WEBVTT - Bengals Booth Podcast: Move On Up

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<v Speaker 1>Hi, get everybody. I'm Dan Hoard and thanks for downloading

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<v Speaker 1>the Bengals Booth podcast. The Just Move On Up. Addition,

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<v Speaker 1>as I discussed the Bengals offseason moves with Pro Football

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<v Speaker 1>Focus salary cap and free agency expert Brad Spielberger. And

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<v Speaker 1>after talking to Brad, I'll do a three round Bengals

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<v Speaker 1>mock draft, detailing who is still on the board at

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<v Speaker 1>the time and why I made each of my picks.

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<v Speaker 1>The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you by pay Core,

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<v Speaker 1>proud to be the Bengals official hr software provider, by

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<v Speaker 1>and community to a new level, and by Kettering Health

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<v Speaker 1>the best care for the best fans. Kettering Health is

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<v Speaker 1>the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. Now here's a

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<v Speaker 1>quick reminder that you can have the latest edition of

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<v Speaker 1>this podcast delivered write to your phone, tablet or computer

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<v Speaker 1>by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's the greatest

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<v Speaker 1>thing since Ballpark Peanuts. I can't go to the movies

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<v Speaker 1>without getting popcorn, and now the baseball season is back.

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<v Speaker 1>I rarely go to the ballpark without getting peanuts. I

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<v Speaker 1>like the whole ritual, cracking them open, gobbling what's inside,

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<v Speaker 1>and tossing the shell under your seat. It's not only

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<v Speaker 1>a tasty snack, but a bag generally lasts for most

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<v Speaker 1>of the game, and they go well with a cold

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<v Speaker 1>beer too. In nineteen oh eight, when Jack Norworth wrote

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<v Speaker 1>the lyrics to take Me out to the ballgame, he

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<v Speaker 1>didn't say buy me some sushi and cracker jack. He

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<v Speaker 1>started with peanuts. Who am I to argue? Now, let's

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<v Speaker 1>get to football. For the past few years, Brad Spielberger

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<v Speaker 1>has been the lead salary cap analyst for Pro Football Focus.

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<v Speaker 1>He's the guy responsible for PFF's free agency Top two

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<v Speaker 1>hundred this year, and he's among the PFF experts who

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<v Speaker 1>publishes mock drafts. In short, he's well versed on just

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<v Speaker 1>about any NFL topic, and he joined me this week

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<v Speaker 1>to discuss the Bengals. Brad, you recently graded every team's

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<v Speaker 1>free agent class. You gave the Bengals a B plus,

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<v Speaker 1>and you don't dole out a's easily. Houston was the

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<v Speaker 1>only team in the AFC that was worthy of an

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<v Speaker 1>A in your opinion. What were the biggest reasons why

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<v Speaker 1>you thought the Bengals class is worthy of a B plus.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah. I think the way I approach it too, is

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<v Speaker 2>trying to look back historically and not fall in love

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<v Speaker 2>with which teams made the biggest splashes, because that's not

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<v Speaker 2>really how you win free agency, right, we know that

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<v Speaker 2>over the course of history. So look, the Bengals did

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<v Speaker 2>lose some important players. I think DJ Reader has been

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<v Speaker 2>an awesome Bengal but obviously has missed time over his

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<v Speaker 2>Cincinnati tenure. And I was very high in Sheldon Rankins

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<v Speaker 2>watching his tape last year. A very good pass rusher

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<v Speaker 2>on the interior, I think one of the most important

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<v Speaker 2>positions the Bengals needed to address in free agency, and

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<v Speaker 2>then a couple other spots as well, getting you know,

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<v Speaker 2>a true deep third free safety a ball hawk did

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<v Speaker 2>a ton of interceptions last year for the Baltimore Ravens

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<v Speaker 2>like that. That was an important addition to this defense

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<v Speaker 2>where you know, they've been great under Luannarumo, but last

