The Open For Business Draft Thread 2025 Edition

[MichaelWeston]

This is the week we need to decide if we are trading Tee. Deadline is next Tuesday. I am not a believer in this team and I would trade him if you can get a second or better. 

 

The other option is you franchise him again and then trade him in the offseason. 

 

Or you let him walk for nothing. 

[HavePityPlease]

I've said it before, if we're already saying the draft has to fill several key starting roles "and they have to AWESOME!" well then we're already toast.  This is how we have had to think as Bengals fans off and on for at least 30 years or so, but once Joe fell in our lap it shouldn't have been happening anymore, and still shouldn't.

 

The FO should be signing real starting FAs.  They should be breaking the bank (or trading) for PROVEN pass rushers and CB1's or up-and-comers in both (it worked in the past - see Trey, Awuzie, Reader).  Easier said than done, sure, but it's the only proven path here, everything else is a total crapshoot and we shouldn't expect anything from it.

 

Ossai - I've always liked him and yes he flashed early - as a situational pass rusher.  Honestly I think he's out of position, he should probably be an outside backer in a 3-4.  He's not stout enough to handle tackles face-up but he is athletic and long.  Too bad for him, hopefully he finds success somewhere (if it's here I think it'd have to be a new DC implementing a new system).

[Jamie_B]

10 minutes ago, HavePityPlease said:

I've said it before, if we're already saying the draft has to fill several key starting roles "and they have to AWESOME!" well then we're already toast.  This is how we have had to think as Bengals fans off and on for at least 30 years or so, but once Joe fell in our lap it shouldn't have been happening anymore, and still shouldn't.

 

The FO should be signing real starting FAs.  They should be breaking the bank (or trading) for PROVEN pass rushers and CB1's or up-and-comers in both (it worked in the past - see Trey, Awuzie, Reader).  Easier said than done, sure, but it's the only proven path here, everything else is a total crapshoot and we shouldn't expect anything from it.

 

Ossai - I've always liked him and yes he flashed early - as a situational pass rusher.  Honestly I think he's out of position, he should probably be an outside backer in a 3-4.  He's not stout enough to handle tackles face-up but he is athletic and long.  Too bad for him, hopefully he finds success somewhere (if it's here I think it'd have to be a new DC implementing a new system).

 

 

I am on board for spending money on DJ Reed to be our CB1. But I think it's really tough to get a DE in FA. Teams don't willingly give up pass rushers. It's a premium position. We got Trey because the Saints were in cap hell and couldn't keep him. Is there another team like that this offseason that has a up and coming DE? I'd be surprised.

[|High School Harry|]

2 hours ago, Jamie_B said:

 

Got ya

 

I'd bring Young in during FA as a backup that could potentially move into a starter role on a 2 year "prove it" deal though he's still young (no pun intended)

My brain fart was I have not been following him and did not know he had fallen off so badly.

But, yeah, free agent.  Seems like a Bengal thing to do.

[T-Dub]

2 hours ago, HavePityPlease said:

I've said it before, if we're already saying the draft has to fill several key starting roles "and they have to AWESOME!" well then we're already toast.  This is how we have had to think as Bengals fans off and on for at least 30 years or so, but once Joe fell in our lap it shouldn't have been happening anymore, and still shouldn't.

 

The FO should be signing real starting FAs.  They should be breaking the bank (or trading) for PROVEN pass rushers and CB1's or up-and-comers in both (it worked in the past - see Trey, Awuzie, Reader).  Easier said than done, sure, but it's the only proven path here, everything else is a total crapshoot and we shouldn't expect anything from it.

 

Ossai - I've always liked him and yes he flashed early - as a situational pass rusher.  Honestly I think he's out of position, he should probably be an outside backer in a 3-4.  He's not stout enough to handle tackles face-up but he is athletic and long.  Too bad for him, hopefully he finds success somewhere (if it's here I think it'd have to be a new DC implementing a new system).

 

 

Exactly this, if your team is drafting starters for the upcoming season they're probably already fucked. 

[sparky151]

Bengals aren't going to get to 10 wins and make the playoffs. I'll guess we get 7-9 and draft in the 10th to 16th spot each round. The 4th place schedule should let us draft early among teams with the same record.

 

Taylor and the other coaches will likely be back. We will have a lot of cap space and a full set of draft picks. It's entirely possible to do a significant upgrade in a single offseason. But don't hold your breath for the Bengals to pull it off. Ravens had O-line issues last year and their top 2 RBs left. So they swapped in some new linemen and signed Derrick Henry and now are a good running team. But they also have better coaching and front office than we do. Stealers have had O-line injuries this year but are still able to run the ball. 

