Well who comes back ?

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(01-01-2017, 08:39 PM)bfine32 Wrote: FYI, below are the folks whose contacts expire and their age


Domata Peko DT 32 
Andrew Whitworth LT 35
Dre Kirkpatrick CB 27 
Kevin Zeitler G 26 
Margus Hunt DE 29 *
Brandon LaFell WR 30 
Rex Burkhead RB 26 
Cedric Peerman RB 30
Karlos Dansby ILB 35 
Eric Winston RT 33 *
Wallace Gilberry DE 32 *
Brandon Thompson DT 27 
Chykie Brown CB 30 
Randy Bullock K 27 *
T.J. Johnson C 26 
Paul Dawson OLB 23 **

If Billings comes back healthy and strong, I don't think Peko makes it. Peko is a locker room guy, but a detriment on the field.

Whit NEEDS to be brought back. They have 0 other starting caliber tackles on this team.

Kirkpatrick will probably get a big offer elsewhere. A shame they spent 5 years to finally turn him into a decent starter, but there was some ridiculous CB money being thrown around last offseason. There are 10 CB making $10m/yr+ in the NFL in 2017, 16 CB making $9m/yr+ in 2017. Not sure I would want to drop 5yr/$45m on a CB who has one good year as a starter (his contract year) and still makes a lot of boneheaded penalties.

Zeitler had a down year, but from what I have read he is chasing the money. He cut off contract negotiations with the Bengals after DeCastro got his $10m/yr deal. I think he chases the money and goes elsewhere.

Hunt probably gets a 1 year offer based off his blocked kicks, and is given a chance to compete with Gilberry, Clarke, and a draft pick to make the team.

LaFell was a good signing at 1yr/$2.5m, but he's rebuilt his value now. Not sure I like the probable 3yr/$15-18m for a guy who will turn 31 next season and had under 40 yards receiving in 8 of the 16 games this year. Bengals need to get someone who can stretch the field and get separation.

Burkhead will be this year's Andrew Hawkins. Someone they should keep, but will let slip away. I am not sure I see the Bengals being able to cut ties with Jeremy Hill, and they just gave Gio a contract extension this season, so not sure Burkhead will stay as a 3rd stringer.

Peerman really doesn't bring anything to the team anymore except some locker room leadership. That's less useful when you can't help on the field, too.

Dansby was signed in FA 3 years too late. Guy is done.

Winston will probably sign a 1 year deal again to be a backup tackle. Might have to compete with Ogbuehi/Fisher/or Draft Pick for a roster spot.

Gilberry likely comes back on a 1 year deal to compete for a roster spot with Hunt, Clarke, and a draft pick.

Short any injuries, I don't see Brandon Thompson being brought back.

Chykie Brown should have never made the 2016, so watch the Bengals bring him back for 2017.

Bullock probably signed on a 1 or 2 year deal with no dead money to be cut, and competes with a late draft pick or UDFA.

With my prediction of Zeitler leaving, Westerman goes to RG, leaving TJ Johnson as the backup LG, C, RG. Probably along with a draft pick.

Paul Dawson likely comes back on a 1 year minimum deal, gets beat out for a roster spot in preseason, and goes back on the PS for the 3rd year.


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* = They will be brought in on a 1 year deal to try to win a roster spot.

** = Will probably go back on the PS, for his 3rd and final year of eligibility.