Cincy Bengals Talk - Top Defensive Players Bengals Could Target

[Whatever]

(04-10-2025, 09:57 AM)ochocincos Wrote: Let's play a hypothetical - Bengals do draft either Will Johnson or Jahdae Barron.
Which of CTB, Hill, or Turner either rides the bench or switches positions?
CTB and Hill both are in final year under contract.
Turner has 2 years left.

I would maybe lean Hill since we know he played a lot of SS in college and was really good at it (bump down Battle), or try to convert CTB to safety (which may be better suited to his skill set). Either way though, both players in final year under contract, so that's likely not enough time for them to adjust to new position and do well enough to earn a new contract.

Or does the 1st round CB play more of a reserve role this year while CTB and Hill play out their rookie contracts, then the 1st round CB shifts into starting role next year?

And does a new 1st round CB move the needle more for the defense than a safety, DL, or LB?

Johnson is worth the pick at #17, as he's a true 1st round talent.  The lessened immediate impact can be justified by expiring contracts and simply coming away with a better prospect than you get at a more immediate "need" position.  

Barron isn't a true 1st round talent, and it would be better to go with a similarly graded prospect at a position where they can make greater impact.  

[*ochocincos*]

(04-10-2025, 10:53 AM)Whatever Wrote: Johnson is worth the pick at #17, as he's a true 1st round talent.  The lessened immediate impact can be justified by expiring contracts and simply coming away with a better prospect than you get at a more immediate "need" position.  

Barron isn't a true 1st round talent, and it would be better to go with a similarly graded prospect at a position where they can make greater impact.  

While I get your point, some (most?) fans are wanting at least a couple draft picks who make an immediate impact as rookies to elevate this team, as it doesn't seem much better than the team put out there last year that just missed the playoffs.

It'd be a hard sell to fans to get a 1st round pick and have them play like under 400 snaps or so as a rookie when fans are craving for the team to get back to the Super Bowl.

I think a CB is an easier sell if it's Rd 3 or later, as it's more expected those draft picks would ride the bench for a year or two.

Bengals may also have to make some tough decisions this year - Do they focus more on beating their division rivals, thus bolstering the run defense, or do they focus on trying to beat the perennial AFC deep playoff teams in BUF and KC who are far more pass-oriented, thus focusing on pass rush and coverage?

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(04-10-2025, 10:53 AM)Whatever Wrote: Johnson is worth the pick at #17, as he's a true 1st round talent.  The lessened immediate impact can be justified by expiring contracts and simply coming away with a better prospect than you get at a more immediate "need" position.  

Barron isn't a true 1st round talent, and it would be better to go with a similarly graded prospect at a position where they can make greater impact.  

A talented Corner in the first is never a bad idea. I think Will Johnson would play immediately with CTB's struggles. Dax will probably be the 
Slot Corner this year with Mike H leaving. I do like Ochocinco's thought about maybe moving CTB to FS alongside Battle, this position seems 
to fit his strengths, fast, rangy, can get ints and likes to hit.

[TCUBengal34]

(04-10-2025, 12:25 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: A talented Corner in the first is never a bad idea. I think Will Johnson would play immediately with CTB's struggles. Dax will probably be the 
Slot Corner this year with Mike H leaving. I do like Ochocincos thought about maybe moving CTB to FS along side Battle, this position seems 
to fit his strengths, fast, rangy, can get ints and likes to hit.

Agree.

I'm biased towards DB's always have been. But I think a really good CB or this year I'd even lean the GA or SC Safety, could do wonders for this defense. 

If I'm the the Bengals I'm personally snagging the GA safety if he's there at 17 and not thinking twice.

[Whatever]

(04-10-2025, 11:51 AM)ochocincos Wrote: While I get your point, some (most?) fans are wanting at least a couple draft picks who make an immediate impact as rookies to elevate this team, as it doesn't seem much better than the team put out there last year that just missed the playoffs.

