Bengals needs after FA Frenzy

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

From what I can find, quickly, here are the players we have met with and the type of meeting, by position.

https://atozsports.com/nfl/cincinnati-bengals-news/bengals-2025-prospect-meeting-tracker-nfl-scouting-combine/

https://walterfootball.com/ProspectMeetingsByTeam2025.php

https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/3/22/24390202/isaiah-neyor-bengals-nebraska-wr

https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/news/cincinnati-bengals-bringing-top-playmaker-nick-emmanwori-visit-2025-nfl-draft-01jpq61hx4k0

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/bengals-host-josh-conerly-top-093116997.html

DE:
Stewart, Texas A&M, Combine
Scourton, Texas A&M, Combine

EDGE/OLB:
Green, Marshall, Combine
Pearce, Tennessee, Combine 
M. Williams, Georgia, Combine
Oliver, Oklahoma State, Combine

G:
Ratledge, Georgia, Combine 
Slater, Sacramento State, Combine

DT:
Nolen, Ole Miss, Combine
Walker, Kentucky, Combine

S:
Emmanwori, South Carolina, visit (Top 30?)
Starks, Georgia, Combine
Winston Jr., Penn State, Combine
Mickens, Clemson, Combine

TE:
Warren, Penn State, Combine
Loveland, Michigan, Combine 
Taylor, LSU, Combine 
Helm, Texas, Combine

CB:
Johnson, Michigan, Combine
Amos, Ole Miss, Combine

LB:
Carter, Clemson, Combine
Martin, Oklahoma State, Top 30

WR:
Egbuka, Ohio State, Combine
Golden, Texas, Combine
Bryant, Illinois, Combine
Nash, San Jose State, Combine
Collins, Notre Dame, Combine
Brown, Miami, Combine
Armstrong, Arkansas, Pro Day
TeSlaa, Arkansas, Pro Day
Neyor, Nebraska, meeting

C: 
Wilson, Georgia, Combine
Monheim, USC, Combine

OT: 
Conerly, Oregon, Top 30
Brown, Kansas, Combine
Crenshaw-Dickson, Florida, Combine
Williams, Cincy, Combine
Travis, Iowa State, Combine
Pierce, Rutgers, Combine

RB:
Jeanty, Boise State, Combine
Monangai, Rutgers, Combine 
Kiner, Cincy, Combine
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I am absulolutely, positively sure I am missing some. And did not include general visits to pro days (Georgia, for instance) where Bengals coaches were spotted. Only player specific ones. 

But if someone wants to add that on, and listcwhich coaches were there, to hint at who we were looking at, feel free. 

Just use that list as a base and go from there.

[Soonerpeace]

(03-23-2025, 08:12 AM)TJHoushmandzadeh Wrote: I was talking 3T specifically. Slaton is purely a NT. NT was a need (we saw what happened last year when they failed to adequately replace DJ Reader) but so is a pass rushing 3T.


I hope the plan is for more than that. They do need more picks to fill all the holes but this is a position they valued enough to spend $6m+ on Larry Ogunjobi when they went to the Super Bowl. It was then enough of a need that they reached for Zach Carter in the third round in the 2022 draft after Ogunjobi left. When that didn’t work they then spent $26m in free agency in 2024 on Sheldon Rankins. Rankins was the 5th highest cap hit on the team last year. It would be quite the climb down to go from 5th highest cap hit to we don’t need a player who can do this.

They’ve invested in B J Hill contract so I think they may pick up a late rounder possibly. 

[Bengalbug]

(Yesterday, 02:22 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: They’ve invested in B J Hill contract so I think they may pick up a late rounder possibly. 

Give me Calais Campbell. 1 year… $2,000,000. Where is the risk, or downside? He produces, great locker room presence.

[*ochocincos*]

(Yesterday, 02:22 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: They’ve invested in B J Hill contract so I think they may pick up a late rounder possibly. 

Yep, 3 more years for BJ Hill, Kris Jenkins, and McKinnley Jackson.
2 years for Slaton, although I thought very little dead money after this season.
So for this year, DT pretty set in stone aside from some pass rush.
2026-2027 though, they may be looking for another starter or at least play significant snaps.

