03-19-2019, 12:51 AM
(03-19-2019, 12:20 AM)BengalChris Wrote: In the grand scheme of winning a championship (which is all there is), I have to say that this off season has been underwhelming by a long ways to this point.I agree with this but we were never going to compete against the best this season or really even next. Zac was brought in and the whole thing needs rebuilt.
If we look at this team and ask ourselves if this team can beat New England, Kansas City and other power houses in the playoffs then our shortcomings become obvious.
The only upgrade so far has been at RG and how much of an upgrade that was is debatable.
We got weaker in the slot and we are sitting on close to $20M in cap space after rookie pool and injury reserve.
Sooooo, there is still room to improve this team without totally relying on the draft, which has had some notable misses in the last 5 years. In fact, not one of our 1st round picks in the last 5 years has had what one could call a good rookie seasons. In case anyone has forgotten who those players were, they are: Darquez Dennard, Ogbuehi, Willie Jackson III, John Ross and Billy Price - all with injury plagued rookie years.
Now I am certain the new coaching staff will bring something new where Marvin had become the same old same old, but the narrative that the team will be better by default is just asking for a top 5 pick next season and another last place finish.
The team should exercise its 5th year option on Jackson in the next few weeks, which will keep him here through the 2020 season.
That $20M we have in cap space can be used to extend AJ Green and Boyd and leave a fair bit left over.
But beyond those things, the team needs to do more if it wants compete for a championship and if it isn't competing for a championship, then it's just a fake sports franchise.
I think we are honestly looking at 2 years to get to the playoffs again and 3 or 4 before we can think about really competing, although I hope i'm wrong
