Your Top 3 fixes (Players)

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(12-09-2020, 11:51 AM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: We already have 16 million in cap committed to Waynes next season.  Let's just assume WJIII makes in the neighborhood of 8-12 million per (dependent on years, guaranteed money, and the market in a reduced cap year) and split the difference at 10 mil per.

You now have 26 million dollars committed to Waynes and WJIII in a 175 million cap year.  That is a lot of money to commit to two CB's that are nowhere near elite.

I really like Alexander, and would like to keep him as well.  But he's not going to be cheap either.  Believe it or not, Spotrac actually has his market value set at 8 mil.  I think we got a steep discount on a 1 year deal.  He's not going to go for peanuts.

You say you don't get better by on defense by losing your best parts, but you also don't improve your OL or DL by not making sacrifices at other positions.

Is WJIII worth so much to you that you'd be willing to miss out on signing a Joe Thuney?  Is he really that valuable we can choose to ignore other desperate needs?

To each their own, but I think most CB's outside of the shutdown elite, are overvalued.  If we can build a better DL, that actually gets pressure, then we can make below average to average DB's look average to good.  WJIII is a decent corner, but we have so many more pressing needs.

If you didn't notice the play of Sims and how he crippled our pass defense this year, then you won't understand why I want to keep WJIII.  You said he isn't elite, and while I agree with that he is a very solid CB that has some inconsistent play.  I will ask when he has played with a good defensive line?  That is how the steelers get away with average corner play is they get great pressure up front.  The Bengals are among the absolute worst in the league.  

I agree that Alexander was a bargain and will command more money, but it was still less than Dennard apparently wanted (and didn't get).

I am far from an expert on the cap argument, but I would be willing to part with the likes of Geno, Williams, Hart, XSF, Finney, and AJ Green before I ever let WJIII out the door.  I know not all those guys are signed next year, but you get what I am saying.  If there is so much pie to go around, I don't give those aforementioned guys a slice.  I know Ross comes off the books, too.  

I would imagine they would use the franchise tag on Lawson before WJIII as he has been a one-year wonder of health and solid production.  I know everyone wants 15 sacks out of the guy but he gets a lot of pressures and the opposing QB has too easy a time stepping up in the pocket due to pathetic DT play.  WJIII should be extended long term.  Waynes is only signed for two more years and although I don't know the details of his contract, after sitting out this entire year,  I would be inclined to give Phillips a long look and consider moving on from Waynes.  

The Bengals are on the cheap at QB, LBs, and DE right now.  They need to invest in the CB position and then draft help on the defensive line.  Even with Tupou and/or Wren possibly coming back, none of those guys are pressure generators.  That should be a high priority after Rd 1.