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<v Speaker 2>season they were I want to say, second worst in

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<v Speaker 2>the NFL and explosive pass play rate allowed. So I

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<v Speaker 2>don't think I said Geno Stone's name. So Geno Stone,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, look, he's not gonna be the greatest run

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<v Speaker 2>defender in the world. But put him back there, have

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<v Speaker 2>the versatility of a Jordan Battle of dax Hill these

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<v Speaker 2>young corners, and let him sit back there. The pass

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<v Speaker 2>rush gets home, he will flip the field, turn the

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<v Speaker 2>ball over for you. So you know, on that side

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<v Speaker 2>of the line or that's howe the team. I loved it.

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<v Speaker 2>And then you know, Trent Brown look gonna miss some

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<v Speaker 2>time part of the equation there, but when he's healthy,

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<v Speaker 2>he is still one of the better pass protecting tackles

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<v Speaker 2>in the entire NFL, arguably the best pass protecting tackle

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<v Speaker 2>besides Tyron Smith in the entire phraging class.

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<v Speaker 1>Was there something or someone that would have elevated the

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<v Speaker 1>Bengals grade to an A.

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<v Speaker 2>It's a good question. Probably not, you know. I think

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<v Speaker 2>just some of the losses were tough, you know, so,

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<v Speaker 2>and that happens. It's part of being a good football

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<v Speaker 2>team and making these big decisions and having to navigate

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<v Speaker 2>the t Higgins and Jesse Bates of the world. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>maybe more at tight end potentially, and they did make

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<v Speaker 2>a little move for Mike Kasicki, who I think isn't

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<v Speaker 2>very interesting component, even if it's just on third downs

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<v Speaker 2>in red zone and he's not going to offer much

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<v Speaker 2>as a blocker. You still just get a big body

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<v Speaker 2>target that, especially if Higgins is elsewhere, you know, in

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<v Speaker 2>twenty twenty four or later. I'm not saying he's a T.

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<v Speaker 2>Higgins replacement, but in those specific areas he is good.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, didn't get a ton of usage with the Patriots,

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<v Speaker 2>but I think they'll be more creative in a heavy

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<v Speaker 2>eleven personnel offense in Cincinnati to just get him out

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<v Speaker 2>there in obvious passing situations. His catch radius is ginormous.

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<v Speaker 2>I think guy has the longest arms maybe at the position.

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<v Speaker 2>So no, I think it was just tough for where

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<v Speaker 2>they were at to make a bunch of moves to

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<v Speaker 2>kind of counterbalance some of the big losses they did have.

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<v Speaker 1>The Bengals tight ends during the Joe Burrow a have

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<v Speaker 1>been c j Uzama, Hayden Hurst, dru Sample and Tanner Hudson.

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<v Speaker 1>Who emerged this past season is Mikeasicki the best receiving

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<v Speaker 1>threat at tight end that Joe Burrows had.

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<v Speaker 2>It's a fair question, you know, and I think also

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<v Speaker 2>just real quick it speaks to you know, you have

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<v Speaker 2>to make those tough decisions not paying Uzama, who I

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<v Speaker 2>know was a Bengals favorite, and you know he is

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<v Speaker 2>a good player, but goes to the Jets and obviously

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<v Speaker 2>got cut this past season. I want to say still

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<v Speaker 2>is not a roster and that tough decision they made

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<v Speaker 2>to save that money and not keep that player. It

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<v Speaker 2>has aged well, so as a pure pass catcher, maybe yeah,

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<v Speaker 2>he really could be. You know, Hurst was a good

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<v Speaker 2>all round player and certainly wasn't a bad pass catcher,

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<v Speaker 2>but more of a kind of underneath checkdown outlet that

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<v Speaker 2>can pick up some yards after the catch. Kasiki can

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<v Speaker 2>be like a vertical threat out of the slot.

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<v Speaker 1>You know.

