Options at 12?

[SunsetBengal]

(01-08-2018, 10:10 AM)ochocincos Wrote: I get that, but three things in response:
1) Andrew Billings was drafted specifically to handle NT duties and he essentially was just a rookie last year and coming off a season-ending injury from the year prior. Not to mention he was only 20 when he entered the league two years ago so he's still rather young.
2) A ton of people (on this board especially) thought Billings would be a dominant NT for the Bengals and was worth their first round pick. When he fell to the fourth, everyone thought it was a steal. If you believed Billings was worth a first rounder because you thought he'd be dominant, why give up on that notion and look for a replacement after just one season? And if a player like Billings disappoints, who is to say Vea or Payne wouldn't do the same?
3) It's easier and cheaper to find a good run-stuffing NT in FA compared to a really good interior pass rusher.

With all that said, I think it makes sense to stick with Billings and bring in a cheaper FA to compete with him if you don't believe in him taking the next step in Year 3.
Draft the interior pass rusher because pass rushers are more expensive and this draft has a nice handful of those to pick from, plus Atkins could leave after 2018.
Getting an interior pass rusher now would not only line up a potential replacement for Atkins while giving that draft pick a year to develop, but it would also give the Bengals a good option to put next to him on passing downs in 2018.

Well, billings is heading into the 3rd of a 4yr deal.  If he suddenly emerges as a force, won't that make him a high cost contract to retain?  From what I've seen of his play on the field, Vita Vea looks pretty complete.  Big and stout enough to absorb two blockers versus the run, and athletic enough to get after the passer.

Now, this is all supposition, mind you.  But, if Vea were taken in the 1st, he would be on a 5 year deal.  Meaning that;  A.  Billings would have serious competition to beat out.  B.  Would make one hell of a rotation, while both were on the team.  C.  They have a stud to take over, should Billings become unaffordable to sign to a second contract.  D.  If all played out well, it would make a potential starter like Glassgow expendable as a potential trade piece.

Not to mention, Vea is a STs ace, and i would rather see him as a Bengal, than be faced with him terrorizing the Bengals twice each season.