03-08-2016, 03:34 AM
(03-08-2016, 02:16 AM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Iloka has a ton of potential, but right now it's just mostly potential. He had a great 2014, but it was sandwiched by two okay/slightly above average seasons.
Right this second, Nelson is the vastly better safety and it's not even close. While Nelson doesn't have 5-6 years or whatever in him and Iloka does, the fact remains the Bengals need to start worrying about winning NOW. Their players are not getting any younger. So what if Nelson only has two more years left in him? Those two years are the most important two for the Bengals franchise.
Think about where the Bengals will be after two more seasons.
Carlos Dunlap will be 29 and in his contract year.
Geno Atkins will be 30 and in his contract year.
Michael Johnson will be 31 and in his contract year.
AJ Green will be 30.
Vontaze Burfict will be a free agent.
Andrew Whitworth will be retired.
Leon Hall will likely be retired.
Rey Maualuga will be 31 and a free agent.
Not counting all the other people who will be FA before then.
- - - - -
Youth and potential is good and all, but at some point the Bengals need to try to win it all NOW before they finish wasting the prime years of all their best talent. So between Nelson and Iloka, give me Nelson because he'll be better at helping you try to win now.
I also feel much better about Nelson and Williams than Iloka and Williams.
But Iloka is already a better safety than Nelson, it's not about potential, it's about reality.
That's why he'll get more on the market and why we'll sign Nelson most likely unfortunately.