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<v Speaker 2>He calls himself a big slot receiver, you know, and

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<v Speaker 2>he is, so yeah, you could probably make that argument.

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<v Speaker 1>Let's talk about Zach Moss. He got a two year,

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<v Speaker 1>eight million dollar deal, He's twenty six years old for

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<v Speaker 1>the Bengals. Are is he a better fit than Joe Mixon?

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<v Speaker 2>I think the beauty here is that his skill set

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<v Speaker 2>compliments Chase Brown so well. And we saw the last

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<v Speaker 2>what six weeks of last season where you're starting to

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<v Speaker 2>see more usage for Chase Brown. Was that the Jaguars

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<v Speaker 2>game where he had a bunch of catches and a

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<v Speaker 2>bunch of yards, and so Moss is your your early

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<v Speaker 2>down you know, between the tackles runner he can get

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<v Speaker 2>to the edge and obviously had a lot of great

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<v Speaker 2>games for the Colts. So I think that's the big thing,

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<v Speaker 2>is you save some money, and you also you'll use guys.

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<v Speaker 2>You'll use both more right, Mixon is a three down player.

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<v Speaker 2>That's who he is. He wants the volume, he wants

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<v Speaker 2>to touches, he wants to be out there, and he

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<v Speaker 2>has that skill set. So I like how they navigated that.

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<v Speaker 2>You get a trade for a player you probably were

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<v Speaker 2>going to cut, you know, Mixing is a good player,

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<v Speaker 2>and honestly, I think it got to a point where

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<v Speaker 2>maybe the narrative of going too far and like, oh

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<v Speaker 2>they got to make make him take a pay cut. Again,

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<v Speaker 2>I don't think his earnings were that bad, but obviously,

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<v Speaker 2>or you know, his pending earnings were that bad. But

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<v Speaker 2>obviously he wanted a new contract and he got that elsewhere.

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<v Speaker 2>So I like how they navigated it. Overall.

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<v Speaker 1>Is there anybody out there still that makes sense for

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<v Speaker 1>the Bengals.

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<v Speaker 2>It's an interesting thought. I mean, I guess you could

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<v Speaker 2>continue to add me some depth on the interior of

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<v Speaker 2>the offensive line. There are some players out there. I mean,

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<v Speaker 2>Dalton Risner is a starter in this league. I don't

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<v Speaker 2>really know why he's not on a roster at this point.

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<v Speaker 2>And Cordella Olsen, you know, I know, he got there

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<v Speaker 2>with the second most extra money performance based pay from

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<v Speaker 2>the pool, and I think he's shown growth. I think

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<v Speaker 2>he has gotten better over his time in Cincinnati. But look,

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<v Speaker 2>Risner would be an upgrade. There's no doubt about that

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<v Speaker 2>in my mind, and so he's probably not signing a

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<v Speaker 2>backup deal, although you know, eventually the game musical chairs

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<v Speaker 2>runs out for you in this league in free agency,

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<v Speaker 2>so maybe that's one spot you could look into a

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<v Speaker 2>little bit, prepare for the future a bit if you

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<v Speaker 2>want to, and then beyond that, not really, I mean,

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<v Speaker 2>they're gonna trust these young corners. Maybe a veteran corner

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<v Speaker 2>There are a bunch of those names out there, but

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<v Speaker 2>I think at this point there are more names than

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<v Speaker 2>than high level talents. You know, once once you've hit April,

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<v Speaker 2>that's kind of how it goes.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, let me ask you about one of those cornerbacks

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<v Speaker 1>in particular, Xavier Howard from the Dolphins, four time Pro

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<v Speaker 1>Bowler when he was younger. Obviously there's a lot of

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<v Speaker 1>tread that's worn off those tires, but he played for

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<v Speaker 1>lou Anarumo early in his career with Miami. He recently

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<v Speaker 1>said I already got paid. I want to win a

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<v Speaker 1>Super Bowl, which is music to any team's ears when

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<v Speaker 1>it comes to free agency. Is there anything left in

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<v Speaker 1>the tank with Xavier and Howard?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I really think there is. Howard's a guy that

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<v Speaker 2>has been playing a lot of man coverage in Miami.

