Noah Fant Signed

[007BengalsFan]

(Yesterday, 02:02 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Agree on Will Hernandez, the Secondary is kicking ass today though...

Im more worried about the DT position than I am the secondary.  Last year how many games did we watch where the opposing QB had all day to throw because of no pressure from the interior of the defense?  Sure we could get outside pressure especially with Trey but the interior of the pocket was clean.  Who have we added that helps us get pressure up the middle?  Are we going to see another year of the opposing QB having all day to throw the ball?  I worry about that part of the defense.

[Bengalbug]

Even with the addition of Fant, bengals might still have only the 3rd strongest tight end room in the AFCN. Loaded tight end division.

Likely, Andrews
Pat F, J Smith
N Fant, Mike G
Njoku, Fanin (who led NCAA in catches last year, but Coffman did as well and we all know how that translated).

Anyway, good on the bengals for keeping up with the arms race.

[SunsetBengal]

(Yesterday, 03:43 PM)007BengalsFan Wrote: Im more worried about the DT position than I am the secondary.  Last year how many games did we watch where the opposing QB had all day to throw because of no pressure from the interior of the defense?  Sure we could get outside pressure especially with Trey but the interior of the pocket was clean.  Who have we added that helps us get pressure up the middle?  Are we going to see another year of the opposing QB having all day to throw the ball?  I worry about that part of the defense.

In coach Golden's defense the job of the DTs is to occupy blockers, so that blitzers and edge rushers can have clear lanes to pressure the QB.

[Luvnit2]

(Yesterday, 03:07 PM)George Cantstandya Wrote: I don't think the contract details have been released yet.  But Spotrac says the Bengals have 30 million left.  I can't image Fant's contract put much of a dent in that.  As usual I could be wrong though.

We have to spend around 2 million to get to 53 versus 51, then 3 to 3.5 millio for PS and also 4 to 5 million for injury fund for season.

So likley closer to 20 million - Fant deal and potential extension for Trey

But for Trey Bengals could push any bonus in 2026 and 2027 to use mininimal cap space. They have plenty if they want to add players.

[SunsetBengal]

(Yesterday, 03:48 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: We have to spend around 2 million to get to 53 versus 51, then 3 to 3.5 millio for PS and also 4 to 5 million for injury fund for season.

So likley closer to 20 million - Fant deal and potential extension for Trey

But for Trey Bengals could push any bonus in 2026 and 2027 to use mininimal cap space. They have plenty if they want to add players.

As I understand, all of what you said is true, AND part of Burrow's salary can be converted to bonus to free up more cap space if needed.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(Yesterday, 03:03 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: The good thing about the secondary is that there are so many options. Guys have to keep busting their ass to try and grow their role. 

True, it is not like we don't have a lot of talent back there. Dax, DJ Turner, Fig, CTB, Ivey, Battle are all talented.

(Yesterday, 03:39 PM)pally Wrote: It hs been crickets on the Will Hernandez front from everybody...not even any rumors.  It may be that GMs might be thinking that just because he is medically cleared, he may not be ready to practice or play

May be the case, have to bring him in to know for sure though.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(Yesterday, 03:43 PM)007BengalsFan Wrote: Im more worried about the DT position than I am the secondary.  Last year how many games did we watch where the opposing QB had all day to throw because of no pressure from the interior of the defense?  Sure we could get outside pressure especially with Trey but the interior of the pocket was clean.  Who have we added that helps us get pressure up the middle?  Are we going to see another year of the opposing QB having all day to throw the ball?  I worry about that part of the defense.

I understand, have to give players a touch of time to grow though. Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson were just rookies last season 
and McKinnley really came on late last year stopping the run and even getting pressures. BJ Hill was playing NT last year so he couldn't
get the pressure he normally brings from that position. Slaton frees him up.

Golden's Defense is also way different from Lou's.

(Yesterday, 03:48 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: In coach Golden's defense the job of the DTs is to occupy blockers, so that blitzers and edge rushers can have clear lanes to pressure the QB.

Yep, I think Golden fits perfect for the players we have honestly and he added Stewart and Knight to top it off.

[NotBigzo]

I was indifferent about the visit and that hasn't changed since he was signed.

