sparky151

Au contraire. Bengals have 9 draft picks and a lot of cap space. It's definitely possible to go to minicamp with no obvious roster holes. That doesn't mean players won't get injured in training camp or preseason games but we should have a good mix of vets and youth with talent in all the position groups.

They may have been RFAs who aren't being tendered. In that case they become UFAs.

I don't know why people around here seem to want CEH. Sure he was on Burrow's championship team but as an NFL player he sucks. I'd rather add Gus Edwards than Moss but either would be an upgrade from Mixon. Brown needs more touches anyway. Guerendo is very athletic, but not very good. There are other backs I'd prefer in the draft, even in the 5th or later.

and a player to be named later.

That's basically a chart of which teams are getting tweeted about. If there was one for positive mentions, I bet it would look a lot like that one.

Yep. They'll probably get waived at the end of preseason to go to the practice squad and could get claimed but most likely they'll be Bengals.

I don't think the Bengals will bring in 8 outside free agents. But I could see 4 or 5 at positions of need. His draft hits the right spots though I"m not sure Latham or Sinnott will be available where picked.

I'd expect George and Davis back in the Bengals camp in July. Unless someone else gives them a good contract but that's unlikely.

Biggest current needs are starters at RT, NT, TE, WR3 plus maybe CB or FS. This draft is definitely deeper on the offensive side than defense. But it has some DT and CB prospects. I don't see a free agent RT who is a substantial upgrade from Jonah and who the Bengals are willing to pay. So I think we are looking for a short term vet for coverage and the long term solution in the draft. For NT, there are veteran options in free agency, maybe including bringing back Reader. Likewise at TE and WR3 and CB and S. IMO comp picks aren't worth worrying about but if the Bengals disagree, they may limit themselves to players who have been cut so they can get a 4th rounder for Jonah if he gets a rich contract somewhere.

Those contract numbers get reported at their max value. It takes a few days until they are filed with the union for the actual numbers to come out. Sort of like how Gesicki was supposedly making 8 mil from the Pats last year when it was 4 mil plus incentives.

Dehner's roster prediction has us signing S Darnell Savage, DT Teair Tart, TE Hayden Hurst, RT Mekhi Becton, CB Kristian Fulton, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, P Tommy Townsend, and RB Zach Moss. He has us drafting JC Latham Ricky Pearsall Kris Jenkins Ben Sinnott Isaac Guerendo Drake Nugent Justin Rogers Darius Muasau https://theathletic.com/5324461/2024/03/08/bengals-53-man-roster-projection-2024/

Dehner's prediction is Moss as the starter plus Brown, CEH, and Guerrendo in the 5th round.

Dehner's roster prediction has us signing Darnell Savage with Hill moving to CB. He has Scott kept around for special teams. Savage is a big hitter but not very good in coverage. I think we need better coverage, ie a FS such as Stone. We won't pay up for a Simmons or McKinney level player but there are a lot of safeties on the market at the moment. We should be able to find an affordable upgrade.

Because that's what they offered Reiff on a 1 year deal. Smith is a better player when on the field than Reiff but has missed 33 games in the last 4 years. Assuming he can pass a physical, a number of teams will want Tyron Smith to be their LT. Chiefs, Jets, and Commanders at the top of the list but maybe others too such as Patriots. He played RT in college but has been the LT for the Cowboys his whole career.

Finally. Jamie, avert your eyes.

Because Smith is rated one of the top free agents available. So he'll have a market and the Bengals won't pay up for a 33 year old player who wants a multi-year contract. Bengals would be happy to sign him to a 1 year deal two weeks into free agency if it was for 5 mil or less. But Smith will get more than that and sign sooner than that.

Bengals should try to sign a no-doubt, quality 4 year starter at either RT or NT. Then sign a vet as a bridge to a rookie at the other. We should just pay Hunter Henry or Gerald Everett their 6 mil along with re-signing Sample, Hudson, and Wilcox if they're cheap. We're not going to pay up for Simmons or Howard but adding at least 1 vet in the secondary is needed. It looks like Mixon is going to be cut, which is the right decision. We don't need to sign a vet RB, get someone younger. We should re-sign Irwin and our backup LBs. Also a backup IOL guy or two. Bengals have plenty of money to sign vets and upgrade a couple positions before the draft. Then we could take the best players each round without having to fill immediate needs.

Wilson will sign cheap if he likes the situation. But he'll want guaranteed money for 2025 or beyond that doesn't count for the Broncos. He may want a 3 year 80 mil contract with the 1.2 mil vet min for 2024 and 39 mil per year the last 2 years with 2025 guaranteed at signing.

Newton's a good player and he or Murphy would be nice additions. But Bowers probably has more impact for the team, both in 2024 and over the life of his rookie deal. Newton would back up Hill or Reader or the vet we sign to replace Reader. Bowers would not only be the starter but would add a dimension to the offense.

Bengals won't go after Tyron Smith, at least in the first days of free agency. I wouldn't be surprised if the Jets sign him. Eluemunor or Fleming, paired with a rookie would be fine. I'd like to get an acceptable vet RT and NT signed before the draft so we are free to take the best players in the draft.

Tobin made a poor decision last year to let Vonn Bell leave on a fairly cheap contract to Carolina. So replacing both safeties and a CB didn't turn out as well as he hoped. I wouldn't be surprised if Nick Scott is cut and replaced by a veteran safety. We should replace Reader but I bet they re-sign him and hope for the best. Hubbard and Hill are safe as are Pratt and Wilson. DJ Turner could use some competition but it's a lower priority than fixing the O-line and perhaps the D-line if Reader can't go at the start of the season. If Burrow wanted to follow the Chiefs blueprint, he could have signed a 10 yr deal.

Dehner's piece in The Athletic showing what the Bengals look for in free agents over the last 4 years. Basically, they want younger, ascending players who don't break the bank. So we'll spread the money around and not take a shot at a Chris Jones type player. https://theathletic.com/5319978/2024/03/06/bengals-2024-free-agent-targets/

No, a team can only tag 1 player per year. Choice of exclusive or non-exclusive franchise tag or transition tag. Teams can tender as many restricted or exclusive rights free agents as they want.

It depends on his contract. Like most players, his has offsets for guaranteed money.

Patriots used their tag on Kyle Dugger (transition tag) so they can't use it on Brown or Onwenu,