The Cincinnati Bengals shouldn't be done in free agency - what's next?

The Cincinnati Bengals shouldn't be done in free agency - what's next?

by Locked On Podcast Network, James Rapien, Jake Liscow

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About This Episode

31:01 minutes

published 2 months ago

English

Speaker 00s - 26.7s

Kyle Krabs here, host of Locked On NFL Scouting ORG. Join Joe Marino and me every day as we provide position-by-position analysis of the upcoming NFL Draft EVENT. Check out the Locked On NFL Scouting podcast with the Draft Dudes ORG on YouTube or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

Speaker 328.22s - 34.3s

The Bengals ORG have taken their biggest swings in free agency, but what's left on the to-do list? Let's get into it.

Speaker 235.04s - 65.06s

You are Locked On Bengals, your daily Cincinnati Bengals ORG podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. What up, Bengals fans, and welcome to another episode of the Lockdown Bengals ORG podcast.

Speaker 365.28s - 133.42s

I'm your host Jake Lisco. He's your host James Rapine PERSON. We're the Lockdown Bengals podcast here on the Lockdown Podcast Network covering your team every day. We're on YouTube ORG. We're everywhere you get your podcast. So please do subscribe if you'd like to be updated on what's happening with the Cincinnati Bengals ORG every day and have extra analysis in your pocket for the water cooler. Assuming your office is an office and there's a water cooler there and you want some extra Bengals ORG notes to talk about,this is a great place to get them. And today we're going to talk about what's left for the Bengals in free agency, James, as Trent Brown PERSON is perhaps the last big starter level signing. We could see a couple of more depth signings and a rotational piece on the interior defensive line maybe a cornerback maybe a wide receiver i think that at this point that's looking unlikely but the biggest moves probably mostly behind the bangles but i don't think they'renecessarily done they have i believe we don't know know the Trent Brown PERSON money as of this recording, still some cap space to work with here. And whether that's extensions or external guys, I think there are a few more moves we should be expecting.

Speaker 4134.18s - 233.94s

Sure. I think that there are a few more moves, a few more holes that they do need to add to. They have to add to the interior of their defensive line. I would be surprised if they didn't. That doesn't mean it's going to be a big name. That doesn't mean that T.R. Tartt PERSON is back in townand he's at Ruby's ORG and he's eating a steak. You get that thing medium rare, T.R. If you do get back into town, you'll enjoy it. But no, I'm not sure who it is. I do think that they'll add someone, even if it's just a body to add a body.And that might be Josh Tupou PERSON. That might be a familiar face. That might be a re-signing. It might be someone of that stature just to have someone else in that room before the draft. I think corner is certainly a spot that they can address. And there's still some pieces out there that they could look at and say, all right, not necessarily Eli Apple, even though I've seen that on social media, but someone like that where you're talking about a one-year deal veteran. And who knows you're, you're a guy, Christian Fulton PERSON. I think he's being courted by the chargers right now.So maybe that deal will get done. I'm not sure if it will, maybe it will by the time you see this point is, is I do think they had a corner. That's probably at the top of their priority list. When you look at the depth there and what's available obviously they would love to add a defensive tackle but there's just not a lot available so i don't knowif they're running to get one of those guys locked up as much as they might be running to try to get one of these corners that they probably feel like that there are still playable guys out there that they could add and after losing chitobeuzie PERSON, you do want to add someone behind DJ Turner, Cam Taylor-Britt PERSON. Obviously, they have Mike Hilton PERSON and Jalen Davis in the slot, but you need another outsidecorner, I think. Yeah, unless

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Dax Hill PERSON is the guy they're penciling in there, which is not a move that we would support, most

Speaker 4240.02s - 253.74s

likely, at least initially. You can't bank on that, right? If you want to give him some reps in the offseason program just to see fine but that's where i would leave it and it's nothing to do with dax it's just yeah that's a wild card it would be like moving my kilt into safety right