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<v Speaker 2>Brian Flores obviously way up there in the league over

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<v Speaker 2>his tenure with the Dolphins. You know, Vic Fango not

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<v Speaker 2>quite the same, but he's a guy that played up

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<v Speaker 2>in press coverage, was battling number one receivers and he

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<v Speaker 2>did it at a high level for a very very

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<v Speaker 2>long time. And we've seen some of the corners as

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<v Speaker 2>they age, they go to systems that play more zone,

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<v Speaker 2>protect them a little bit more, don't ask them to

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<v Speaker 2>take on a one on one assignments against the premier

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<v Speaker 2>players at wide receiver. And obviously there's one hundred new

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<v Speaker 2>ones every year, looks like, but you know, go to

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<v Speaker 2>an Anarrumo defense that's more zone based that has the

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<v Speaker 2>good pass rush and then lets those guys sit back

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<v Speaker 2>kind of close, come forward a little bit more as

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<v Speaker 2>opposed the trail technique and chasing these dudes around. So

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<v Speaker 2>I do I think Zavin Howard could still have a

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<v Speaker 2>couple more good years in his tank, all right.

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<v Speaker 1>You also graded the other teams in the AFC North.

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<v Speaker 1>In addition to the Bengals getting a B plush, he

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<v Speaker 1>gave the Steelers a B plush. He gave the Ravens

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<v Speaker 1>and Browns bees. So everybody seemed to do okay. Which

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<v Speaker 1>teams do you think got better? Which teams may have

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<v Speaker 1>gotten worse?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, so I think, you know, and the Bengals probably neutral.

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<v Speaker 2>I'd say the Ravens are going to get a little

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<v Speaker 2>bit worse. They can replace it, They've done it time

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<v Speaker 2>and time again. But I mean, Jadevian Clowney had a

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<v Speaker 2>career year last season. He was phenomenal for them. His

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<v Speaker 2>most pressures I want to say maybe most or second

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<v Speaker 2>most pressures he's ever had in a season for US

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<v Speaker 2>at PFF. The top three sacks season for him as well,

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<v Speaker 2>and he's always been a very very good run defender

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<v Speaker 2>on the edge. So him and Kyle van Noy, who

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<v Speaker 2>was an important role player for them too. We just

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<v Speaker 2>talked about Geno Stone, Patrick Queen. Yes, they trade for

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<v Speaker 2>Roquan Smith and he's an all worldline but Patrick Queen's

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<v Speaker 2>maybe the best blitzing linebacker in the NFL. Now. I know,

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<v Speaker 2>we'll get to him the Steelers in a second, but

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<v Speaker 2>they lost some important pieces there and then the offensive line.

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<v Speaker 2>You trade Morgan Moses, you get a pick cup from

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<v Speaker 2>Ronnie Stanley, which reflects that he was rotating some serieses

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<v Speaker 2>in Baltimore. Unfortunately, that ACL tear I think has slowed

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<v Speaker 2>him down a bit. So they got worse. Kevin Zeitler,

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<v Speaker 2>the left guard goes to a right guard, goes to

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<v Speaker 2>Detroit Lions. They're still a good organization. They'll they'll find

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<v Speaker 2>their way through, but they did get worse. In my opinion.

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<v Speaker 2>The Browns I think kind of got better. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>they got to actually show up and have the results.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm sure AFC North fans are sick of hearing about

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<v Speaker 2>the Browns winning in March. But you know, I think

0:10:36.679 --> 0:10:39.840
<v Speaker 2>Jerry Judy is still a talented player that can produce.

