{The Ultimate Bengals Offseason Extravaganza Thread}

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(03-19-2025, 02:15 PM)Goalpost Wrote: His combine numbers, with a 9.95 RAS, were impressive.

I really like his film and the number of things he can do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXCaKuJQ2Bg

Those are some impressive highlights alright. Thanks Goalpost.

Jihad is like 3 players in one, a Linebacker, an End and a Safety. He can tackle, rush the passer and cover. Would be great value for these reasons
and is the type of Linebacker Golden would love to have play the Viper position.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(03-19-2025, 02:46 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Exactly. Since Burrow has been here:

Logan Wilson - 3rd round
Ossai - 3rd round
Dax - 1st round
CTB - 2nd round
Zach Carter - 3rd round
Murphy - 1st round
Turner - 2nd round
Battle - 3rd round
Jenkins - 2nd round
Jackson - 3rd round

That’s a lot of premium picks. So I’m not sure where this boo hoo the poor defense narrative is coming from.

And I expect us to Draft more Defense in this next Draft as well for Golden. As long as we make the right picks and Golden and the rest of the
Defensive staff can develop them he is not in a terrible spot. We need to address Guard on Offense and maybe TE and RB but that is about it
and we should still bring in at least one Guard soon enough.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(03-19-2025, 01:15 PM)jj22 Wrote: Retirement maybe? The whole situation with the guard market is odd. The rest must have issues maybe outside of financial (injuries/retirement).

Yeah, maybe Scherff is planning on retiring. Hernandez is coming off an ACL. Jenkins has problems staying healthy etc.

[THE PISTONS]

(03-19-2025, 02:40 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: And I expect us to Draft more Defense in this next Draft as well for Golden. As long as we make the right picks and Golden and the rest of the
Defensive staff can develop them he is not in a terrible spot. We need to address Guard on Offense and maybe TE and RB but that is about it
and we should still bring in at least one Guard soon enough.

Out of any draft, getting 2 starters is a pretty good draft. So we could use many picks on guys, but most will be special teamers, etc.

[THE PISTONS]

(03-19-2025, 02:32 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Those are some impressive highlights alright. Thanks Goalpost.

Jihad is like 3 players in one, a Linebacker, an End and a Safety. He can tackle, rush the passer and cover. Would be great value for these reasons
and is the type of Linebacker Golden would love to have play the Viper position.

It's interesting, but I've been looking at him too. I think our LB room needs something. Maybe it's him?

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(03-19-2025, 02:52 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Out of any draft, getting 2 starters is a pretty good draft. So we could use many picks on guys, but most will be special teamers, etc.

There are some instant starters that fit our needs to be had around 17 this year though. Jihad Campbell, Jalon Walker, Walter Nolen, Kenneth Grant,
Emmanwori...

These are some awesome players that I believe all would be instant starters and not just ST'ers as rookies. Not to mention a Guard, TE or RB in the 
2nd to mid rounds where there aren't much in front of them. At Guard we have nobody, at TE we have Gesicki but he is more of a big WR, at RB we 
have Chase Brown but Perine is getting up there in age and this is a deep Draft with tons of talent at RB.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(03-19-2025, 02:54 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: It's interesting, but I've been looking at him too. I think our LB room needs something. Maybe it's him?

Yeah, Jihad is different than anything we have drafted at LB in some time. Could be a star in the NFL if used right.

[007BengalsFan]

(03-19-2025, 02:46 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Exactly. Since Burrow has been here:

Logan Wilson - 3rd round
Ossai - 3rd round
Dax - 1st round
CTB - 2nd round
Zach Carter - 3rd round
Murphy - 1st round
Turner - 2nd round
Battle - 3rd round
Jenkins - 2nd round
Jackson - 3rd round

That’s a lot of premium picks. So I’m not sure where this boo hoo the poor defense narrative is coming from.