Speaker 3253.74s - 334.74s

we'd give dax hill every chance in camp or in otas or whatever to to play a good outside corner but it's not something that we would condone the Bengals ORG banking on going in to those offseason programs going into coming out of the draft and having just outside corner Cam Taylor Brett DJ Ivy and Alan George PERSON or sorry DJ Turner and Alan George because DJ Ivy PERSON's coming off that ACL and even if we thought that there was some promise for DJ Ivy last year and I don't want to write the guy off because he was impressive in trainingcamp and he was making plays on special teams when he got hurt. And that was a really unfortunate injury, but it was late in the year and it's an ACL for the corner. And you never know how guys are coming back from that. So they feel thin and outside corner. And that's a position where we know Lou PERSON and a room.Oh, has liked to have maybe one more guy than even we thought they needed to go get and that wasn't necessarily the case last year they drafted another second round corner so they didn't necessarily go at another veteran although Sidney Jones was with the team all year we're looking for that Eli Apple level signing in terms of money in terms of veteran experience not that Eli Apple PERSON level signing in terms of money, in terms of veteran experience, not necessarily Eli Apple specifically.But that's why corner is one of those spots we've been talking about since the jump with this free agency period is getting that depth veteran piece.

Speaker 4335.92s - 347.1s

Depth veteran. Would you would you if you're the GM, if Duke Tobin says you get to be Duke Tobin for a day, would you call Stefan Gilmore?

Speaker 3348.22s - 419.98s

I mean, you'd find out what the price tag is. But if the price tag is $10 million, would I? What if it's six? Sure. I mean, if it were me, I would not have front loaded the cap hit on Drew Sample PERSON. I would have probably used a void year with Trent Brown's PERSON deal.I would have done a lot of things differently to force more money into this year. And don't get me wrong. The Bengals ORG are spending more cash. By the time things are said and done, the Bengals' cash spend this year will be higher than the salary cap this year, I think.Maybe not. They're currently, according to Over the Cap ORG, a top-10 spending team in football before counting Trent Brown brown's PERSON deal which we don't have the details on yet so they are spending money don't get me wrong but with a front-loaded cap hit i mean that's so rare in the nfl to see a front-loaded cap hit of non-prorated contract no prorated money period in drew samples deal to the point that I thought that was an errorin the cat site accounting tracking. Yeah, I would have done things a little bit differently, and then you could fit a Stephon Gilmore PERSON and not even think about it, especially if you use a void year and spread some of that around into the future a little bit.

Speaker 4420.72s - 431.46s

There are some guys out there. Adoree Jackson PERSON, I don't know if they view him as an outside corner. He's still out there, unless I missed something. I think he is.

Speaker 3431.72s - 433.64s

I was just trying to pull up the corners.

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Akello Witherspoon PERSON.

Speaker 3435.36s - 440.24s

I'm looking at the pre-30-year-olds out there.

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Christian Fulton PERSON, like you mentioned.

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We'll see if he's done.

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Rakia Sin, 27.8. He's 28 years old raqus in also all-name team so come on sure yeah um xavian howard PERSON's gonna be out of

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their price range i assume steven nelson's on the wrong side of 30 fulton's the one that we

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circled from the beginning but there hasn't apparently been much interest there cj henderson another guy in his mid-20s that has the pedigree the draft pedigree levi wallace for a divisional familiar face and eli apple is still out there if they wanted to to kick those tires again for your your third or fourth outside corner i think they i don't know you never

Speaker 4487.06s - 491.7s

know i i don't want to say that it felt like the ship had passed but did you know it had sailed

Speaker 3491.7s - 498.72s

away yeah but i mean honestly i wouldn't hate it and in this cornerback market i think he's pretty

Speaker 4498.72s - 507.54s

he's pretty cheap because some of those guys you just named, that's why I would call.

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Stephon Gilmore PERSON.

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Stephon Gilmore PERSON.