0:10:40.200 --> 0:10:42.280
<v Speaker 2>We tether do his draft stock and yeah, maybe he's

0:10:42.320 --> 0:10:44.840
<v Speaker 2>not a top fifteen pick talent, but he's a seven hundred,

0:10:44.880 --> 0:10:47.600
<v Speaker 2>eight hundred yard guy that can still separate a very

0:10:47.640 --> 0:10:50.320
<v Speaker 2>high level and is a good football player. And they

0:10:50.360 --> 0:10:52.480
<v Speaker 2>made a couple other small moves as well. I like

0:10:52.520 --> 0:10:56.040
<v Speaker 2>adding some linebacker help some veterans there is always key

0:10:56.040 --> 0:10:57.280
<v Speaker 2>for them. They didn't have a lot of talent there

0:10:57.360 --> 0:10:57.920
<v Speaker 2>last years.

0:10:58.600 --> 0:11:02.319
<v Speaker 1>The Steelers editions of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. How

0:11:02.400 --> 0:11:05.199
<v Speaker 1>much does that elevate Pittsburgh if at all?

0:11:05.320 --> 0:11:06.960
<v Speaker 2>So it is an upgrader what they had last year.

0:11:06.960 --> 0:11:09.360
<v Speaker 2>Like those guys are better than Kenny Pikett, Mitch Trubisky

0:11:09.400 --> 0:11:12.120
<v Speaker 2>and Mason Rudolph. They are. But the thing for me

0:11:12.200 --> 0:11:14.520
<v Speaker 2>that I'm curious how it goes is just kind of

0:11:14.520 --> 0:11:17.560
<v Speaker 2>the oil and water nature of what Arthur Smith wants

0:11:17.559 --> 0:11:19.960
<v Speaker 2>to do, which is get the ball up quickly, attack

0:11:20.000 --> 0:11:22.880
<v Speaker 2>the middle of the field. I mean those quarterbacks do that. Frankly,

0:11:22.880 --> 0:11:25.240
<v Speaker 2>I think Justin Fields might actually benefit from, Hey, let's

0:11:25.280 --> 0:11:27.720
<v Speaker 2>just start over, clean the slate, change your footwork, tie

0:11:27.840 --> 0:11:30.760
<v Speaker 2>your play to under center play action. It's not what

0:11:30.800 --> 0:11:32.880
<v Speaker 2>he's ever done, but I think he does kind of

0:11:32.880 --> 0:11:35.679
<v Speaker 2>just need a hard reset. So the talent is better

0:11:35.720 --> 0:11:38.520
<v Speaker 2>in a vacuum, they are better quarterbacks. How they work

0:11:38.520 --> 0:11:41.040
<v Speaker 2>with the offensive coordinator that I think is kind of

0:11:41.040 --> 0:11:41.559
<v Speaker 2>a mystery.

0:11:42.200 --> 0:11:45.520
<v Speaker 1>Rad Spielberger from Pro Football Focus is our guest. All

0:11:45.520 --> 0:11:48.360
<v Speaker 1>indications are the T Higgins will be back in Cincinnati

0:11:48.400 --> 0:11:52.080
<v Speaker 1>for at least more year. On the franchise tag figure

0:11:52.120 --> 0:11:56.520
<v Speaker 1>of twenty one point eight mil. We all assume that

0:11:56.679 --> 0:11:59.400
<v Speaker 1>ultimately they're going to pay Jamar Chase whatever it takes

0:11:59.480 --> 0:12:01.839
<v Speaker 1>more than thirty million dollars a year when it comes

0:12:01.840 --> 0:12:05.360
<v Speaker 1>time for his second contract. With that in mind, you're

0:12:05.400 --> 0:12:08.480
<v Speaker 1>a salary cap expert, what could they pay T Higgins

0:12:08.679 --> 0:12:10.560
<v Speaker 1>if they were really determined to keep them?

