02-17-2017, 11:50 AM
How the Bengals use and work the cap is fine by me. I don't see many FA's coming in and making monster differences. They need to draft better. MUCH better than they have the last 3 or 4 seasons. Not getting much major impact out of 1st & 2nd rounders as of late is what's KILLING them. It's not the big $$$ FA's that they are passing on or the players they choose to not resign. The Bengals have done superbly in managing the Cap since the new CBA.
For what it's worth, I have ZERO issues letting Zeitler go in FA. ZERO. The Pats drafted Thuney in the 3rd round last year and the kid started guard every game, didn't miss a snap, and protected an old QB perfectly well all the way to the trophy. Whitworth was a 2nd round guard. Boling 4th. There are plenty.. plenty.. plenty for excellent linemen available without the premium of a first round pick or huge contract.
This years draft is light on high Oline grades. But there will be talent there in the 2nd or 3rd. Who's to say the bengals don't trade back a little in the 1st and pick up an extra 2nd or 3rd?
Pre-combine Oline grades as of today: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/tracker?icampaign=draft-sub_nav_bar-drafteventpage-tracker#dt-tabs:dt-by-position/dt-by-position-input:ol
What if they resigned Whitworth, moved OG into guard, and then took another young OT in the 2nd? That would give them Bengals 3 young linemen to develop and NOT have to pay Zeitler. I'm not as down on OG as most people. He had a bad first year (rookie year he basically missed). Perhaps he's a better G than T and they just need to work him in that way. I'm willing to let the big money G go and draft.
Hell, I would rather the Bengals let Zeitler go - Draft an OT or G - and spread his money around to maybe sign a guy like Mario Williams (better at this point in a rotation) to a 2 year deal and add another impact LB, WR or something.
For what it's worth, I have ZERO issues letting Zeitler go in FA. ZERO. The Pats drafted Thuney in the 3rd round last year and the kid started guard every game, didn't miss a snap, and protected an old QB perfectly well all the way to the trophy. Whitworth was a 2nd round guard. Boling 4th. There are plenty.. plenty.. plenty for excellent linemen available without the premium of a first round pick or huge contract.
This years draft is light on high Oline grades. But there will be talent there in the 2nd or 3rd. Who's to say the bengals don't trade back a little in the 1st and pick up an extra 2nd or 3rd?
Pre-combine Oline grades as of today: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/tracker?icampaign=draft-sub_nav_bar-drafteventpage-tracker#dt-tabs:dt-by-position/dt-by-position-input:ol
What if they resigned Whitworth, moved OG into guard, and then took another young OT in the 2nd? That would give them Bengals 3 young linemen to develop and NOT have to pay Zeitler. I'm not as down on OG as most people. He had a bad first year (rookie year he basically missed). Perhaps he's a better G than T and they just need to work him in that way. I'm willing to let the big money G go and draft.
Hell, I would rather the Bengals let Zeitler go - Draft an OT or G - and spread his money around to maybe sign a guy like Mario Williams (better at this point in a rotation) to a 2 year deal and add another impact LB, WR or something.
