01-27-2021, 02:04 PM
(01-27-2021, 12:21 PM)ochocincos Wrote: If the Bengals re-sign Spain, get a good FA OT/OG, and then draft one within the first 3 rounds, I'll be satisfied.
Knowing the Bengals have typically preferred paying OTs more than OGs in the past, I could see them going after OT in FA vs OG and then drafting OG. They could feel that if they re-sign Spain, they'd have two starting-caliber OGs in Spain and XSF so as to not force the rookie to start.
I think the team can then use Day 3 of the draft to get more offensive weapons.
RT in FA and G in the draft isn't the worst strategy by a long shot.
If we go the other way around we'd likely be restricting our choices in the draft as we'd have to get the T in rounds 1 or 2 if we want a week 1 starter.
If we need a G we should be able to pick one up in the 2nd or 3rd who can start but re-signing Spain would provide an insurance policy. If a T is there in round 1 or 2 we could still take them and potentially slide them/Jonah inside. It would seem to be the cheapest way to provide draft flexibility.
FA RT such as Moton or D Williams
re-sign Spain
Round 1 Chase (or trade down and take Pitts)
Round 2 D playmaker
Round 3 Guard
It would also free up money to attack some of the second or third tier FAs/cap casualties who unexpectedly don't find quite the market they wanted - the Mackenzie Alexanders of 2021 free agency. Maybe one splash signing in free agency for a top tier O-lineman and then a handful of mid-tier guys on one year prove it deals - CB, Edge, WR, G. It wouldn't preclude us from drafting their long term successors as they'd mainly be on one year deals and we could maybe even sign multiple players at those positions and let them battle it out. Dre Kirkpatrick played on a one year $1.05m deal last year, Dennard a $1.01m deal. Former first round picks who have started for a number of years in the NFL but are out of favor. I'm not saying them specifically but other teams' versions of them: throw several of them at a problem position and see who sticks. Other teams will have their equivalents of Carlos Dunlap, Shawn Williams etc whose contracts have become too expensive or for whom scheme changes mean it is time to move on. Stock up on the experienced starters or rebound candidates at bargain prices (Mike Daniels was a a great depth signing last year) and use it to improve the depth. I'd rather sign half a dozen of these than one mid-tier FA on a bloated deal.