It'd be a hard sell to fans to get a 1st round pick and have them play like under 400 snaps or so as a rookie when fans are craving for the team to get back to the Super Bowl.

I think a CB is an easier sell if it's Rd 3 or later, as it's more expected those draft picks would ride the bench for a year or two.

Bengals may also have to make some tough decisions this year - Do they focus more on beating their division rivals, thus bolstering the run defense, or do they focus on trying to beat the perennial AFC deep playoff teams in BUF and KC who are far more pass-oriented, thus focusing on pass rush and coverage?

I doubt Duke Tobin, nor any other NFL GM seriously considers the draft wants of a fan base that made Ja'Marr Chase the single most despised draft day pick in team history.  If they are, they should be fired.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(04-10-2025, 01:25 PM)TCUBengal34 Wrote: Agree.

I'm biased towards DB's always have been. But I think a really good CB or this year I'd even lean the GA or SC Safety, could do wonders for this defense. 

If I'm the the Bengals I'm personally snagging the GA safety if he's there at 17 and not thinking twice.

Understandable being a former DB yourself lol

But yeah, stud Corners for cheap are about the best investment in a position you can make. They get real expensive once they are proven.

Look at the Eagles first round picks last year...

Not against Starks in the first at all even if I am more tempted with the size, speed and talent of Emmanwori.

[*Synric*]

Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson is visiting the Bengals. RB with pick #81 is a definite possibility.

[Whatever]

(04-10-2025, 04:38 PM)Synric Wrote: Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson is visiting the Bengals. RB with pick #81 is a definite possibility.

Honestly, perhaps sooner than that.  Judkins and Henderson have cracked the Top 50 prospects and they've met with Jeanty, as well.  

[*ochocincos*]

(04-10-2025, 02:26 PM)Whatever Wrote: I doubt Duke Tobin, nor any other NFL GM seriously considers the draft wants of a fan base that made Ja'Marr Chase the single most despised draft day pick in team history.  If they are, they should be fired.

Huh? Our fan base made Ja'Marr Chase the single most despised draft pick in team history?
I'm lost.
Do you mean because they didn't take Sewell?

As for whether Tobin or any NFL GM cares about the wants of their draft base, I'm sure they don't, but that doesn't mean the fan base won't have their voices heard if yet another draft pick rides the pine and the team fails to get back to deep in the playoffs because they didn't do enough in the offseason to upgrade the team.
That's all I was trying to say.

[*ochocincos*]

(04-10-2025, 04:38 PM)Synric Wrote: Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson is visiting the Bengals. RB with pick #81 is a definite possibility.

(04-10-2025, 04:52 PM)Whatever Wrote: Honestly, perhaps sooner than that.  Judkins and Henderson have cracked the Top 50 prospects and they've met with Jeanty, as well.  

Pretty sure I'll cry inside (or outside) if a RB is taken before OL, DE, DT, and SAF.

[*Synric*]

(04-10-2025, 04:52 PM)Whatever Wrote: Honestly, perhaps sooner than that.  Judkins and Henderson have cracked the Top 50 prospects and they've met with Jeanty, as well.  

I'm betting they are doing their homework in case one of these top RBs slide to 81 in a deep class. 

[*Synric*]

(04-10-2025, 06:56 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Pretty sure I'll cry inside (or outside) if a RB is taken before OL, DE, DT, and SAF.

I mean the RB class is really good and because it's so deep #81 could be thr sweet spot to grab one of the top of the class.

[*ochocincos*]

(04-10-2025, 07:33 PM)Synric Wrote: I mean the RB class is really good and because it's so deep #81 could be thr sweet spot to grab one of the top of the class.

I know, but most teams don't utilize multiple RBs a lot unless they are run-heavy team, and I think Chase Brown is just fine as RB1.
I would just hope if a RB is taken that early, they will have a plan to use him and Chase Brown both in a good number of snaps.

[SunsetBengal]

(04-10-2025, 07:36 PM)ochocincos Wrote: I know, but most teams don't utilize multiple RBs a lot unless they are run-heavy team, and I think Chase Brown is just fine as RB1.
I would just hope if a RB is taken that early, they will have a plan to use him and Chase Brown both in a good number of snaps.