0:12:11.000 --> 0:12:12.880
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I think at this point the floor is like

0:12:12.920 --> 0:12:15.160
<v Speaker 2>the Michael Pittman contract. I think that's probably the biggest.

0:12:15.280 --> 0:12:17.960
<v Speaker 2>You know, everyone talks about overall value, average per year,

0:12:18.040 --> 0:12:22.080
<v Speaker 2>all those things. The receiver trend recently where all these

0:12:22.120 --> 0:12:25.400
<v Speaker 2>deals are now three year extensions. I have to imagine

0:12:25.520 --> 0:12:27.840
<v Speaker 2>the Bengals are balking at that as much as any

0:12:27.840 --> 0:12:30.800
<v Speaker 2>other element of this contract. And you can't really push

0:12:30.800 --> 0:12:33.480
<v Speaker 2>back on these league wide trends. Everyone's doing it. Pittman's

0:12:33.520 --> 0:12:36.520
<v Speaker 2>represented by the same agency as T Higgins, So but yeah,

0:12:36.559 --> 0:12:39.080
<v Speaker 2>so right in that range of twenty four twenty five

0:12:39.200 --> 0:12:42.600
<v Speaker 2>million dollars a year. And I just wonder if they

0:12:42.840 --> 0:12:44.439
<v Speaker 2>think it's worth it to do on a three year

0:12:44.480 --> 0:12:46.440
<v Speaker 2>deal if they can't get that fourth year of control,

0:12:46.720 --> 0:12:49.280
<v Speaker 2>that's that's the number, that's the floor if anything. And

0:12:49.360 --> 0:12:51.480
<v Speaker 2>I'm I'm with you. I think he plays twenty twenty

0:12:51.520 --> 0:12:54.319
<v Speaker 2>four in Cincinnati, but probably just on that tag.

0:12:55.360 --> 0:12:58.040
<v Speaker 1>He's not thrilled with a tag. No player ever seems

0:12:58.040 --> 0:13:00.600
<v Speaker 1>to be thrilled with the tag. They have the ability

0:13:00.640 --> 0:13:05.000
<v Speaker 1>to tag them again conceivably. Now he obviously would not

0:13:05.040 --> 0:13:07.720
<v Speaker 1>react well to that happening. But that would be for

0:13:07.760 --> 0:13:13.079
<v Speaker 1>about twenty six million dollars, so two years at forty

0:13:13.520 --> 0:13:16.920
<v Speaker 1>seven million dollars whatever it would be total. Does that

0:13:16.960 --> 0:13:17.480
<v Speaker 1>make sense?

0:13:18.120 --> 0:13:20.800
<v Speaker 2>The interesting thing is it never looks great and you

0:13:20.880 --> 0:13:23.520
<v Speaker 2>want to get the extra years of control because of

0:13:23.520 --> 0:13:25.360
<v Speaker 2>course in theory it works out and then you have

0:13:25.480 --> 0:13:28.200
<v Speaker 2>more flexibility and you have kind of more leverage as

0:13:28.240 --> 0:13:30.600
<v Speaker 2>the team side. But like those numbers are what all

0:13:30.640 --> 0:13:32.760
<v Speaker 2>those guys that have talked about, you know, DK Metcalf, Deebo,

0:13:32.840 --> 0:13:35.520
<v Speaker 2>Samuel Terry McLaurin, Michael Pittman, they're all going to make

0:13:35.520 --> 0:13:37.600
<v Speaker 2>that amount over the first two years of their deal,

0:13:37.840 --> 0:13:40.240
<v Speaker 2>and as we also know in the NFL, playing through

0:13:40.280 --> 0:13:42.559
<v Speaker 2>the end of a contract isn't all that common now.

0:13:42.559 --> 0:13:44.760
<v Speaker 2>Of course, for a three year deal, it's more likely

0:13:44.800 --> 0:13:47.120
<v Speaker 2>than a four or five year extension. So I wouldn't

0:13:47.160 --> 0:13:49.640
<v Speaker 2>say it's crazy. It's certainly not going to go over well.