 

Higgins, Gesicki, BJ Hill, Hilton, and Bell are free agents after this season. 2025 will be the last year on the current contracts for Volson, Karras, and Cappa plus Rankins, Hubbard, Dax Hill, Hendrickson. We should probably keep Tee for the rest of this season but tag and trade him early next offseason. Iosivas and Burton need more targets this year though so we know how high a priority adding a WR is next year. The draft is pretty meh at WR. It's a good class for CBs and we need a top caliber guy, we only have a committee of JAGs. If we keep Rankins and Hubbard for next year, we have the cap space to sign a top tier D-lineman. If we release them, we can sign 2 top tier free agent D-linemen. If we can persuade them to come here. If we trust Matt Lee to be the future at center, we could if necessary re-sign Volson (he won't be expensive) and use a 2nd or 3rd rounder on a guard to replace Cappa. 

 

So I could see something like free agency bringing a couple of good D-linemen, round 1 adding a CB and round 2 and 3 bringing a RB and RG.

 

 

 

 

[New Jersey Bengal]

1 minute ago, sparky151 said:

Bengals aren't going to get to 10 wins and make the playoffs. I'll guess we get 7-9 and draft in the 10th to 16th spot each round. The 4th place schedule should let us draft early among teams with the same record.

 

Taylor and the other coaches will likely be back. We will have a lot of cap space and a full set of draft picks. It's entirely possible to do a significant upgrade in a single offseason. But don't hold your breath for the Bengals to pull it off. Ravens had O-line issues last year and their top 2 RBs left. So they swapped in some new linemen and signed Derrick Henry and now are a good running team. But they also have better coaching and front office than we do. Stealers have had O-line injuries this year but are still able to run the ball. 

 

Higgins, Gesicki, BJ Hill, Hilton, and Bell are free agents after this season. 2025 will be the last year on the current contracts for Volson, Karras, and Cappa plus Rankins, Hubbard, Dax Hill, Hendrickson. We should probably keep Tee for the rest of this season but tag and trade him early next offseason. Iosivas and Burton need more targets this year though so we know how high a priority adding a WR is next year. The draft is pretty meh at WR. It's a good class for CBs and we need a top caliber guy, we only have a committee of JAGs. If we keep Rankins and Hubbard for next year, we have the cap space to sign a top tier D-lineman. If we release them, we can sign 2 top tier free agent D-linemen. If we can persuade them to come here. If we trust Matt Lee to be the future at center, we could if necessary re-sign Volson (he won't be expensive) and use a 2nd or 3rd rounder on a guard to replace Cappa. 

 

So I could see something like free agency bringing a couple of good D-linemen, round 1 adding a CB and round 2 and 3 bringing a RB and RG.

 

 

 

 

The way they improved the d last time was signing Trey reader and awuzie

[Jamie_B]

4 minutes ago, sparky151 said:

Bengals aren't going to get to 10 wins and make the playoffs. I'll guess we get 7-9 and draft in the 10th to 16th spot each round. The 4th place schedule should let us draft early among teams with the same record.

 

Taylor and the other coaches will likely be back. We will have a lot of cap space and a full set of draft picks. It's entirely possible to do a significant upgrade in a single offseason. But don't hold your breath for the Bengals to pull it off. Ravens had O-line issues last year and their top 2 RBs left. So they swapped in some new linemen and signed Derrick Henry and now are a good running team. But they also have better coaching and front office than we do. Stealers have had O-line injuries this year but are still able to run the ball. 

 

Higgins, Gesicki, BJ Hill, Hilton, and Bell are free agents after this season. 2025 will be the last year on the current contracts for Volson, Karras, and Cappa plus Rankins, Hubbard, Dax Hill, Hendrickson. We should probably keep Tee for the rest of this season but tag and trade him early next offseason. Iosivas and Burton need more targets this year though so we know how high a priority adding a WR is next year. The draft is pretty meh at WR. It's a good class for CBs and we need a top caliber guy, we only have a committee of JAGs. If we keep Rankins and Hubbard for next year, we have the cap space to sign a top tier D-lineman. If we release them, we can sign 2 top tier free agent D-linemen. If we can persuade them to come here. If we trust Matt Lee to be the future at center, we could if necessary re-sign Volson (he won't be expensive) and use a 2nd or 3rd rounder on a guard to replace Cappa. 

 

So I could see something like free agency bringing a couple of good D-linemen, round 1 adding a CB and round 2 and 3 bringing a RB and RG.

 

 

 

There are also more options in FA for CBs that are still young than there are DEs that are still young. I think I go CB in FA and DE in the draft.

[sparky151]

You know the Bengals are going to count Murphy as a starter if they let Hubbard go. Jenkins is the likely replacement for Hill. There's a decent group of DTs next draft, maybe we take Kenneth Grant as a replacement for Rankins. Grant is a better run stopper but not a big pass rusher. Mason Graham will probably be off the board when we pick. 

[Randle P McMurphy]

6 hours ago, sparky151 said:

Bengals aren't going to get to 10 wins and make the playoffs. I'll guess we get 7-9 and draft in the 10th to 16th spot each round. The 4th place schedule should let us draft early among teams with the same record.