They don't need to be a run heavy team,  just a more balanced offense. It would take so much pressure off of the OL and save a ton of wear and tear on Burrow.

[*ochocincos*]

(04-10-2025, 09:28 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: They don't need to be a run heavy team,  just a more balanced offense. It would take so much pressure off of the OL and save a ton of wear and tear on Burrow.

I guess if they could get someone at least of the caliber of David Montgomery and morph to have a rushing offense like DET has with Gibbs and Montgomery, that would help, but are Taylor and Pitcher going to actually morph the offense enough to actually be more balanced?

I don't see them doing that because Brown has been on the team for the past 2 years and they've always just had a primary RB who carried the majority of the load, first Mixon in 2023, then last year Moss until he got hurt and then Brown.

They had every opportunity to more evenly split touches and have a more balanced offense with Mixon-Brown and then Moss-Brown or Brown-Herbert.
I just have my doubts.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(04-10-2025, 04:38 PM)Synric Wrote: Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson is visiting the Bengals. RB with pick #81 is a definite possibility.

Would love Kaleb Johnson in stripes. I can understand Ochocinco's being a bit scared of taking a RB before the trenches are addressed though.

But there are tons of talented RB's in this class and you could get an All-Pro type in the mid rounds for all we know. I liked what I saw of Chase 
Brown a lot last year, but if we added another great talent next to him and became a more balanced Offense I think the entire team would benefit
big time and it would take pressure off of the OL and Burrow.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(04-10-2025, 06:47 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Huh? Our fan base made Ja'Marr Chase the single most despised draft pick in team history?
I'm lost.
Do you mean because they didn't take Sewell?

As for whether Tobin or any NFL GM cares about the wants of their draft base, I'm sure they don't, but that doesn't mean the fan base won't have their voices heard if yet another draft pick rides the pine and the team fails to get back to deep in the playoffs because they didn't do enough in the offseason to upgrade the team.
That's all I was trying to say.

Yeah, I don't know what he was saying there. I was team Pitts but I was fine with Sewell or Chase at the time too and think most fans were.

I don't know of anyone who despised us drafting Chase.

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(04-08-2025, 02:07 PM)Whatever Wrote: They did the same with Burton last year.  Sadly, they seem to have misread that situation.

Whomever we have that investigates character issues on picks should have been fired after the Burton debacle. 

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(04-11-2025, 12:02 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Yeah, I don't know what he was saying there. I was team Pitts but I was fine with Sewell or Chase at the time too and think most fans were.

I don't know of anyone who despised us drafting Chase.

Me, either. I was team Sewell, but was fine with Chase. Pitts, on the other hand ...

[*ochocincos*]

(04-11-2025, 12:00 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Would love Kaleb Johnson in stripes. I can understand Ochocinco's being a bit scared of taking a RB before the trenches are addressed though.

But there are tons of talented RB's in this class and you could get an All-Pro type in the mid rounds for all we know. I liked what I saw of Chase 
Brown a lot last year, but if we added another great talent next to him and became a more balanced Offense I think the entire team would benefit
big time and it would take pressure off of the OL and Burrow.

That wasn't my concern, actually.

I was arguing that I don't think adding more to the RB room is going to pay off as much because I don't foresee Taylor and Pitcher adjusting the playcalling to really give multiple RBs a good number of touches.
So why take a RB on Day 2 who may get sub-300 touches?
Or if a RB is taken and used a lot, what would that mean for Chase Brown, who did admirably last year once becoming a workhorse?


I know some people want an offense like Detroit has, but they aren't paying nearly as much into their receivers like Bengals are.
ASB is the only pass catcher making >$10 mill APY. LaPorta and JMo are making sub-$6 mill APY each.
If Bengals are going to pay so much for pass catchers, it's expected (or at least I expect) that the offense will be far more pass-heavy than balanced.