The Open For Business Draft Thread 2025 Edition

[KA14_HOF]

On 9/24/2024 at 9:40 AM, BBR said:

1.) You can't trade Tee yet.  Maybe at the deadline if this truly spirals down the shitter and it's a completely lost season.

2.) Regarding the draft itself

--- Round 1: Sell your soul if necessary for Deone Walker DT Kentucky 6'5" 348lbs

--- Round 2: Hope and pray for a good DE to somehow slide, if not then the best CB or Safety

 

I watched Kentucky-Ole Miss today, specifically to watch Deone Walker (Kentucky) and Walter Nolen (Ole Miss). Nolen seemed okay, but Walker seemed shockingly slow and ineffective. Maybe it's just that he's horribly out of shape, but late in the game, with Ole Miss driving for what could have been either a game-tying FG (which they wound up missing) or game-winning TD, he looked lazy and completely disinterested. It was actually shocking to see. Maybe something was up with him that would explain it, but he was extraordinarily unimpressive.

 

On a separate note, Ole Miss' incessant fake injuries to slow down Kentucky were borderline comical. On Kentucky's game-winning TD drive (scored by former Bengals' TE Eric Kattus' son Josh), guys were laying down after every positive play by Kentucky. What is it about Lane Kiffin that just seems so sleazy?

[-GoBengals-]

On 9/23/2024 at 8:51 PM, MichaelWeston said:

Coaching... The talent it there. It's on coaching. Anarumo needs to go. 

worst fanbase in sports

[spicoli]

1 minute ago, GoBengals said:

worst fanbase in sports

 

Indeed

[MichaelWeston]

5 hours ago, GoBengals said:

worst fanbase in sports

I think it's a pretty good fan base. Follow no matter what. 

[|BlackJesus|]

Too early for draft talk ... 

 

[KA14_HOF]

48 minutes ago, BlackJesus said:

Too early for draft talk ... 

 

 

We even win on our bye week. That's what I'm talkin' about!

 

I'm coming in off the ledge today to watch the game. I wanna see 'em hang half-a-hundred on Carolina.

[Jason]

I know the Bengals have huge need on defense, but with Tee likely gone, I really want Emeka Egbuka. Great hands, explosive, and blocks like a madman. He flattened a MSU linebacker Saturday night. He does everything you want a WR to do and well. 

[Dautcom08]

3 minutes ago, Jason said:

I know the Bengals have huge need on defense, but with Tee likely gone, I really want Emeka Egbuka. Great hands, explosive, and blocks like a madman. He flattened a MSU linebacker Saturday night. He does everything you want a WR to do and well. 

I LOVE Egbuka.  And when you go to the OSU WR well it pays off.  Hartline just produces one after another.

[claptonrocks]

10 minutes ago, Dautcom08 said:

I LOVE Egbuka.  And when you go to the OSU WR well it pays off.  Hartline just produces one after another.

Egbuka is a 1st rounder.

 

Jeremiah Smith may be the

ac top 10 pick.

He's phenomenal..

Lucky for OSU they'll have him for awhile.

 

[claptonrocks]

19 minutes ago, Jason said:

I know the Bengals have huge need on defense, but with Tee likely gone, I really want Emeka Egbuka. Great hands, explosive, and blocks like a madman. He flattened a MSU linebacker Saturday night. He does everything you want a WR to do and well. 

He's a slot type no?

Wouldn't a without be more condusive to team needs.

 

[sparky151]

I doubt Egbuka goes in the first round. Bengals certainly don't need to take a WR early next year. 

 

What they should do: Tag and trade Tee at the beginning of free agency. That will give them compensation better than a 2026 3rd rounder and will let them participate in free agency without worrying about offsetting losses vs additions. They should be able to get a 2nd rounder in 2025 for the top free agent WR. 

 

What they probably will do: not tag Tee and let him leave for the 2026 3rd rounder.

 

Bengals certainly look more like pretenders than contenders this year with our defense struggling so much. 

 

Bengals are about 63 mil under the cap for 2025. That's with Chase counting at his 22 mil 5th year option before an extension. Team can save 9.6 mil by moving on from Hubbard and should do that. 

 

The following vets will be out of contract after this year:

 

Tee Higgins

Mike Gesicki

BJ Hill

Mike Hilton

Vonn Bell

Tanner Hudson

Cody Ford

Trey Hill

D'Ante Smith

Joseph Ossai

Cam Sample

Trent Brown

Akeem Davis-Gaither

Jay Tufele

 

We can probably afford to lose all of those players plus Hubbard. 

 

 

[Jamie_B]

You have to have a willing partner of your tagging and trading. 

[claptonrocks]

13 minutes ago, sparky151 said:

I doubt Egbuka goes in the first round. Bengals certainly don't need to take a WR early next year. 

 

What they should do: Tag and trade Tee at the beginning of free agency. That will give them compensation better than a 2026 3rd rounder and will let them participate in free agency without worrying about offsetting losses vs additions. They should be able to get a 2nd rounder in 2025 for the top free agent WR. 

 

What they probably will do: not tag Tee and let him leave for the 2026 3rd rounder.