Speaker 0513.22s - 513.44s

That's why I would call Stephon Gilmore is because outside of Chido Beowusie PERSON,

Speaker 4516.18s - 538.5s

which is good for Chido PERSON, he got paid. He's the highest paid corner of this cycle as of now. Good for Chido PERSON. And that could probably and will probably change with the luxurious need if he gets dealt and signed to an extension with that new team. But, yeah, I think you could steal one of these guys. And I think that's what the Bengals ORG are looking to do now.It's like, all right, let's let the dust settle. And then they pounce.

Speaker 3538.94s - 542.34s

And I do think they are still looking at the interior defensive line as well,

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which we'll talk about.

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But Jalen Johnson PERSON will be probably the top corner contract. He just signed with the same team. are still looking at the interior defensive line as well which will for sure but um jaylen johnson

Speaker 4545.68s - 550.54s

will be probably the top corner contract he just signed with the same team so it's easy to forget

Speaker 2550.54s - 554.3s

about that one for an external free agent though certainly for a guy going to a new team should

Speaker 4554.3s - 559.08s

yeah yeah yeah i forgot it was i forgot it was an extension that he signed and not just the one year

Speaker 3559.08s - 570.12s

tag uh i had something else to say about corner, but I've forgotten what that is. So maybe we move on. Let's move on.

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If you're looking for someone to play corner in practice, Jake PERSON can fly down here and get roasted.

Speaker 3574.66s - 577.56s

Get roasted relentlessly. By me.

Speaker 4577.66s - 579.62s

You wouldn't even need to play the Bengals ORG. Yeah.

Speaker 3579.72s - 582.42s

Put a high school wide receiver across from me.

Speaker 4583.54s - 588.98s

Don't move like I used to or me yeah oh what else is

Speaker 3588.98s - 598.28s

left for the bengals in free agency are there some moves that we would make that we don't think the bengals are exploring let's talk about those options coming up next i would probably sign me

Speaker 4598.28s - 644.9s

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Speaker 2645.36s - 678.46s

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Speaker 3679.46s - 717.58s

So we think that a corner move is relatively likely, just looking at the depth chart, looking at what's there. And I alluded to this as well. We still don't have a nose tackle on the roster. They probably will want at least a big body defensive tackle at some point. Whether or not that's a guy they're expecting to play DJ Reader PERSON-style workload or Josh Tupo PERSON-style workload, and you're in sub-packagesand short yardage situations remains to be seen. and based on the guys that are still out there it probably is a ladder as far as free agent acquisitions I would support exploring the trade market as well or for defensive tackle but

Speaker 5717.58s - 728.82s

what do you think besides corner is is the next likely Bengals ORG free agent move as the free agent moves are legitimately dwindling?

Speaker 3729.7s - 732.52s

I think they're probably done at tight end.

Speaker 4732.6s - 734.9s

I think they feel really good about their tight end room as of now.

Speaker 3735.14s - 736.98s

You don't think Mitch Wilcox PERSON is coming back?

Speaker 4737.56s - 758.74s

Not before the draft. Okay. Not before the draft. Now, maybe. Maybe they go that route and they bring him back. I think running back is interestingbecause I think they're comfortable with their room. I also think there's a former first-rounder that could just make his way back to Cincinnati GPE, the guy that we talked about a lot before free agency started and Clyde Edwards Hilaire PERSON.

Speaker 5758.98s - 759.24s

Yeah.

Speaker 4759.52s - 834.06s

But I also think it's kind of like tight end where you want to go into the draft and see what you got and what you can get and then address it after the fact if you don't get what you're hoping to land. And so we'll see. That's why I mentioned Clyde PERSON specifically because I don't know if they're necessarily in the running back market,but they may look at it and say, well, he does fit what we're trying to do. He can just get in. He's cheap. So that's the only one. I think interior offensive line to me would be something I would look at. Someone that has that Max Sharping PERSON flex, and maybe it is Max Sharping. He's just sitting out there, but center guard. Who can do both? Who can you find that can do both? Max Sharping PERSON wasyour backup center last year and you either bring him back or you get someone else otherwise you're prioritizing it really early in the draft and i don't love that anyways so at least get someone because you just don't know how the draft is going to go and i do think they could add that interior offensive line help in this draft certainly in quality interior line depth but add someone anyways so that's another spot and it might just be resigning max sharp PERSON and bringing him back you're comfortable with him and he'sstill out there so we'll see but i think that those are some spots that we haven't talked about

Speaker 3834.06s - 850.92s

i think that's one area where what we would do would differ from from what the bengals are likely to do i mean their backups on the offensive line are currently coach favorite Cody Ford. They really like him. I am not where the coaches are on Cody Ford. That's a shot.

