pic. Patrick Mekari on a Karras type deal might be a decent shout here given his age, experience of AFC N and it’s always good to take from your rivals.
Still ascending (?) DE looking for a second contract. This could be Ossai returning, it could be someone like Koonce, Ojulari or even Chase Young (who played on a one year deal last year). This will likely be their biggest splash.
Veteran DT - someone on the way down but hopefully still has some juice left. Maybe Jonathan Allen is the hope here but I think he’ll be too expensive and they’ll get a lower tier guy instead.
I’d also expect a second veteran to be added later on a one year deal as well to compete in camp
Veteran RB - a proven pass protector who can be RB2 without getting Burrow killed.
Wild cards
Safety & LB - if someone they like’s market is weaker than expected (like Vonn Bell in 2020) they may sign Stone/Pratt’s replacements in FA.
That would be enough to give them some flexibility in the draft (they’ll still need to draft DT, DE, G and likely LB and RB but if they’re not ready before the bye the veterans can hold the fort) so they can still take the better prospect not just those ready to start week 1.
