January Mock

[*ochocincos*]

Bengals have ~$47 mill in cap space for 2017. They typically will reserve $7 mill for draft, ~$7 mill for injuries/carryover. Therefore, $33 mill is a very reasonable amount for them to consider spending this offseason.

Retain:
Andrew Whitworth (10 mill/year)- This should be a no brainer. Even though he's got a full gray beard now, Whitworth is still among the top OTs in the league. I think he retires a Bengal and plays 1-2 more seasons as the Bengals continue to search for an heir at LT.

Dre Kirkpatrick (Franchise Tag - $13 mill)- With Jones likely getting suspended or released and the other CBs being unproven, it makes sense to Franchise Tag DK. That gives more time to work on a long term deal while also another year for Dennard and WJ3 to emerge as good starting CBs.

Kevin Zeitler (10 mill/year) - The Bengals need to keep Zeitler. He's their second best OL and deserves to be paid like it.

Expected cap cost = ~$33 mill for all

Cut:
Rey Maualuga - save $3.7 million - old and slow, Maualuga has been reduced to his fewest snap percentage in his career. The Bengals need youth and speed at LB and a force in the middle that can stay on the field all three downs.

Adam Jones - save $6.8 million in 2017, $6 million in 2018 - Jones is a hothead that puts the Bengals in a bad light. His play has declined and he'd save the team nearly $13 million in cap space over two years.

James Wright - save $690k - Decent ST player but will never be anything more than that. The Bengals need speed at WR and Wright is a waste of a roster spot.

Expected savings = $11 million - With these cuts, it allows the Bengals to easily re-sign their important FAs. It may also allow them to sign an outside FA or two

Outside FA:
Terrance Williams, WR DAL (3 years, $15 million) - Terrance Williams has become the 4th/5th option in Dallas behind Zeke, Dez, Cole Beasley, and arguably Witten. Williams has the size, skill set, and production to be a good WR2 on the Bengals and get more looks. Plus, he's got more speed than LaFell and is only 27 years old.

Byron Bell, OL TEN (2 years, $4 million) - Let's make this clear, Bell is nothing more than a serviceable starter at RT, but he would be a good veteran backup at RT with Fisher with versatility to play both OG spots and even emergency LT.

I would expect these deals to be more frontloaded, as both players will be 30 at the end of these hypothetical contracts.
For Williams - perhaps $5.5 mill, $5.5 mill, $4 mill
For Bell - perhaps $2.5 mill, $1.5 mill

Total FA = 33-11+8=$30 million

Draft:
1: Reuben Foster, ILB Alabama (6'1", 236 lb) - What has made Atlanta so much better on defense? Speed from their LBs! Foster brings that speed, but also brings the toughness, attitude, and leadership to be the future at MIKE.

2: Ethan Pocic, C/OG LSU (6'6", 309 lb) - Solidify the middle and see the offense vastly improve. I'd prefer Pocic due to his length, but would also be happy with Elflein. Both have versatility at C and OG, which the Bengals coaches covet.

3: Jordan Willis, EDGE Kansas St (6'4", 250 lb) - Willis demonstrates good strength and pass rush variability. He's had 20 sacks, 31.5 TFL, 6 PD, and 6 FF the past two years. I would expect Willis would be a pass rush specialist as a rookie from both the DE and OLB spots as he continues to bulk up, which he reportedly has the frame for.

4: D'Onta Foreman, RB Texas (6'1", 249 lb) - Foreman is a hoss that blends great size with great speed. He will barrel over any defender that gets in his way, but has the second gear to take it to the house. Foreman also is a tremendous pass blocker. However, with the NFL being such a passing league, Foreman lacks receiving skills, and that is why some draft experts have him falling to the 4th.

4comp1: Stacy Coley, WR/KR Miami (6'1", 193 lb) - Coley is the burner that this team has been missing. Coley should have enough height to stay outside, but his speed is what matters most.

4comp2: Hunter Dimick, DE Utah (6'3, 272 lb) - Dimick is flying under the radar but has recorded double digit sacks and TFL in 2014 and 2016. He likely could have done the same in 2015 if not for getting hurt midway through the year. Dimick has also knocked down 7 passes this season, which I know Bengals coaches love. He's got good size for a base 4-3 DE and should be an improvement to Hunt and Gilberry. He has been labeled as not having good traits for the NFL, but the middle rounds are where you find diamonds in the rough that may lack elite dimensions but have endless motors to make a difference. He also has versatility to play all over the DL.
http://nflmocks.com/2016/11/29/nfl-draft-utahs-hunter-dimick-making-presence-felt/

5: Zane Gonzalez, K Arizona St (6'1", 195 lb) - Gonzalez broke Dustin Hopkins' college career made FGs record. Also, while his career FG% is 83.3%, he was 23/25 this year (92%). He also has the leg to hit 50+ yarders consistently. In this year alone, Gonzalez is 7/9 from 50+ with a long of 59 yards (!).

6: Jalen Myrick, CB Minnesota (5'10", 202 lb) - CB depth. Myrick defended a lot of passes, but didn't have a lot of turnovers.

6comp1: Xavier Woods, SS LA Tech (5'11", 219 lb) - Woods is a Bengals style safety, as he has the skill set to play either safety position. He can tackle, hit, and cover. What will keep him down is his level of competition. Given this team just extended Williams and Iloka, see what Shaw can do with more reps at safety, and see more of Smith and Fejedelem, I don't see them going after a safety early in the draft.

6comp2: Josh Tupou, DT Colorado (6'2", 325 lb) - Many touted Tupou last year, but Tupou decided to return to Colorado to try to boost his stock. Unfortunately, he didn't really show increased production. He is a talented run stuffer at NT with some pocket collapsing potential. Given the Bengals have Peko hitting FA, Billings returning from IR, and Sims entering a contract year, Tupou makes sense to groom a year on the PS and then bump up to backup Billings in 2018.

7: De'Angelo Henderson, RB Coastal Carolina (5'7", 209 lb) - Henderson has drawn comparisons to Danny Woodhead and could be a nice player to fill in for Bernard if/when he's hurt.