05-24-2022, 02:43 PM
Everyone is going into the 2022 season worried about LG.
I know there are many that think Carman (or someone else) won't step up to the plate to solidify that spot heading into next offseason.
However, let's play a hypothetical and say that it does get solidified and the starting OL is set for 2+ years.
What other top position(s) will then need to be addressed to help set up success in 2023-2024?
For some help, here are some of the key guys hitting FA next offseason:
- Jessie Bates, starting FS (Dax Hill likely drafted as replacement though, or could replace Bell)
- Vonn Bell, starting SS
- Hayden Hurst, starting TE
- Drew Sample, TE2
- Eli Apple, starting CB2 (CTB likely drafted as replacement though)
- Germain Pratt, starting LB
Bengals currently have $15 mill in cap space for 2022, so they could roll over a good chunk of that to the current $31 mill cap for 2023 (assuming +$10 mill jump in base cap to $218 mill).
They'll likely have $40+ mill to work with, which should be enough to sign at least a few of the above guys to new contracts.
There also were some draft picks likely selected this past draft that could be in line to take over for some of the others above.
Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd also will be in their final year under contract in 2023. Mixon will still have two years left going into next season, but he'll free up quite a bit of cap starting next season if team wanted to.
For my own opinion, I'd like to see Bell (or Bates) extended, as well as Pratt.
I can't speak on Hurst much since I haven't seen him on this team yet, but I think there will be sufficient TEs in this next draft class who can be good starters. If anything, get a new TE2 who offers more than Sample.
I'd also look to draft a WR to eventually replace one of Higgins or Boyd, plus a RB to eventually replace Mixon.
I know there are many that think Carman (or someone else) won't step up to the plate to solidify that spot heading into next offseason.
However, let's play a hypothetical and say that it does get solidified and the starting OL is set for 2+ years.
What other top position(s) will then need to be addressed to help set up success in 2023-2024?
For some help, here are some of the key guys hitting FA next offseason:
- Jessie Bates, starting FS (Dax Hill likely drafted as replacement though, or could replace Bell)
- Vonn Bell, starting SS
- Hayden Hurst, starting TE
- Drew Sample, TE2
- Eli Apple, starting CB2 (CTB likely drafted as replacement though)
- Germain Pratt, starting LB
Bengals currently have $15 mill in cap space for 2022, so they could roll over a good chunk of that to the current $31 mill cap for 2023 (assuming +$10 mill jump in base cap to $218 mill).
They'll likely have $40+ mill to work with, which should be enough to sign at least a few of the above guys to new contracts.
There also were some draft picks likely selected this past draft that could be in line to take over for some of the others above.
Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd also will be in their final year under contract in 2023. Mixon will still have two years left going into next season, but he'll free up quite a bit of cap starting next season if team wanted to.
For my own opinion, I'd like to see Bell (or Bates) extended, as well as Pratt.
I can't speak on Hurst much since I haven't seen him on this team yet, but I think there will be sufficient TEs in this next draft class who can be good starters. If anything, get a new TE2 who offers more than Sample.
I'd also look to draft a WR to eventually replace one of Higgins or Boyd, plus a RB to eventually replace Mixon.
Zac Taylor 2019-2020: 6 total wins
Zac Taylor 2021-2022: Double-digit wins each season, plus 5 postseason wins
Zac Taylor 2023: 9 wins despite losing Burrow half the season
Zac Taylor 2024: 3-5 so far. If he can turn this into a playoff appearance, it will be impressive.
Sorry for Party Rocking!
Zac Taylor 2021-2022: Double-digit wins each season, plus 5 postseason wins
Zac Taylor 2023: 9 wins despite losing Burrow half the season
Zac Taylor 2024: 3-5 so far. If he can turn this into a playoff appearance, it will be impressive.
Sorry for Party Rocking!