 

Taylor and the other coaches will likely be back. We will have a lot of cap space and a full set of draft picks. It's entirely possible to do a significant upgrade in a single offseason. But don't hold your breath for the Bengals to pull it off. Ravens had O-line issues last year and their top 2 RBs left. So they swapped in some new linemen and signed Derrick Henry and now are a good running team. But they also have better coaching and front office than we do. Stealers have had O-line injuries this year but are still able to run the ball. 

 

Higgins, Gesicki, BJ Hill, Hilton, and Bell are free agents after this season. 2025 will be the last year on the current contracts for Volson, Karras, and Cappa plus Rankins, Hubbard, Dax Hill, Hendrickson. We should probably keep Tee for the rest of this season but tag and trade him early next offseason. Iosivas and Burton need more targets this year though so we know how high a priority adding a WR is next year. The draft is pretty meh at WR. It's a good class for CBs and we need a top caliber guy, we only have a committee of JAGs. If we keep Rankins and Hubbard for next year, we have the cap space to sign a top tier D-lineman. If we release them, we can sign 2 top tier free agent D-linemen. If we can persuade them to come here. If we trust Matt Lee to be the future at center, we could if necessary re-sign Volson (he won't be expensive) and use a 2nd or 3rd rounder on a guard to replace Cappa. 

 

So I could see something like free agency bringing a couple of good D-linemen, round 1 adding a CB and round 2 and 3 bringing a RB and RG.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not sure keeping Higgins this year and tagging him again next year to trade will work because teams know the Bengals have the Ja'Marr Chase

contract situation to deal with and will lowball the Bengals as far as draft pick compensation coming back to the Bengals.  Most likely they'll have

to trade him this year to get the maximum return.  

[Jamie_B]

They will let Higgins walk, we all know this.

[T-Dub]

43 minutes ago, Jamie_B said:

They will let Higgins walk, we all know this.

 

 

Never mind Higgins, I'm not 100% confident they extend Chase depending on how this season plays out.

 

I mean, I think they probably will, probably.

[|High School Harry|]

10 hours ago, Jamie_B said:

They will let Higgins walk, we all know this.

Beginning to think its more like we'll let Higgins limp.

[I_C_Deadpeople]

10 hours ago, T-Dub said:

 

 

Never mind Higgins, I'm not 100% confident they extend Chase depending on how this season plays out.

 

I mean, I think they probably will, probably.

If they dont sign Chase they not only set the franchise back. they essentially lose JB as an engaged franchise QB.  Having said that, it is a weak effort on the teams part to not sign him this past offseason. You own a nd run an NFL - so act like one. That means contracts for your elite players at elite prices for the market. 

[Griever]

Lots of bad teams...most of which with QB problems 

[I_C_Deadpeople]

1 hour ago, High School Harry said:

Beginning to think its more like we'll let Higgins limp.

I do wonder how much his nagging injuries will affect his free agent pricing. He may get his desired money but it may be from one of those lowly dysfunctional teams (no, not ours lol). 

[|High School Harry|]

15 minutes ago, Griever said:

Lots of bad teams...most of which with QB problems 

So there should be a good wide receiver there when we draft in the first round.

sorta  but sad and true.,

[Griever]

 

[|BlackJesus|]

36 minutes ago, Griever said:

 

 

Yikes. Is this front office trying to make fans lose all hope? Read the room, Duke. 

[Jamie_B]

1 hour ago, Griever said:

 

 

 

I'm beginning to question if Duke is the right voice.

[T-Dub]

2 hours ago, I_C_Deadpeople said:

If they dont sign Chase they not only set the franchise back. they essentially lose JB as an engaged franchise QB.  Having said that, it is a weak effort on the teams part to not sign him this past offseason. You own a nd run an NFL - so act like one. That means contracts for your elite players at elite prices for the market. 

 

Chase himself has a say in this as well. They can tag him for a year but if he decides he wants out they're cooked.

[I_C_Deadpeople]

On 10/29/2024 at 11:14 AM, T-Dub said:

 

Chase himself has a say in this as well. They can tag him for a year but if he decides he wants out they're cooked.

I would bet he wants to play with Joe and the two of them together would have a lot of leverage in terms of demanding changes when needed. 

[T-Dub]

2 hours ago, I_C_Deadpeople said:

I would bet he wants to play with Joe and the two of them together would have a lot of leverage in terms of demanding changes when needed. 

 

Afraid we're about to find out just how much.  Ridiculous that it would ever come to that.

[Whodeyman]

On 10/28/2024 at 11:51 AM, MichaelWeston said:

This is the week we need to decide if we are trading Tee. Deadline is next Tuesday. I am not a believer in this team and I would trade him if you can get a second or better. 

 

The other option is you franchise him again and then trade him in the offseason. 

 

Or you let him walk for nothing. 

I like franchising again then trading in off-season. His injury woes though.  

[Whodeyman]

On 10/29/2024 at 10:30 AM, Griever said:

 

That sounds like tobins voice is only one that matters