Start Two, Cut Two

[Bengalbug]

Simple. You can add two of these players to the roster, the other two are out. Consider that these are at/near “peak” of their bengals career.

I tried picking players they are likely, or easy, upgrades at the respective position group and is a fairly obvious need/want still today.

NT Domata Peko
RG Bobbie Williams
LB Vontaz Burfict
S Reggie Nelson

I will see how this goes and throw out other hypotheticals if this gets legs. I am hoping this can just lighten the tense offseason threads, take us down memory lane and good old fashioned board discussion on fit, style, etc.

[SunsetBengal]

(03-31-2025, 05:41 PM)Bengalbug Wrote: Simple.  You can add two of these players to the roster, the other two are out.   Consider that these are at/near “peak” of their bengals career.  

I tried picking players they are likely, or easy, upgrades at the respective position group and is a fairly obvious need/want still today.

NT Domata Peko
RG Bobbie Williams
LB Vontaz Burfict
S Reggie Nelson

I will see how this goes and throw out other hypotheticals if this gets legs. I am hoping this can just lighten the tense offseason threads, take us down memory lane and good old fashioned board discussion on fit, style, etc.

Give me Zimmer era Burfict and Reggie Nelson, all day long.

[Bengalbug]

(03-31-2025, 05:46 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Give me Zimmer era Burfict and Reggie Nelson, all day long.

I’m thinking Bobbie and Burfict or Nelson. Solidifying RG would be huge.

[SunsetBengal]

(03-31-2025, 05:53 PM)Bengalbug Wrote: I’m thinking Bobbie and Burfict or Nelson.  Solidifying RG would be huge.

If you already had your mind made up, then why ask the field?

[Bengalbug]

(03-31-2025, 05:57 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: If you already had your mind made up, then why ask the field?

Just to generate discussion. What’s the point of the forum? For discussion?

[SunsetBengal]

(03-31-2025, 06:00 PM)Bengalbug Wrote: Just to generate discussion.  What’s the point of the forum?  For discussion?

I get it. I was just considering the most impactful improvement to the unit needing it the most.

[KillerGoose]

Very easy choices. Williams and Nelson.

Burfict is incredibly overrated and isn't worth the trouble IMO. He played a little over half of the available games after his rookie season due to injuries and suspension. That wouldn't change today. If we could get a clean nosed Burfict, then I likely choose him over Williams but then he isn't Burfict.

Peko doesn't move the needle at all IMO.

[SunsetBengal]

(03-31-2025, 06:13 PM)KillerGoose Wrote: Very easy choices. Williams and Nelson.

Burfict is incredibly overrated and isn't worth the trouble IMO. He played a little over half of the available games after his rookie season due to injuries and suspension. That wouldn't change today. If we could get a clean nosed Burfict, then I likely choose him over Williams but then he isn't Burfict.

Peko doesn't move the needle at all IMO.

I wonder how well Bobbie Williams would have fared in the PFF rating era? Was he really that good, or just our illusion as fans? Or, are we just too reliant upon some made up ratings these days?

[KillerGoose]

(03-31-2025, 06:20 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: I wonder how well Bobbie Williams would have fared in the PFF rating era? Was he really that good, or just our illusion as fans? Or, are we just too reliant upon some made up ratings these days?

PFF goes back to the mid-2000s, so he has some ratings if you like them. He was routinely a 70-80 graded player, maxing out at 89. 

[*ochocincos*]

(03-31-2025, 05:41 PM)Bengalbug Wrote: Simple.  You can add two of these players to the roster, the other two are out.   Consider that these are at/near “peak” of their bengals career.  

I tried picking players they are likely, or easy, upgrades at the respective position group and is a fairly obvious need/want still today.

NT Domata Peko
RG Bobbie Williams
LB Vontaz Burfict
S Reggie Nelson

I will see how this goes and throw out other hypotheticals if this gets legs. I am hoping this can just lighten the tense offseason threads, take us down memory lane and good old fashioned board discussion on fit, style, etc.

Are these guys playing in their prime but in today's NFL?

Reggie Nelson is about the only guy I'd for sure want.

The other guy I'd have to lean toward...Bobbie I guess?
I liked Burfict, but I don't know how well he'd cover in today's NFL.
I think Bengals might have their Peko in TJ Slaton, a good run-stuffing 2-down 1T.