The reason they have spent so many premium picks on the defense is because they let a lot the better talent leave from the defense so they could save money to give to the offensive guys.  Its also not like they havent used premium picks on the offense in the past 5 years either

Burrow - 1st round
Higgins - 2nd round
Chase - 1st round
Carman - 2nd round
Mims - 1st round
Burton - 3rd round

In the past 5 years the Bengals have spent just as many 1st and 2nd round draft picks on offense as they have defense, 5

[CJD]

My big issue with the way this all happened was that we didn't do it earlier. Probably cost the team ~7 to 10M AAV by not getting these deals signed last off season.

That's a starting guard's salary right there.

But I agree, I don't believe they could have spent this money more effectively than they did with Tee Higgins, given the free agent class.

[007BengalsFan]

(03-19-2025, 01:26 PM)Frank Booth Wrote: huh... I think I just read a good point on here. If they paid Jessie Bates, Burrow probably wouldve never felt that the organization doesnt pay their guys. Which means he wouldnt have put pressure on the team to sign Higgins. Which means the team would be more balanced overall and have a batter defense

They could have signed Bates earlier but didnt.  I will paraphrase the quote, this years price isn't the same price as last year.  I think everyone remembers that except maybe the Bengals front office.  Exact same thing happened with Chase and Higgins.

[jj22]

Paying players on time is also why the FA classes aren't as good and now that teams understand the cost of waiting, may never be again....

[007BengalsFan]

Im a bit surprised Za'darius Smith isnt signed. The guy is a great pass rusher and good stopping the run. He shouldnt cost too much money. I would love to have him sign with the Bengals but Im not sure we have room if we are considering drafting a DE

[jj22]

If you can get past the thinking of taking a "LB" in the 1st round, Jihad is definitely a defender that should be in consideration.

[reuben.ahmed]

What about Njongmeta

[*ochocincos*]

Here's where Bengals stand in terms of net-new gains and losses through a week and a half of FA:

Additions:
+ TJ Slaton, DT
+ Oren Burks, LB
+ Samaje Perine, RB

Losses:
- ADG
- Mike Hilton
- Alex Cappa
- Sam Hubbard
- Sheldon Rankins
- Trent Brown
- Vonn Bell
- Khalil Herbert
- D'Ante Smith

As of right now, that leaves 6 spots open with 6 draft picks coming in April, possibly more if Bengals make any trades.

[Tomcat]

I was listening to Todd Haley earlier today on Sirius and they were talking about the Bengals and Haley made a comment about the Bengals needing to replace Cappa and he said "The Bengals already having Karras to replace Cappa". I don't know if it was just a slip or if the Bengals are actually thinking about this and using Lee at center and then grabbing a guard in the draft. Interesting take, if that's what the Bengals are thinking and why they have been so quiet in FA on the guard pursuit.

[BenZoo2]

(03-19-2025, 04:09 PM)007BengalsFan Wrote: Im a bit surprised Za'darius Smith isnt signed.  The guy is a great pass rusher and good stopping the run.   He shouldnt cost too much money.   I would love to have him sign with the Bengals but Im not sure we have room if we are considering drafting a DE

True.  Rapien tweeted a list of guys the bengals could add to improve roster.  The usual guards were mentioned.  Calais Campbell.  Great player but I don’t the need now.  Another name that caught my eye was safety Julian Blackmon of the colts.

Matthew Judon is still out there if looking for a rotational rusher 

[THE PISTONS]

(03-19-2025, 03:06 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Yeah, Jihad is different than anything we have drafted at LB in some time. Could be a star in the NFL if used right.

Plus, a lot of the ends I see mocked to go to us weight 240-250 lbs. I don't see us doing that.

Jihaad...in some mocks goes as high as 9 though.

[THE PISTONS]

(03-19-2025, 04:21 PM)reuben.ahmed Wrote: What about Njongmeta

Probably special teamer? You get an elite LB, it will change everything. Heck, elite S, elite DE. 1 playmaker on defense in addition to Trey and the defense gets so much better.

[basballguy]

did the cap hits get posted to any thread? I thought i saw people saying the cap hits would change with new deals but sportrac says the cap hits are the franchise tag # and the 5th year # (for chase).