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Okay.

Speaker 3855.2s - 862.26s

He's a fine guy to have as one of your backup pieces, but he shouldn't be your best backup piece. He shouldn't be your first guy off the bench at like four positions, which I think he is right now.

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I think.

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And outside of that you have the remnants of a draft class went wrong in jackson carmen deontay smith trey hill PERSON also on the roster none

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of those guys are guys that this coaching staff seems to trust and i think we're well past the

Speaker 3878.62s - 939.78s

the period of well let's see if they can take a step this year i don't think anyone's saying that about these guys anymore in the final year of their contract. You've got Jackson Kirkland PERSON, an undrafted free agent from last year, Nate Gilliam, Devin Cochran PERSON, and they like some of those guys for different reasons, but I don't think you're really comfortable, at least I'm not, with the depth they have on the offensive line right now. So admirable job of filling their starting free agent offensive line because they're all mercenaries except for Cordell Wilson PERSON at this pointwith solid pieces. Orlando Brown, Ted Karras, Alex Kappa PERSON, Trent Brown should all be solid pieces, and we'll talk about this a little bit in just a minute. But if Cordell Wilson PERSON is what you consider an average starter, their depth is still below average.And I know this is an NFL ORG-wide problem, but if we're talking about an area where we would make moves that perhaps they're not exploring, that is probably the one that springs to mind to me the most. Sure.

Speaker 4940.12s - 985.52s

And it doesn't, again, it just needs to be some kind of depth that you can trust. From a guard standpoint, Greg Van Roten is just out there, but he's 34. And if you're older than me, the Bengals ORG aren't interested. Klyas Campbell PERSON is someone we're going to mention every single day until he signs somewhere because I think he makes a lot of sense,even though he's not that nose tackle. He's 38 years old. Okay, so what? I don't care if he's older than a lot of your coaching staff. Not a lot, but some of your coaching staff, at least. I think that's the element that's interesting now is will the Bengals ORG bend that at all? They did a little bit.When you look at Sheldon Rankins, that's the one guy where they bend it. Trent Brown PERSON on a one-year deal. We've seen that before, one-year deal with Riley Reif PERSON. And so I don't want guy where they bend it. Trent Brown on a one-year deal. We've seen that before, a one-year deal with Riley Reif.

Speaker 5985.96s - 988.16s

And so I don't want to say they bend a ton there.

Speaker 4988.5s - 1036.78s

But adding depth to the trenches is something I think everyone that's listening is going to be on board with. Naturally, they're going to do it in the draft. But what are the odds they draft three offensive linemen? I would like to say pretty good. Now, what are the odds that, and let's just say they take one in the first round.What are the odds that the other two, if we know three of their 10 picks, or three of however many picks they end up with, they currently have 10, end up on offensive linemen. What are the odds those guys are quality backups in year one? Outside of the first, if they took one in the first round. It's hard to say, because you don't know what round,you don't know when they're taking them, you don't know how much development they're going to need, and they could need some development. So why not add a proven piece or two now? I don't think anyone would argue with that.

Speaker 31037.34s - 1055.72s

Yeah, and I'm talking about something a little bit better than what they normally do there, like spending more than the veteran minimum on backups, which is not something that the Bengals tend to do. They did it with Akeem Davis Gaither this year. They kind of did it withDrew Sample, sort of. You want Dalton Risner PERSON. Just say it. Throw it out there.

Speaker 41056.06s - 1058.36s

Somebody like that, sure. Or is it Risner PERSON?