At least Bobbie would be an upgrade over what they got at RG right now, which is zilch.

[SunsetBengal]

(03-31-2025, 06:24 PM)KillerGoose Wrote: PFF goes back to the mid-2000s, so he has some ratings if you like them. He was routinely a 70-80 graded player, maxing out at 89. 

Seems like we just started seeing them with regularity in the past 10 years. Maybe I just am not giving him enough credit?

[Luvnit2]

(03-31-2025, 05:41 PM)Bengalbug Wrote: Simple.  You can add two of these players to the roster, the other two are out.   Consider that these are at/near “peak” of their bengals career.  

I tried picking players they are likely, or easy, upgrades at the respective position group and is a fairly obvious need/want still today.

NT Domata Peko
RG Bobbie Williams
LB Vontaz Burfict
S Reggie Nelson

I will see how this goes and throw out other hypotheticals if this gets legs. I am hoping this can just lighten the tense offseason threads, take us down memory lane and good old fashioned board discussion on fit, style, etc.

For me easy choices. Williams is the best of the bunch and by far better than any guard on our roster or rookie in 2025. Nelson solidified our defense and Stone stinks. Wilson is better or as good as Burfict without the negative issues. Peko is worse than Reader, but I would not get rid of any of our current DTs to pay him.

[Frank Booth]

Start Nelson and Williams

[SunsetBengal]

(03-31-2025, 06:47 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: For me easy choices. Williams is the best of the bunch and bt far better than any guard on our roster or rookie in 2025. Nelson solidified our defense andStone stinks. Wilson is better or as good as Burfict without the negative issues. Peko is worse than Reader, but I would not get rid of any of our current DTs to pay him.

It's easy to knock Vontaze for his mental issues, but the dude had some catlike reflexes. I watched that guy do a one handed snatch interception with the ball landing around his hip, on those rare occasions Zimmer would send the blitz? Vontaze typically hit home. Wilson is good and I really like him, but Zimmer had a communication line with Burfict that worked. Paully G, not so much. Then Vontaze was left to his own devices and things went downhill fast.

[Luvnit2]

(03-31-2025, 07:08 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: It's easy to knock Vontaze for his mental issues, but the dude had some catlike reflexes. I watched that guy do a one handed snatch interception with the ball landing around his hip, on those rare occasions Zimmer would send the blitz? Vontaze typically hit home. Wilson is good and I really like him, but Zimmer had a communication line with Burfict that worked. Paully G, not so much. Then Vontaze was left to his own devices and things went downhill fast.

Burfict was very good. My issue is more of our current roster has guard at the weakest of our position groups and safety second. I know you are no fan of Pratt, but Burfict played the same position as Wilson and not Pratt.

I only got 2 so I chose in my opinion to the teak weakest areas right now prior to the draft.

[SunsetBengal]

(03-31-2025, 07:36 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Burfict was very good. My issue is more of our current roster has guard at the weakest of our position groups and safety second. I know you are no fan of Pratt, but Burfict played the same position as Wilson and not Pratt.

I only got 2 so I chose in my opinion to the teak weakest areas right now prior to the draft.

I like Pratt just fine, was uber enthusiastic when we drafted him. The problem is that Lou didn't stay in his head enough to keep him focused on making the tackle, rather than going for the splash play. It's of no surprise to me that the team hasn't traded him.

[Nicomo Cosca]

(03-31-2025, 06:47 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: For me easy choices. Williams is the best of the bunch and by far better than any guard on our roster or rookie in 2025. Nelson solidified our defense and Stone stinks. Wilson is better or as good as Burfict without the negative issues. Peko is worse than Reader, but I would not get rid of any of our current DTs to pay him.

Nelson was a 2x Pro Bowler and 2nd Team All Pro.

[NUGDUKWE]

Yeah for me it Williams and Nelson especially with our current team make up. Burfict was a game changer and at his best was amazing. The negatives were really bad as well.

[jj22]

On this team. Williams and Nelson. 

The Nelson trade rivals the Hill trade for the best in a generation. 

[*Go Cards*]

Nelson and Williams, but will add that even though he is not a fan favorite, Peko has never really been adequately replaced either.