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Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't but the Bengals have used their cap space to big advantage this offseason and home or and made some real effort to improve the roster.

(03-18-2021 02:34 PM)Bearhawkeye Wrote:  

(03-18-2021 12:54 PM)dbernie41 Wrote:  Would much rather have spent the money on OL or made a trade for the Raiders C.

T Riley Reiff is visiting the Bengals according to multiple reports. It sounds like they are most focused on Reiff and Golladay right now.

They have signed Reiff. If they can get Golladay, I think they've pretty much hit every area of need going into FA. With the exception of maybe TE. Have they upgraded at some of those positions? Maybe not, but it at least gives them more flexibility heading into the draft.

They also cut Bobby Hart and Ryan Finley to clear cap space.

Cut Geno Atkins, Hart and Ryan Finley today. A little surprised they cut Finley - he's the type they usually hang on to too long...although, it could be argued they already did.

(03-19-2021 11:21 AM)bearcatdp Wrote:  Cut Geno Atkins, Hart and Ryan Finley today. A little surprised they cut Finley - he's the type they usually hang on to too long...although, it could be argued they already did.

Not at all surprised about Finley. He was a bit of a disappointment with the Bengals, but the Monday night win over the Steelers was one of the very few highlights of the Taylor era so far. Not that he was special either, but I thought Brandon Allen looked a lot better than Finley in his time late last year and the Bengals signed Allen to a 1 year deal last week. BTW, the Bengals apparently were able to trade Finley rather than just cut him:

Quote:The Bengals were going to release quarterback Ryan Finley on Friday afternoon, but they're trading him to the Texans instead according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Houston was willing to give up a future asset to make sure they added the NC State product to their roster.

The two teams will swap late-round picks in next month's draft as part of the deal.

The Bengals will move up "about 30 spots at the end of the draft" according to Rapoport.

Also opens up a few bucks and a slot to take a cheap flyer on a QB.

Great news about adding Reiff to the OL! I wouldn't mind if the Bengals were somehow able to bring back Hart at a much lower cost as depth. He wasn't great by any means, but he's only 26 and perhaps improving and I think he was somewhat unjustly scapegoated by a lot of the fans.

The Burrow effect seemed to be working on Reiff (along with a quality steak). I read somewhere that Ruby promised him a box of cigars if he signed with the Bengals so that might have helped too. Ocho was even doing his part via twitter. Hopefully they can do the same with Golladay.

Golladay 4yrs 72 mil to the Giants... wow

(03-20-2021 03:23 PM)InspectorHound Wrote:  Golladay 4yrs 72 mil to the Giants... wow

Bummer but I wouldn't have paid him anywhere near that in this environment. The other big-name free agent it seems Bengals are after is OG Trai Turner. He's the perfect guy to target if he passes his physical Might be a one-year prove-it deal candidate.

The Bengals chances of drafting Chase or Sewell have just increased. Miami traded the #3 pick to the 49ers. It is believed that the 49ers are targeting a QB. Miami was rumored to be looking at Chase. They traded back up to #6. Miami must feel confident that the Bengals will go O-line or that either Chase or Pitts will be there for them. The top 4 picks COULD all be QB's.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/3114...ources-say

I like it from Miami's standpoint. I know SF wants QB but I don't see any of these guys worth moving that much to get. Miami will still be able to get either Chase or Pitts for Tua.

(03-26-2021 01:38 PM)Cat-Man Wrote:  The Bengals chances of drafting Chase or Sewell have just increased. Miami traded the #3 pick to the 49ers. It is believed that the 49ers are targeting a QB. Miami was rumored to be looking at Chase. They traded back up to #6. Miami must feel confident that the Bengals will go O-line or that either Chase or Pitts will be there for them. The top 4 picks COULD all be QB's.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/3114...ources-say

Yep. Sounds like the Bengals could have their pick of the entire (non-QB) NFL Draft. No excuses to blow this one.

Still hoping/expecting another free agent signing that should contribute.

Somehow as the Bengals top options in R1 seem to be clarifying (Sewell, Chase, Pitts or trade), the actual decision feels like it is getting harder and harder. A good trade haul is almost impossible to pass up if we get one, but man I'd hate to miss out on all three of those guys.

Head Coach has said numerous times Jonah Williams is the starting left tackle....You do not draft right tackle with the 5th pick....Falcons will draft Pitts....Chase is obvious pick... Starting tackles and guards galore in 2nd and 3rd rounds....

(04-01-2021 11:34 AM)CincyBro Wrote:  Head Coach has said numerous times Jonah Williams is the starting left tackle....You do not draft right tackle with the 5th pick....Falcons will draft Pitts....Chase is obvious pick... Starting tackles and guards galore in 2nd and 3rd rounds....

Well yeah, that's the current plan. But plans can always change. Theoretically any of the 3 could kick inside to G. And the LT being much more important than RT has been greatly minimized as well. L is still the blindside for RH QBs, but many of the best pass rushers frequently come from the R.

True there's lots of quality OL in this draft, but WR should also be very deep in the 2nd and 3rd (probably a big factor in the soft WR market.) And even though I don't put much stock in the historical analysis, WRs in R2 have been some of the best Bengals picks ever.

We'll see what the Falcons do. They are probably still a very legit trade partner for a few teams. Bengals might be too.

I go back and forth on who they should take at #5. It sounds like most of the fanbase are split as well. I wouldn't be mad with Chase or Sewell. I just don't think TE is as big a need. I mean, they need a good receiving TE, but I think a stud WR or OL trumps a TE this high. If they were outside the top 10, I think a TE might be in play, but I don't think Pitts will last that long.

I agree with you that it wouldn't surprise me to see someone trade with the Falcons to get Chase. However, it would surprise me to see the Bengals trade out of there. Not saying it wouldn't be a good move, but IMO the Bengals don't seem to be creative enough to trade and stockpile good picks/players.