Pass attack isn't something that needs to be bolstered with Chase, Higgins, and Geisicki


Jermaine Burton is no scrub when he's not being a shithead, to say the very least.

Call me back when we get a guard.

The only thing I can think of that makes this a great signing is insurance when Tee Higgins' hammy acts up again. With enough creativity, they can mask that loss when Tee eventually takes a few games off.  But then again, Burrow doesn't need above average pass catchers at every position to be successful.

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(Yesterday, 03:50 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: As I understand, all of what you said is true, AND part of Burrow's salary can be converted to bonus to free up more cap space if needed.

Yeah, up to $19 mil worth. But if that was gonna happen, we should have done it earlier and signed a Tier 1 G or real DT pass rush or a safety upgrade. 

I am not sure Mike B. has the ability/willingness to increase the cash outlays by that much. 

IDK, maybe he could do a little? 

[*rfaulk34*]

(Yesterday, 04:12 PM)NotBigzo Wrote: I was indifferent about the visit and that hasn't changed since he was signed.

Pass attack isn't something that needs to be bolstered with Chase, Higgins, and Geisicki


Jermaine Burton is no scrub when he's not being a shithead, to say the very least.

Call me back when we get a guard.

The only thing I can think of that makes this a great signing is insurance when Tee Higgins' hammy acts up again. With enough creativity, they can mask that loss when Tee eventually takes a few games off.  But then again, Burrow doesn't need above average pass catchers at every position to be successful.

This signing isn't to just bolster the pass catchers. As has been stated a couple times already, this frees up Gisicki for more options, it adds a player who won't tip off what the play is because he can block and catch and it helps the running game. 

His versatility and the extra versatility he allows for the Bengals are the focus, not just what he adds as a pass catcher. 

[007BengalsFan]

(Yesterday, 04:12 PM)NotBigzo Wrote: Call me back when we get a guard.

There are options if the Bengals want to add a guard.  Everyone mentions Will Hernandez.  Hernandez could be a good choice but may not be 100%.  You also have former #5 pick and 5 time Pro Bowler Brandon Scherff.  While Scherff is older at 33, he didnt give up a single sack last season according to PFF and that was playing for the Jaguars with Lawrence and Mac Jones throwing the ball.  You also have Dalton Risner at 30 years old that according to PFF didnt give up a sack last year although playing about half as many snaps as Scherff.

[Bengalbug]

(Yesterday, 04:48 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: This signing isn't to just bolster the pass catchers. As has been stated a couple times already, this frees up Gisicki for more options, it adds a player who won't tip off what the play is because he can block and catch and it helps the running game. 

His versatility and the extra versatility he allows for the Bengals are the focus, not just what he adds as a pass catcher. 

Fant still is not a great run blocker.

[SunsetBengal]

(Yesterday, 04:48 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: This signing isn't to just bolster the pass catchers. As has been stated a couple times already, this frees up Gisicki for more options, it adds a player who won't tip off what the play is because he can block and catch and it helps the running game. 

His versatility and the extra versatility he allows for the Bengals are the focus, not just what he adds as a pass catcher. 

Yes, Au165 and Synric both did nice breakdowns of what a multi-dimensional player like Fant brings to the offense. Not only in raw pass catching and blocking ability, but more so in the ability of the offense to not give away a play based upon personnel on the field, i.e. the ability to run or pass as equally effectively from the same formation and personnel package.

[SunsetBengal]

(Yesterday, 04:53 PM)Bengalbug Wrote: Fant still is not a great run blocker.

Sometimes just being able to get in front of a LB and cause him to break stride is enough to get a quick back like Chase Brown to the next level.

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(Yesterday, 04:12 PM)NotBigzo Wrote: I was indifferent about the visit and that hasn't changed since he was signed.

Pass attack isn't something that needs to be bolstered with Chase, Higgins, and Geisicki


Jermaine Burton is no scrub when he's not being a shithead, to say the very least.

Call me back when we get a guard.

The only thing I can think of that makes this a great signing is insurance when Tee Higgins' hammy acts up again. With enough creativity, they can mask that loss when Tee eventually takes a few games off.  But then again, Burrow doesn't need above average pass catchers at every position to be successful.

Fant will help the run games because unlike Sample, the D cannot be sure it IS a run when he is in, and he can get downfield some. And unlike Gesicki, he can block a bit, and isn't just a big slot WR. 

