12-04-2020, 02:50 PM
When I mock offseasons in my own mind sometimes I go "dream scenario," sometimes "what I would do" scenario, and sometimes "what the Bengals might do that won't make me sad" scenario.
This one is the latter. Let me be clear, **I am not advocating anything here**. I'm just trying to work within the parameters of how the Bengals FO typically behaves (last offseason's spending spree notwithstanding. I think the Waynes, Reader and XSF injuries might scare the rabbit back down the hole).
So here are the background assumptions of this mock:
Zac and Turner both retained, Anarumo fired. Aaron Glenn hired away from the Saints as our new DC.
Geno, XSF and Finney all cut.
WJIII, Alexander, Sims, Wilson, Huber, Bullock, Lawson, Perine, Thomas, Spain, Covington, Carter, Allen, Brown and Bledsoe all re-signed. Remember I'm advocating nothing here - just trying to think like the Bengals. Guys like Brown, Covington, etc might get cut in camp anyway, but I figure on these things to bring the roster to 51 to accurately model (using overthecap.com) how much money we have to spend.
Green and Williams and any other FA walk.
Bengals sign 3 mid to lower tier FAs, each in the $3M APY range. I base this on spotrac.com, and my own dot-connecting:
A.J. McCarron (gulp)
Tyus Bowser, OLB from the Ravens. Aids in transition to 3-4, was a great leader at Univ of Houston when our TE coach worked there.
Jermaine Eluemenor, G from the Pats. Yeah I love Thuney too but this is the type of OG the Bengals will sign, and he played for Turner at Texas A&M. Can't you just see it?
Based on my own, admittedly amateur, calculations the cap calculator at overthecap.com, we can do this and still have money to pay rookies and extend Bates, and have an injury pad left over.
This mock is also based on the assumption that a trade down is available, and the other team wants a top QB so we get a bonanza. Yes I know that may not happen, but indulge me here.
I did this at Thedraftnetwork.com, but can't seem to embed it here. You have to imagine an initial trade down with the Eagles, followed by a bunch of other trades up. These weren't all TDN's highest rated guys, I used my own knowledge/opinions too:
6. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU
35. Take your pick of Carlos Basham, Aidan Hutchinson, or Jalen Twyman. I took Basham but regardless a pass rushing 5-tech for our 3-4 looks
38. Jackson Carman, OT, Clemson. To groom behind Hart, and he's from Cincy!
54. Tyler Shelvin, NT, LSU. Massive and raw, but his ceiling is Vince Wilfork (his floor is Pat Sims though). Pair him w/ Reader inside makes us STOUT.
104. Elijah Molden, CB, UW. One of the top slot corners in the draft.
146. James Wiggins, S, UC Bearcats.
181. Ronnie Bell, WR, Michigan.
182. Chris Rumph, Edge, Duke.
247. Chris Wilcox, CB, BYU.
Again, this is the "what might the Bengals really do that wouldn't make me pull my hair out" scenario. My "dream scenario" or "what I would do" scenarios are far better. My only question here is, would you totally hate it?
This one is the latter. Let me be clear, **I am not advocating anything here**. I'm just trying to work within the parameters of how the Bengals FO typically behaves (last offseason's spending spree notwithstanding. I think the Waynes, Reader and XSF injuries might scare the rabbit back down the hole).
So here are the background assumptions of this mock:
Zac and Turner both retained, Anarumo fired. Aaron Glenn hired away from the Saints as our new DC.
Geno, XSF and Finney all cut.
WJIII, Alexander, Sims, Wilson, Huber, Bullock, Lawson, Perine, Thomas, Spain, Covington, Carter, Allen, Brown and Bledsoe all re-signed. Remember I'm advocating nothing here - just trying to think like the Bengals. Guys like Brown, Covington, etc might get cut in camp anyway, but I figure on these things to bring the roster to 51 to accurately model (using overthecap.com) how much money we have to spend.
Green and Williams and any other FA walk.
Bengals sign 3 mid to lower tier FAs, each in the $3M APY range. I base this on spotrac.com, and my own dot-connecting:
A.J. McCarron (gulp)
Tyus Bowser, OLB from the Ravens. Aids in transition to 3-4, was a great leader at Univ of Houston when our TE coach worked there.
Jermaine Eluemenor, G from the Pats. Yeah I love Thuney too but this is the type of OG the Bengals will sign, and he played for Turner at Texas A&M. Can't you just see it?
Based on my own, admittedly amateur, calculations the cap calculator at overthecap.com, we can do this and still have money to pay rookies and extend Bates, and have an injury pad left over.
This mock is also based on the assumption that a trade down is available, and the other team wants a top QB so we get a bonanza. Yes I know that may not happen, but indulge me here.
I did this at Thedraftnetwork.com, but can't seem to embed it here. You have to imagine an initial trade down with the Eagles, followed by a bunch of other trades up. These weren't all TDN's highest rated guys, I used my own knowledge/opinions too:
6. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU
35. Take your pick of Carlos Basham, Aidan Hutchinson, or Jalen Twyman. I took Basham but regardless a pass rushing 5-tech for our 3-4 looks
38. Jackson Carman, OT, Clemson. To groom behind Hart, and he's from Cincy!
54. Tyler Shelvin, NT, LSU. Massive and raw, but his ceiling is Vince Wilfork (his floor is Pat Sims though). Pair him w/ Reader inside makes us STOUT.
104. Elijah Molden, CB, UW. One of the top slot corners in the draft.
146. James Wiggins, S, UC Bearcats.
181. Ronnie Bell, WR, Michigan.
182. Chris Rumph, Edge, Duke.
247. Chris Wilcox, CB, BYU.
Again, this is the "what might the Bengals really do that wouldn't make me pull my hair out" scenario. My "dream scenario" or "what I would do" scenarios are far better. My only question here is, would you totally hate it?