(04-01-2021 01:10 PM)Cat-Man Wrote:  I go back and forth on who they should take at #5. It sounds like most of the fanbase are split as well. I wouldn't be mad with Chase or Sewell. I just don't think TE is as big a need. I mean, they need a good receiving TE, but I think a stud WR or OL trumps a TE this high. If they were outside the top 10, I think a TE might be in play, but I don't think Pitts will last that long.

I agree with you that it wouldn't surprise me to see someone trade with the Falcons to get Chase. However, it would surprise me to see the Bengals trade out of there. Not saying it wouldn't be a good move, but IMO the Bengals don't seem to be creative enough to trade and stockpile good picks/players.

Any of the three would be a reasonable choice. Taking Pitts wouldn't be drafting to a position specific need as I've heard in interviews that the Bengals like Ouzamah in their offense. Taking Pitts would be drafting to get a special playmaker to the offense. You're right that you can get good pass catchers in later round but a special playmaker is harder to find in later rounds. For OL the difference between good and great isn't as significant. If you think Pitts or Chase are special playmakers and that good starting tackles are going to be available when the pick in the mid-30s getting a special player for Burrow to throw to makes sense.

(04-01-2021 01:50 PM)RealDeal Wrote:  [quote='Cat-Man' pid='17362383' dateline='1617300627']
I go back and forth on who they should take at #5. It sounds like most of the fanbase are split as well. I wouldn't be mad with Chase or Sewell. I just don't think TE is as big a need. I mean, they need a good receiving TE, but I think a stud WR or OL trumps a TE this high. If they were outside the top 10, I think a TE might be in play, but I don't think Pitts will last that long.

I agree with you that it wouldn't surprise me to see someone trade with the Falcons to get Chase. However, it would surprise me to see the Bengals trade out of there. Not saying it wouldn't be a good move, but IMO the Bengals don't seem to be creative enough to trade and stockpile good picks/players.

The smart move is Sewell, but i like the idea of Chase too. The smartest move to me is sit at 5 on draft day and see what QB is still there and let the bidding begin. I would not move back past 9 that way you can still get possibly Sewell, Slater, Waddle or Smith and get another 2nd and possibly more depending how desperate a team wants a QB.

(04-01-2021 01:58 PM)Tomcat Wrote:  

(04-01-2021 01:50 PM)RealDeal Wrote:  [quote='Cat-Man' pid='17362383' dateline='1617300627']
I go back and forth on who they should take at #5. It sounds like most of the fanbase are split as well. I wouldn't be mad with Chase or Sewell. I just don't think TE is as big a need. I mean, they need a good receiving TE, but I think a stud WR or OL trumps a TE this high. If they were outside the top 10, I think a TE might be in play, but I don't think Pitts will last that long.

I agree with you that it wouldn't surprise me to see someone trade with the Falcons to get Chase. However, it would surprise me to see the Bengals trade out of there. Not saying it wouldn't be a good move, but IMO the Bengals don't seem to be creative enough to trade and stockpile good picks/players.

The smart move is Sewell, but i like the idea of Chase too. The smartest move to me is sit at 5 on draft day and see what QB is still there and let the bidding begin. I would not move back past 9 that way you can still get possibly Sewell, Slater, Waddle or Smith and get another 2nd and possibly more depending how desperate a team wants a QB.

I think is what they want to do also. They first 4 picks might be all QB's so a team behind will want to move up to 5 to get one of the other QB's available. I just don't want to move out of the top 10. So they can still get one of those or Chase.

(04-01-2021 01:50 PM)RealDeal Wrote:  

(04-01-2021 01:10 PM)Cat-Man Wrote:  I go back and forth on who they should take at #5. It sounds like most of the fanbase are split as well. I wouldn't be mad with Chase or Sewell. I just don't think TE is as big a need. I mean, they need a good receiving TE, but I think a stud WR or OL trumps a TE this high. If they were outside the top 10, I think a TE might be in play, but I don't think Pitts will last that long.

I agree with you that it wouldn't surprise me to see someone trade with the Falcons to get Chase. However, it would surprise me to see the Bengals trade out of there. Not saying it wouldn't be a good move, but IMO the Bengals don't seem to be creative enough to trade and stockpile good picks/players.

Any of the three would be a reasonable choice. Taking Pitts wouldn't be drafting to a position specific need as I've heard in interviews that the Bengals like Ouzamah in their offense. Taking Pitts would be drafting to get a special playmaker to the offense. You're right that you can get good pass catchers in later round but a special playmaker is harder to find in later rounds. For OL the difference between good and great isn't as significant. If you think Pitts or Chase are special playmakers and that good starting tackles are going to be available when the pick in the mid-30s getting a special player for Burrow to throw to makes sense.

To your point, it's just one pff writer's opinion, but it's a glowing one about him as a receiver and worth reading the link if you are into this stuff:

2021 NFL Draft: Florida TE Kyle Pitts is the best receiving prospect in the draft, regardless of position

Quote:The closer we get to the 2021 NFL Draft, the stronger the consensus is that Florida tight end Kyle Pitts is a truly generational talent. But after watching his tape and seeing him perform at his pro day, I have come to believe that he isn’t just the best tight end in his class, but he is also the best receiver at any position.

The term “generational” gets thrown around a lot these days, and it is fairly ill-defined. But with Pitts, I think we can flesh out more of what it really means, at least as it pertains specifically to him...

There's a good case for picking any of the 3 or for trading down. So it's a tough call but a great position to be in. It would be hard for me to be disappointed with drafting any of them (pending the trade down results).

The last damn thing they need to do is draft a short armed tackle with the 5th pick....

nice to see this:

Big Willie weighs in: