02-03-2016, 01:55 AM
CincyJungle lists five players that could follow Hue Jackson to Cleveland.
After McCarron just took Hue to the playoffs and was a fumble and a bogus penalty away from winning our first playoff game in 25 years, you have to think that he'd give up a lot and feel comfortable with AJ running his team on offense.
The Browns also have the second and thirty-second picks in the draft, and I doubt they'd give up the second pick, but the thirty-second seems like a definite possibility.
Dalton's injury may turn out to have been at a perfect time because he proved that he's good enough to take us to the next level (you can argue he still needs to do it in the playoffs, but he was on another level this season), so we wouldn't need AJ, but AJ proved that he's good enough to be a winner in the NFL.
If we can get them to pull the trigger, I think it's a definite must to make the trade.
I'd be happy if Sanu took Jones place on this list, and Jones is valuable, so I think that we need to give him a good chunk of money because teams won't see/care that a big reason he was so productive was because he had AJ on the other side. Marvin was a hell of a #2, though, so I hope that we can keep him.
Dear God, please let him be gone.
Quote:AJ McCarron
This one seems so obvious that it's probably not going to happen. Predicting personnel moves in the NFL is, quite simply, never this easy. But, if you think about it, depending what's given on the other side of the trade, a good enough deal like this could be a win-win for both franchises. Obviously, the Bengals would never want to make a trade that improves one of their division rivals, but McCarron's value and current position make him a prime target to be traded.
Remember what happened when guys like Matt Cassel, Kevin Kolb, and Matt Flynn filled in for a starting quarterback? They played well enough to catch the eye of teams across the league and they all cashed out on teams that were desperate for a decent quarterback to stabilize their struggling position. McCarron could command the same kind of value, but still has two years left on his rookie contract and has proven himself to be extremely valuable to the team as a backup quarterback. Therefore, it would probably take at least a second round pick and potentially a starting player to rip him away from the Bengals (much like when the Patriots traded Cassel to the Chiefs).
If Jackson is willing to take the kind of risk he took with Palmer, the Browns could be willing to offer the Bengals a trade they can't refuse. Bengals fans likely don't want to see McCarron in a Browns uniform, but they'd probably enjoy an early draft pick or two for a player who wasn't likely to see a whole lot of action going forward with the Bengals.
After McCarron just took Hue to the playoffs and was a fumble and a bogus penalty away from winning our first playoff game in 25 years, you have to think that he'd give up a lot and feel comfortable with AJ running his team on offense.
The Browns also have the second and thirty-second picks in the draft, and I doubt they'd give up the second pick, but the thirty-second seems like a definite possibility.
Dalton's injury may turn out to have been at a perfect time because he proved that he's good enough to take us to the next level (you can argue he still needs to do it in the playoffs, but he was on another level this season), so we wouldn't need AJ, but AJ proved that he's good enough to be a winner in the NFL.
If we can get them to pull the trigger, I think it's a definite must to make the trade.
Quote:Marvin Jones
Marvin Jones will be an unrestricted free agent as soon as his contract with the Bengals runs out and free agency begins on March 9, 2016. Whether the Bengals like it or not, they're probably going to have to pay Jones a hefty sum of money for him to stick around. Don't forget that Andrew Hawkins was offered $13.6 million in 2014 to join the Browns, and Hawkins didn't have the same kind of production as Jones.
Hawkins' best season with the Bengals came in 2012 when he recorded 51 catches for 533 yards and four touchdowns. If that was enough to warrant the kind of money he got from the Browns, imagine what they'd pay for a receiver who put up 65 receptions for 816 yards and four touchdowns in 2015 and also has a strong relationship with the head coach already. The Bengals could very well elect to pay Jones the salary that he is going to demand elsewhere, but there is also a good chance that doing so will see Mohamed Sanu take Jones's place on this list.
I'd be happy if Sanu took Jones place on this list, and Jones is valuable, so I think that we need to give him a good chunk of money because teams won't see/care that a big reason he was so productive was because he had AJ on the other side. Marvin was a hell of a #2, though, so I hope that we can keep him.
Quote:Andre SmithPretty sure that we're done with the headache that is/was Andre Smith. It's a shame because I always liked him, but it might be time to move on, especially since we have two young tackles waiting in the wings.
With the Bengals taking two offensive tackles with their first two picks in last year's draft, it would be fairly surprising if Andre Smith returned to the team in 2016. Not only is he a free agent this season, but his inconsistent and sloppy play over the years suggest that the Bengals will not be willing to pay him what he is worth on the open market.
But, Smith's former offensive coordinator might want to bring a familiar face to his new team to build up one of the NFL's most under-appreciated positions. The Browns have some great offensive linemen in Joe Thomas, Alex Mack, and Cameron Erving. With Joel Bitonio coming back from injury, a talented right tackle could be all they need to put together one of the most solid offensive lines in the NFL. It's also worth noting that Alex Mack could opt out of his contract this year, which will be worth keeping an eye on as the offseason progresses.
Quote:Reggie NelsonI think, with his age, it's time to move on. We have Iloka and Wiliams in waiting, plus I think Derron Smith could be a sleeper ball hawk, not to mention that Josh Shaw could probably play safety, and we could also use a draft pick on one.
Reggie Nelson had a great season in 2015, but due to his age and the number of Bengals players due to be unrestricted free agents in March, there's a chance that he could end up being one of the high-profile cap casualties for the Bengals this season. Jackson is an offensive guy, so he's likely going to want to build his defense with guys that he's familiar with. Nelson led the NFL in interceptions last year (8), so him hitting free agency would be like winning the easiest lottery ever for Jackson.
Quote:Brandon Tate
Does anyone think Brandon Tate will return to the Bengals this season? Each season there is talk of the Bengals moving on from him, but they never do. However, this year is different. Like so many other players, Tate is about to become an unrestricted free agent in March. He's juggled both wide receiver and kick returner duties for the Bengals since arriving in 2011 but hasn't exactly rewritten record books during his time. Still, he's provided a consistent and reliable factor for the team during some potentially volatile years. Someone like that who can fill multiple roles is exactly the kind of player the Browns need right now. You can probably go ahead and make your bets now that he will end up in Cleveland should the Bengals decide to (finally) move on.
Dear God, please let him be gone.
Facts don't care about your feelings. BIG THANKS to Holic for creating that gif!