{The Ultimate Bengals Offseason Extravaganza Thread}

[*ochocincos*]

(04-08-2025, 11:49 AM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: Yep. And rhe "draft a replacement at #17" idea is absurd. Tyere isn't one. There is one surefire DE stud in this draft, and that is Carter. Everything else is a crapshoot. Green and Pearce are undersized with off-field flags. Stewart & M. Williams have the traits but have production flags. Thinking there is a Trey replacement at #17 is insane. 

Just get a guy who can upgrade a spot where we are weak (G, S, LB, TE, CB1) or can help augment an area of need (pass rush). 

I see more plug & play starter types at G, LB, & S than DL at our pick. Though I like Harmon/Nolen/Grant just fine.

Where's the undersized coming from?

Will Anderson - DE at 6'4", 243 lbs. 11 sacks last year
Will McDonald - DE at 6'4", 236 lbs. 10.5 sacks last year
Brian Burns - DE at 6'5", 250 lbs. 8.5 sacks last year

Green is shorter at 6'3", but he got up to 251 for offseason measurables, but he did play closer to 220-230.
Pearce is 6'5", 245 lbs.
These guys are right about the same as the guys above.

Pass rushers like this can be great if used properly.
Not all 4-3 DEs have to be 265+ lbs.

Hendrickson is not praised for his run defense. He's praised for his relentless pass rushing.

Pearce is going to win with his explosive speed.
I think he will succeed as a 4-3 DE, especially as he packs on 5-10 lbs of muscle over the course of a season or so.

Green I think is going to fit more in the mold of a TJ Watt, Kyle Van Noy type of pass rushing OLB. I have concerns about his level of competition inflating his production and some serious off-field accusations that resulted in him transferring schools, but I can still see him being a 7+ sack guy in a 3-4 defense.