Bengals needs after FA Frenzy

[XsandOs]

(03-22-2025, 01:17 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: You are absolutely correct. Too many holes to fill/upgrade possibilities and too little space and picks to realistically plug them all. LG, RG, DE2, TE1, SS, FS, CB1, LB2, WR3, plus a rotational  DT pass rusher, OT3, RB3, and PK. That's 13 spots. 9 feasibly starters. 

That ain't happening. We are gonna have to live with imperfect solutions at some spots, hope guys bounce back at others, hope guys improve at others, and hope the scheme/coaching helps others. 

But which is which and who is who? 6 picks + 1-3 small/medium FA signings is certainly feasible now. More if Burrow restructures or we shed significant salary. 

I think it is reasonable to try and get a starter on day 1 and a starter/rotational level guy on day 2. 4th round and below is rotational/depth. A starter is found money, and usually down the road. 

So hope for: 
FA: 1 more starter level
Draft: 1 starter + 2 starter/high rotational 
Draft: 3 depth 

So maybe 3-4 starter level solutions and living with the rest. 

EDIT: The easiest to live with? For me.


1. PK: McPherson: hope he bounces back with full health.

2. WR3: Yoshi. Trust in his trajectory and we do have Gesicki/Hudson as easentially WR3-4 options. And maybe Chuck Sizzle can stay healthy or Burton gets his head on straight. 

3. LB2: Pratt. Hope he bounces back. But don't have him out there 3 downs all the time.If he pitches a fit, start Burks or trade. That would at least free up some $$ and/or net a pick where we could draft some replacement LB depth.

Now we are down to: RG, LG, DE2, TE1, CB1, SS, FS, rotational DT pass rusher, OT3, RB3. 

I think hoping the new system helps the secondary guys is not unreasonable. Living with CTB at CB1 and Turner/Dax were both pretty good before injury. That takes CB1 off the board unless Johnson falls to #17. Maybe a Hikton replacement later in, a lot of good slots in the draft. 

And take 1 S off. One good one + Stone/Battle would give us 3 playable guys. 

So: RG, LG, DE2, TE1, 1 S, rotational DT/pass rush, CB4, OT3, RB3. 

Still a long list, but feels more doable. Probably gonna have to live with a substandard starter somewhere (Ossai, D. Sample, Battle/Stone, Patrick). 

But a Burrow restructure, a cut or two (Moss?), a trade back, and/or some good value FA signings and it really becomes possible to get close. 

1 of Hernandez/Scherff/Colon/Risner
1 of best bargain FA defense: Smith (DE), Gillmore (CB), Simmons/Blackmon (S) 
1 of best bargain FA: OT3 (Tyron Smith?)/RB3.

If we even get 2 of those, I'd be thrilled. 

I agree with your thoughts and will add that given the upgrades needed, we have to look at a realistic timeline of another SB run. 

I am guessing 2 years. I know the board members may not like this, but that is how I see it. 

Argument can be made that an interior OL, a 3-tech, CB, LB and a S, would complete the Team for a run this year. But that is assuming that all 5 would be starter level additions, and that Murphy can be a capable LDE and someone currently on the roster can man one of the G positions. And Trey is re-signed.

So, then the questions is which positions do you address now, and which ones next offseason? Keeping in mind that some players will have contracts expiring after this year, i.e. CBT, Ossai, Pratt, Karras, Stone, Volson, Hill, etc.

That is why CB, S, LB, G and DE are considered positions of need for this draft. Not to upgrade the Team, but use the draft to do what it is supposed to do - replenish for the future.