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Risner PERSON? I don't recall.

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But we've talked about

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I mean, haven't you talked about signing both

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Becton and Trent Brown? Not that that's a realistic idea if beckton PERSON's out there looking to start but like

Speaker 31070.28s - 1082.04s

that sort of thing where you're getting guys that have experience oh no doubt i mean cam fleming still out there guy we've talked about as a potential spot starter like he shouldn't be

Speaker 41082.04s - 1156.94s

expensive get a swing time guys guys that could let's say Becton PERSON for example let's say or or both guys have played both spots if needed and so now you'd have Trent Brown PERSON you'd have back then let's just say they signed back then because it's someone we've talked about a lot if you didn't take offensive tackle at 18 for whatever reason you still feel okay about your depth there. Much rather get a young guy that's going to be under contract for five years and all of thosethings. I'm not arguing that. I'm not saying you don't do it. But if something happens where you miss out on tackle, kind of like last year when the tight end class is so great and then just didn't fall to them the right way and they didn't force it. And it's going to be different this year. I think they're going to take an offensive lineman early. It's just hard to imagine they don't. But if that scenario happens, that one intense scenario, but you have Beckton there behind Trent Brown PERSON, you have Beckton there behind Orlando Brown Jr. Even though I think Brown would,Trent would flip to the left side and you would just put Beckton on the right. Who knows what they would do, but work that problem out. You have a first rounder coming off the bench. That would be nice. And who knows, maybe it does happen. I agree with you. I think it's unlikely,but what if it's an Akeem Davis Gaither like deal one year, 3 million for Becton PERSON. Why wouldn't you?

Speaker 31157.14s - 1165.54s

I would. Yeah. So to sum it up depth on the offensive line, something or a broken record.

Speaker 41166.02s - 1168.64s

Four years in a row we're talking about it, at least.

Speaker 31168.84s - 1171.34s

We're going to talk about something else we've been talking about for several years in a row.

Speaker 41171.34s - 1174.12s

Eight years, actually, since the start of the podcast.

Speaker 31174.56s - 1186.38s

I actually did go back and look at year-by-year PFF pass blocking grades for a team, and the Bengals haven't been in the top half of this metric since 2015

Speaker 41186.38s - 1192.14s

which is a good tease this is a good tease go ahead I remember it's been 15 very well

Speaker 31192.14s - 1258.88s

but uh anyway just to wrap up that summary offensive line depth interior defensive line both depth because currently you're relying on Zach Carter and J2 Fele and or Dominic Davis PERSON or Devoncia Maxwell PERSON to play a lot of snaps for you they need a couple more pieces there I wouldn't be opposed to edge depth either a veteran to come in there and provide some challenge to Osai PERSON sample behind Hendrickson Hubbard and presumably Murphy PERSON we talked about running back a little bit with Clyde Edwards a layer wide receiver is another one where they have five guys right now that are NFL ORG rosterable and then they got the undrafted guysCedric Jackson, Kendrick Pryor, Kwame Lasseter PERSON do you want to push any of that at the back of the roster before the draft probably not but maybe tight end is another one with some potential but that's what we're looking at for potential minor moves to wrap up this free agency but but like you said james the bengals haven't been good at pass blocking for far too long for a team with joe burrow quarterback that wants to throw the ball all day that needs to change could this be the year it happens or is it fool's gold

Speaker 41258.88s - 1327.96s

again we'll talk about that coming up next this show is sponsored by BetterHelp ORG. A lot of us spend our lives wishing we had more time. The question is time for what? If time wasn't limited, how would you use it? Maybe you'd go for a run, start working out. Maybe you'd be like Jake PERSON and get roasted by me in football because he can't cover me. Well, with BetterHelp ORG, it's the most convenient and flexible therapy that you can try. You can do it from the comfort of your own home. Maybe you're traveling.Maybe you're like Jake PERSON, who's taking boats to different parts of the country and planes and all of the things that he does. Well, planes, trains, automobiles, BetterHelp ORG is going to be flexible for you. And if you give BetterHelp ORG a try, you're going to realize it's entirely online. It's going to be flexible. It's going to fit your schedule, whether you're at home and you're working from home, whether you're traveling all over the place. And all you have to do to getstarted is fill out a brief questionnaire and you'll get matched with a licensed therapist. And you can switch therapists at any time for no additional charge. And right now you're going to get 10% off your first month. Learn to make time for what makes you happy with BetterHelp ORG. Visit betterhelp.com ORG slash locked on today to get 10% off your first month. That's betterhelp.com slash locked on.

