Quinton Spain is visiting Cincy this week; likely to sign

[Essex Johnson]

(10-27-2020, 01:56 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: Personally, my goal is to build a great OL, not a mediocre one. I'd sign Spain & worry about the rest later. He is miles better than Sutherland (who we can waive), and Redmond can be a backup where he belongs.

My OL plan would look something like this for next year (2021 cap/dead cap):

OG: Spain (?/?, 3 yr/15 mil last deal), XSF ($3.2/$667k), Jordan ($972k/$244k) + 1 FA/ draft.
OT: J. Williams ($4.8/$10.4), +1 FA/draft, Adeniji ($832k/$159k).
C: Hopkins ($6.6 mil/$2.25)

Borderline: Hart ($6.9 mil, $1.1 dead cap), Johnson ($850k/0), Price ($3.7 mil/$1.6).

Gone or PS: Redmond, Sutherland.

I'd be loathe to release anyone who is even a low-level starter level guy (Hopkins, Hart) or slightly better (Spain). Williams is already at least that. Spain does not break the bank, he should come cheaper than Hart or Hopkins.

Jordan, Johnson, & Adeniji are all projects, but also dirt cheap. Jordan is the furthest along. If they show there is a chance to be a player, they stay.

Hopkins has to stay, unless we want Price to stay. Those guys are our only C options at the moment.

Now, if Johnson, Adeniji, and/or Price really show out the next couple weeks, then maybe letting Hart/Hopkins go & using that $$ for a stud lineman becomes more of an option.

Dream OL scenario: Johnson & Adeniji show enough to release Hart for next year (though he's fine as a backup). Sign Thuney. Draft Sewell.

I don't think we will pick that high, however. Sewell apoears to be the only stud OT prospect, so it is FA for a stud OT or more Hart. Though convincing a stud OT to play here is gonna be hard.

Well Hart is having a better year if he continues to play well enough back from injury.. for that price we could totally keep him and draft a OT for the future.  It is really hard to find a really good OT in FA.. and we are couple years away from being competitive probably so I prefer to sign a middle level guard/tackle next year and draft two lineman early rounds