 

Bengals certainly look more like pretenders than contenders this year with our defense struggling so much. 

 

Bengals are about 63 mil under the cap for 2025. That's with Chase counting at his 22 mil 5th year option before an extension. Team can save 9.6 mil by moving on from Hubbard and should do that. 

 

The following vets will be out of contract after this year:

 

Tee Higgins

Mike Gesicki

BJ Hill

Mike Hilton

Vonn Bell

Tanner Hudson

Cody Ford

Trey Hill

D'Ante Smith

Joseph Ossai

Cam Sample

Trent Brown

Akeem Davis-Gaither

Jay Tufele

 

We can probably afford to lose all of those players plus Hubbard. 

 

 

Agree

That's a bad list to hang on to.

They'll still have to fill out their roster though

 

I see a few coming back at team friendly contracts.

ADG and Sample would be my best guesses.

 

I'll respectfully disagree with you on Egbuka not being a round 1 pick.

 

[sparky151]

Sure but Tee will probably be the best free agent WR available next year. Offensively challenged teams with cap space probably need talent more than a lottery ticket for cheap rookies. A team like New England would make a lot of sense. So would most of the teams drafting QBs in round 1. Same reason the Bears traded for Keenan Allen, despite his 20 mil contract. The Giants are almost certain to move on from Daniel Jones and his 40 mil contract for instance. 

[claptonrocks]

2 minutes ago, Jamie_B said:

You have to have a willing partner of your tagging and trading. 

I'm sure a team is drooling over the idea of obtaining D'Ante Smith..😎

Id trade him for nothing .

Seems that's all he's worth.

[sparky151]

Just now, claptonrocks said:

Agree

That's a bad list to hang on to.

They'll still have to fill out their roster though.

I see a few coming back at team friendly contracts.

ADG and Sample would be my best guesses.

 

 

Yes, I expect several of the cheaper players on the list to return. But a 1 season makeover of the defense without losing much on offense is very doable, at least in theory. Whether Tobin and the Brown family can pull it off is the question. 

 

We'll be able to afford a top tier defender who makes Christian Wilkins or Danielle Hunter type money plus another guy making Sheldon Rankins money plus extend Chase and some other players currently on rookie deals plus fill out the roster with lower paid free agents. That's all before the draft. We're more likely to be drafting top 12 than making the playoffs. There's a good group of CBs coming out so that may be our target position in round 1. 

[Jason]

45 minutes ago, claptonrocks said:

He's a slot type no?

Wouldn't a without be more condusive to team needs.

 

By decision, not by limit.  I am pretty sure he can play outside.

[claptonrocks]

35 minutes ago, Jason said:

By decision, not by limit.  I am pretty sure he can play outside.

He's a helluva slot though 😊

[Le Tigre]

I have already seen “moving on” several times in the thread. 
 

Annually, I always wonder who the “moving on” is to…or from? 
 

 

[Le Tigre]

Looks like attrition, record, and overall yuk forces this thread back up top.

[Jamie_B]

The defense has struggled the past two years, it's going to take two years to fix it, while keeping the offense at the level its at or maybe a small dip but staying in the top 10.

 

Assuming the guys we drafted this year pan out. Here is my 2 year "Keeping it positive" (meaning the draft picks pan out) plan. (Also this assumes we keep role players like Trenton Irwin)

 

FA 2025

DJ Reed to a 3-4 year deal (he is currently 27 so a 3-4 year deal would be ideal)

Chase Young to a 2 year "prove it deal", he is still young and could potentially turn it around or at least contribute

 

No real safeties I like so I promote Battle so starter alongside Stone.

 

Draft  2025

Top Rated in their bucket system between DE/CB. I lean towards getting a 1st round CB here though as DEs are easier to get in the 2nd. (See Sam Hubbard) Good CBs are not.

Top Rated Interior linemen in the 2nd. If that ends up a center and Matt Lee works out the draft pick can slide to guard.

Top Rated 3 Tech DT

 

Fill out the rest of the picks with another WR, and whatever else is coming due to roster churn

 

You put Dax Hill in the Slot with Mike Hilton leaving. Cam Taylor Britt and DJ Reed on the corners, let your 1st round pick work his way in.

 

FA 2026 

Kyle Hamilton is a FA but there is ZERO chance the Ravens let him get away. Not anyone that is screaming out to me to take at S here?

Really FA this far out is kind of hard to predict. 

 

Draft 2026

Top Rated DE or CB based on what you did last year.

Top Rated RB as Moss will be gone

Top Rated Interior Linemen

Top Rated LB (Tee Higgins comp pick)

Top Rated DT, whether thats 3 Tech or NT.

 

Continue to fill out.

[Le Tigre]

Back for another bump. 

[KA14_HOF]

"With the 4th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select..." - Roger Goodell

[HavePityPlease]

2 minutes ago, KA14_HOF said:

"With the 4th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select..." - Roger Goodell

 

Probably a receiver "replacement" for Tee.  Sad, but quite possible.  If we were able to select the best pass rusher, DT or corner it would be nice though.

[|BlackJesus|]

In my book the #1 need is a DE who can actually get sacks. Trey needs help on the other side.