Speaker 21328.3s - 1356.3s

Is your team eliminated from the playoffs and in need of reinforcements? Maybe it's time for a rebuild, or maybe they're just a player or two away from taking home the Lombardi WORK_OF_ART trophy. Either way, join Keith Sanchez and Damian Parson PERSON for Mock Draft Monday on the Locked On NFL Draft Podcast ORG. They'll tell you which college football stars your team will be taking in the 2024 NFL Draft.Check out Mock Draft Monday on the Locked On NFL Draft Podcast ORG,

Speaker 11356.74s - 1360.82s

part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day.

Speaker 21362.12s - 1367.44s

For several years in a row, James, we have made the claim on this podcast

Speaker 31367.44s - 1373.14s

after a free agency period, whatever it is. Yeah.

Speaker 41373.28s - 1374.46s

Release have asked a question.

Speaker 31374.66s - 1408.1s

Is this the best pass blocking offensive line the Bengals have assembled for Joe Burrow PERSON? The answer has been yes, but that has been slow and incremental progress that has earned that answer of yes from us. And it hasn't always played out on the field the way we thought it would at this time of year with some disappointing performances at times fromcertain guys or injuries or whatever it is. In 2024, James, is this the best pass blocking offensive line the Cincinnati Bengals

Speaker 41408.1s - 1502.82s

have assembled for Joe Burrow PERSON broken record time is a flat circle I'm talking trash to you we talk about the trenches in depth for the Bengals ORG and we also talk about them being the best line that they've assembled for Joe Burrow yes it is and it's not because I don't think Jonah Williams PERSON is good. I think Jonah Williams PERSON is going to be fine in Arizona and probably have a career year in Arizona GPE. I also think that Trent Brown is built to do what the Bengals ORG want to do,which is have these big, strong, powerful pass protectors that take pride in it, and he can back up Orlando Brown Jr. PERSON on the left side. He can start on the right side. And so when I look at that, I look at Alex Kappa PERSON, who I think is going to bounce back from an inconsistent 2023. Obviously Ted Karras PERSON was really solid, especially in the back half of the season and pass protection and Orlando Brown Jr. playing through a groin injury at times last year, I think he's going to play at a muchhigher level this year because he's going to be healthy. And Cordell Volson PERSON, look, could he take a slight step forward? I'm saying that to the people that are really low on him. Let's just say he takes a slight step forward. You feel really darn good about this offensive line compared to where it was just a few years ago. The depth is certainly a question. Trent Brown's PERSON injury history is certainly a question. I don't think anyone's saying they should be done adding.But if those guys, if you tell me those five guys are going to start all 17 games, which they had last year, that won't happen again this year. Just won't. But if you have that, I think Joe Burrow PERSON's going to be throwing the ball

Speaker 01502.82s - 1503.98s

all over the damn field.

Speaker 41504.36s - 1530.06s

And these guys are going to be the best unit he's had by far. And this Bengals offense is going to be exactly what they've envisioned over the past couple of years, given the changes they've made by adding Mike Gasicki PERSON and adding a pass blocking running back that can give them some pop up the middle as well, like Zach Moss, plus a guy like Trent Brown PERSON. I like the pieces they've added. It goes hand in hand.And I do think Joe Burrow PERSON will be protected with this group.