[Luvnit2]

(Yesterday, 04:17 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Yep, 3 more years for BJ Hill, Kris Jenkins, and McKinnley Jackson.
2 years for Slaton, although I thought very little dead money after this season.
So for this year, DT pretty set in stone aside from some pass rush.
2026-2027 though, they may be looking for another starter or at least play significant snaps.

I agree on DT position. 2 vets and 2 second year draftees spell highly unlikely Bengals draft or sign another DT in 2025.

Our top needs are still in mu opiion

Safety and Guard are tied at top.
DE/Edge is second
Then a toss up between LB and RB as both poisitions are light are credible bodies right now.

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(Yesterday, 04:05 PM)Bengalbug Wrote: Give me Calais Campbell.  1 year… $2,000,000.  Where is the risk, or downside?  He produces, great locker room presence.

I mean, we usually carry 5. And while Jenkins and Jackson showed flashes, both were under 60 for PFF, and Jenkinsunder 50. We brought BJ back and signed Slaton, neither guy laid claim to a starting spot. 

We usually carry 5 DTs. Room for 1 more, easily..And while Campbell is not a great pass rusher, he is above average...and the #1 rated PFF DT vs the run. I'd call him for sure. 

Heck, I'd much rather carry Campbell and an extra drafted DT disrupter than some of the dead weight elsewhere (Burton, McLachlan, etc.).

[*ochocincos*]

(Yesterday, 04:26 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: I agree on DT position. 2 vets and 2 second year draftees spell highly unlikely Bengals draft or sign another DT in 2025.

Our top needs are still in mu opiion

Safety and Guard are tied at top.
DE/Edge is second
Then a toss up between LB and RB as both poisitions are light are credible bodies right now.

(Yesterday, 05:11 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: I mean, we usually carry 5. And while Jenkins and Jackson showed flashes, both were under 60 for PFF, and Jenkinsunder 50. We brought BJ back and signed Slaton, neither guy laid claim to a starting spot. 

We usually carry 5 DTs. Room for 1 more, easily..And while Campbell is not a great pass rusher, he is above average...and the #1 rated PFF DT vs the run. I'd call him for sure. 

Heck, I'd much rather carry Campbell and an extra drafted DT disrupter than some of the dead weight elsewhere (Burton, McLachlan, etc.).

I actually think they'll draft a guy in the mid-late rounds who will be the 5th DT.
The only exception I could see is if Golden actually decides he wants 4 full-time DTs and have 1-2 of the DEs pivot more often inside as nickel DTs like the Fanene/Rucker days.
If they do that, I think Rylie Mills is a clear target, as he can play base 4-3 DE who kicks inside on 3rd down.

[Bengalbug]

(Yesterday, 05:11 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: I mean, we usually carry 5. And while Jenkins and Jackson showed flashes, both were under 60 for PFF, and Jenkinsunder 50. We brought BJ back and signed Slaton, neither guy laid claim to a starting spot. 

We usually carry 5 DTs. Room for 1 more, easily..And while Campbell is not a great pass rusher, he is above average...and the #1 rated PFF DT vs the run. I'd call him for sure. 

Heck, I'd much rather carry Campbell and an extra drafted DT disrupter than some of the dead weight elsewhere (Burton, McLachlan, etc.).

I’d argue he is one of the better pass rush DTs in the league.

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(7 hours ago)Bengalbug Wrote: I’d argue he is one of the better pass rush DTs in the league.

He graded out above average last year (PFF), but was still sub 70. #1 DT vs the run. He'd be the 2nd best DL on the team, but I still think he is better vs the run  though an improvement for us vs the pass. 

BJ was playing the NT role next to Rankins/Jenkins most of last year. Next to Slaton/Jackson, he shoukd be more of a DT this year, and I expect a slight uptick in his pass rush numbers. 

We are assuming Campbell will be cheap, he may not be.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

Surprised we didn't meet with Jalon Walker or Jihad Campbell for the Viper position in Golden's Defense.

I could see Shemar Stewart or Mike Green being the pick because of this. 

Emmanwori we met with, this is who I am leaning towards more and more. Stud Safety can really help an entire Defense as we have seen with
the Ravens over the years. Emmanwori could be Sean Taylor 2.0.