Further, if Fant & Gesicki are in together, you can split Gesicki out and he has a huge size edge blocking that corner. Him blocking in-line vs DE's/LB's is a struggle. But outside vs a DB is different. And again, the D cannot sell out on run, because he & Fantcare both legit receiving threats. 

I am with you on needing a G, still. 

FWIW, I have an estimate of our cap space at $23.4, pending what Fant costs above TE5 now. 

That's with low balling the PS ($3 mil), counting the full 53 instead of 51 (+$2 mil), and also accounting for All's salary on IR as #54, which spotrac/OTC do not do at the moment. 

Whatever it comes to, it needs to account for Trey's raise, an in-season injury buffer, and any new signings. Though cutting Volson saves us $2.475 mil, which is LESS than what Risner made last year. 

[*bfine32*]

(Yesterday, 12:11 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Bengals cut rookie TE Taylor from WV

Even our WV homer thought this dude was garbage. 

[*rfaulk34*]

(Yesterday, 04:53 PM)Bengalbug Wrote: Fant still is not a great run blocker.

He doesn't need to be great. He just needs to be adequate and willing. Watching mic'd ups, he seems to be very engaged in the gameplan and a willing blocker. 

Once again, his versatility is the + in this signing. He's not being brought in to be a blocking TE. He's not being brought in to be a receiving TE. He's being brought in to be a versatile TE that can block and can catch and be able to move in space. 

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(Yesterday, 04:48 PM)007BengalsFan Wrote: There are options if the Bengals want to add a guard.  Everyone mentions Will Hernandez.  Hernandez could be a good choice but may not be 100%.  You also have former #5 pick and 5 time Pro Bowler Brandon Scherff.  While Scherff is older at 33, he didnt give up a single sack last season according to PFF and that was playing for the Jaguars with Lawrence and Mac Jones throwing the ball.  You also have Dalton Risner at 30 years old that according to PFF didnt give up a sack last year although playing about half as many snaps as Scherff.

Would make everybody feel better if we added one of these Guards. Ford and Rivers can be the backup Tackles.

(Yesterday, 04:53 PM)Bengalbug Wrote: Fant still is not a great run blocker.

Better than Mike G and Hudson which opens up the Offense with his versatility.

[TJ528]

(Yesterday, 03:46 PM)Bengalbug Wrote: Even with the addition of Fant, bengals might still have only the 3rd strongest tight end room in the AFCN.  Loaded tight end division.

Likely, Andrews
Pat F, J Smith
N Fant, Mike G
Njoku, Fanin (who led NCAA in catches last year, but Coffman did as well and we all know how that translated).

Anyway, good on the bengals for keeping up with the arms race.

Bengals might only have the 3rd best TE unit in the AFC but quite honestly have the BEST WR unit in the NFL IMO.  

So do you really need the Top TE end unit in the AFCN?  I mean I wouldn't put Baltimore's WR in the top 10 nor Pittsburgh's.  

[Luvnit2]

(Yesterday, 04:43 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: Yeah, up to $19 mil worth. But if that was gonna happen, we should have done it earlier and signed a Tier 1 G or real DT pass rush or a safety upgrade. 

I am not sure Mike B. has the ability/willingness to increase the cash outlays by that much. 

IDK, maybe he could do a little? 

Is it possible maybe Bengals FO thinks you are wrong and who was the great tier 1 guard and DT to sign? 

They had a plan and sorry it is not your plan, but I am liking the Bengals plan. Are they done? Maybe? Will they kick the tires on Hernandez if he is healthy or Risner, they have the money right now and if they need more the could push the Trey bonus into 2026 and 2027.

So I disagree they should have pushed Burrow money back before they needed to do it. The thing about pushing it back, it impacts the cap in 2026 and 2027 and possibly 2028. It is not free money. The team still has to pay out cash for bonuses and salary. 

The narrative the FO some how saves money by the way they structure contracts is kind of baffling to me. They don't do it to save money, they do it because they don't like taking huge risks and ending up with dead cap money (money paid out for contracts of guys who get hurt or cut and no longer on the current year roster). Dead money is wasted cap space teams can use to upgrade. Bengals manage it very well. Other teams many want us to emulate do not.