Speaker 31530.72s - 1570.48s

Yeah, we've talked quite a bit about Trent Brown's PERSON ability to play on an island. There's next-gen stats that I know you posted in your article on allbengals.com ORG. We talked about it in yesterday's shows, plural. I think both shows we talked aboutTrent Brown PERSON, his island rate leading the nfl the last couple of years and he's just huge it's hard to go around that guy it's hard to go through that guy you go throw on the brandon thorne highlights and he has him going back several years at least to 21 if not before and there's just play after play of often good pass rushers in this league just wilting on contact with Trent Brown PERSON.

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And you see that with like JC Latham PERSON.

Speaker 51574.32s - 1580.24s

Shout out Alabama Pro Day EVENT occurring as we're recording this episode in the college ranks too.

Speaker 31580.32s - 1605.58s

So you see this with some guys in college. You see this with some guys in college you see this with some guys in the nfl but their regularity with which trent brown just kills pass rushes in their tracks and just deadens momentum there's something to something to behold and in the vertical displacement on guys when he gets into them in the run game he's not going to be great getting to the second level or whatever in the run game but he's a very very very powerful

Speaker 51605.58s - 1614.04s

man when he gets his hands on you and so the hope is is that that elevates the Bengals ORG ability to

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protect burrow in their drop back pass game because that's where the weakness is like Ted cares solid pass protector year over year he you know exactly what you're getting with Ted PERSON. You have an idea of what you're getting with Orlando, with Orlando Brown PERSON. You have an idea of what you're getting with Trent Brown PERSON. And when he's on the field, Alex Capo PERSON, we need to see him return to form need to see Cordell Wilson PERSON continue thelevel of play that he reached for like the last seven weeks of the season, pretty much after Joe Burrow PERSON got hurt. And he noticed that.

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I know for a fact he noticed the difference. Whether things slowed down or he figured things out, he realized it. And Pollock PERSON acknowledged it at the combine. He started to play and stopped thinking and got lighter on his feet.

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And a guy that big certainly needs to be that way and play that way. And it could just be learning curve stuff, right? Like Volson's first few games of the 2023 season were dreadful. Could also be they were in a system that was more offensive line friendly with Jake Browning PERSON at quarterback. And maybe that's the hard lesson that Joe Burrow PERSON and this offensive coachingstaff need to learn. They need to do more of that. They need to protect their offensive line a little bit more. I mean, we know their moves indicate that they want to drop Joe Burrow PERSON back and be the Joe Burrow PERSON offense again, but maybe there's some draft acquisitions coming that could help with some ofthe things that they were doing last year with Jake Browning PERSON. Maybe they can just continue to do some of the things they were doing with Jake Browning PERSON, a quarterback, last year. Because the true past...

Speaker 41712.14s - 1715.02s

I think they will, to a degree. I think some of that will be mixed in.

Speaker 31715.08s - 1787.08s

Yeah, we've said that. We've said that. So for anyone who hasn't heard us say that, we're expecting, and we were expecting some of that stuff to be part of their offense last year before Joe Burrow's PERSON calf injury really seemed to throw all of their plans into a blender um but but their true past that performance last year even if you throw out the first few weeks of the season when Joe Burrowcouldn't move need to be better for Orlando Brown for Alex Gap PERSON and for Cordell Volson it needs to be better and then even when you look look just at the last six games of the season or so, it needs to be better. And so it's partly that you're hoping that Cordell Volson has found something that can make him an average pass protector and figure that out down the stretch.You're hoping that Orlando Brown PERSON was just dealing with an injury and he finished the season better than he started it to, that Alex Kappa can rediscover his form and that Trent Brown PERSON can provide that stability. And then the answer is yes. And it'll be noticeable and not just an incremental. Yes.A marginal. Yes. We're like, ah, it's better, but it's not better enough to notice or to matter. It needs to be better enough to matter this year. Yeah.

Speaker 41787.26s - 1848.6s

And a couple of things. The nice part about dealing with veterans is I think they have the self awareness. Like Orlando Brown PERSON jr. Has been in the facility all off season. Cordell Volson PERSON knew exactly what he wanted to improve on going into theoff season. And I'm sure he's working really hard on doing that. And then a guy like Kappa PERSON, I think he's going to come back and he'll be more consistent. And it'll be the guy we saw in 2022, where I thought he was their best offensive lineman and then took a step back last year. There were, there were flashes of it, like right before the buy, he was really good, like for a few weeks.And then it just kind of went back in, in regressed a bit. So that combined with Trent Brown needing to prove it, because I think if he goes out there and balls out, he's going to be able to earn a nice contract for someone. I don't know if it'll be the Bengals ORG, but for someone. And so hopefully he can do that. And that's the nice part about getting a motivated veteran that sort of needs to reestablish his value a bit that also should thrive in your system is you might be able to get great value at that spot. If they do, this Bengals ORG offensive line should be pretty solid.

Speaker 31849.74s - 1869.2s

If they can fill out that depth we were talking about, because relying on your offensive line to get through the entire season, it's great when it happens, and it can get you on a run when it happens. And we've seen that for teams around the NFL ORG, but it also can derail your run when injuries come at a bad time. Pick one.

Speaker 41869.2s - 1873.08s

Cam Fleming or Makai Becton PERSON. One year, three million. Who are you picking? I don't care.

Speaker 31873.86s - 1874.9s

I truly don't care.

Speaker 41875.34s - 1876.2s

Just one of them?

Speaker 31876.48s - 1892.32s

Yes. Okay. Yeah. Just somebody who's solid. But, yes. I mean, it could be somebody else, too.Just somebody who's better depth than what they have is all i'm saying there you see this about the hip drop tackle just before we get out of here

Speaker 01892.32s - 1896.72s

the competition committee from proposing a hip drop tackle rule that is something that

Speaker 51896.72s - 1904.68s

i am not a fan of we're gonna get out of here the the language of the rule is out there that that's

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that's emerged during this recording.

Speaker 31907.04s - 1918.12s

And I have no trust in the officials on getting that one right. I don't know about you. But another subjective 15-yard penalty kind of rule that makes it harder to play defense. Don't like it.

Speaker 41918.4s - 1923.36s

I just have no idea how you're going to try to tackle me now. I really don't.

Speaker 31923.58s - 1925.96s

Sure. That is the biggest concern, of course,

Speaker 41926.28s - 1930.44s

for our listeners. I think I mentioned it in all three segments now, if you can clear that.

Speaker 31930.5s - 1931.76s

Yeah, you did it. That's great. Good work.

Speaker 41934.54s - 1937.3s

Fortunately for our listeners, there is not a fourth segment today.

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No more opportunities outside of the close when I'm sure you'll hear it one more time.

Speaker 41941.56s - 1946.66s

Maybe they'll sign Gilmore PERSON. Yeah, maybe. And if they do, we might be back.

Speaker 31946.92s - 1956.2s

But if they don't, thanks for listening to this episode of the Locked On Bengals ORG podcast. And until next time, thanks for listening. Hootay. And have a good one.

Speaker 21956.66s - 2023.3s

If you're looking for the most comprehensive NFL ORG draft coverage this offseason, look no further than the Locked On NFL Scouting Podcast ORG. Join the draft dudes, Kyle Krabs and Joe Marino PERSON, as they go position by position through the NFL ORG free agent class and into the star-studded crop of college stars who will be selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.If you want to know who your favorite NFL ORG team should be adding to its roster, you need to check out Locked On NFL Scouting ORG, available on YouTube ORG and wherever you get your podcasts. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Is your team eliminated from the playoffs and in need of reinforcements? Maybe it's time for a rebuild,or maybe they're just a player or two away from taking home the Lombardi WORK_OF_ART trophy. Either way, join Keith Sanchez and Damian Parson for Mock Draft Monday on the Locked On NFL Draft Podcast ORG. They'll tell you which college football stars your team will be taking in the 2024 NFL Draft. Check out Mock Draft Monday on the Locked On NFL Draft Podcast ORG.

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Part of the Locked On Podcast Network ORG.

Speaker 22026.5s - 2028.12s

Your team, every day.