0:13:49.960 --> 0:13:51.880
<v Speaker 2>You know, we know that for sure, and you know

0:13:51.920 --> 0:13:54.880
<v Speaker 2>the Baits corollary also same agent. Obviously they didn't go

0:13:55.000 --> 0:13:58.560
<v Speaker 2>the second tag route there. It's interesting because Higgins is

0:13:58.559 --> 0:14:01.640
<v Speaker 2>coming off, you know, probably his worst season, and let's

0:14:01.679 --> 0:14:04.360
<v Speaker 2>say he goes crazy and pounces back and stays healthy

0:14:04.400 --> 0:14:06.640
<v Speaker 2>the whole season. Joe Burrow says, healthy the whole season.

0:14:06.960 --> 0:14:09.960
<v Speaker 2>He has better protection now and they have a great year,

0:14:10.040 --> 0:14:13.000
<v Speaker 2>and he in particular has a great year. I wouldn't

0:14:13.000 --> 0:14:15.600
<v Speaker 2>be surprised if they tag him again, especially because in

0:14:15.640 --> 0:14:18.800
<v Speaker 2>this market, Yeah, there's gonna be I think there's gonna

0:14:18.800 --> 0:14:22.520
<v Speaker 2>be three guys making thirty plus mil this offseason in

0:14:22.600 --> 0:14:24.760
<v Speaker 2>a new player. So the market's going to continue to

0:14:24.760 --> 0:14:25.240
<v Speaker 2>go crazy.

0:14:26.400 --> 0:14:29.320
<v Speaker 1>So Tyler Boyd is still out there. There reports out

0:14:29.360 --> 0:14:32.160
<v Speaker 1>there today suggesting that a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers

0:14:32.280 --> 0:14:36.480
<v Speaker 1>homecoming for Tyler is not likely. Should the Bengals consider

0:14:37.120 --> 0:14:38.400
<v Speaker 1>bringing him back.

0:14:39.000 --> 0:14:41.240
<v Speaker 2>The price point at this point is probably pretty low.

0:14:42.000 --> 0:14:44.440
<v Speaker 2>You know, I thought last season when I watched his

0:14:44.480 --> 0:14:46.520
<v Speaker 2>tape for the free agent work that I do, I

0:14:46.560 --> 0:14:49.080
<v Speaker 2>was sitting there saying, like, is this guy playing through something?

0:14:49.200 --> 0:14:52.120
<v Speaker 2>Is he hurt because he looked so much less explosive

0:14:53.000 --> 0:14:55.280
<v Speaker 2>and elusive than he has in years past, or like,

0:14:55.760 --> 0:14:57.960
<v Speaker 2>when it's to that extreme in that level, I know

0:14:58.000 --> 0:14:59.680
<v Speaker 2>he's been aging, he's played a lot of football, he's

0:14:59.680 --> 0:15:02.440
<v Speaker 2>taking place. It hits, sure, but when it's that drastic

0:15:02.520 --> 0:15:04.480
<v Speaker 2>for me, I almost like have to ask that question.

0:15:04.520 --> 0:15:06.480
<v Speaker 2>I know we haven't heard anything, but obviously we know

0:15:06.480 --> 0:15:09.680
<v Speaker 2>guys are playing through stuff all the time. So if

0:15:09.680 --> 0:15:12.160
<v Speaker 2>it's now like, you know, four or five million dollars

0:15:12.160 --> 0:15:13.600
<v Speaker 2>because I have it at eight and that's gonna be

0:15:13.640 --> 0:15:16.360
<v Speaker 2>too high, then yeah, I mean, I don't see why not.

0:15:16.480 --> 0:15:19.720
<v Speaker 2>He's been been in Cincinnati forever, obviously loves Joe Burrow

0:15:19.720 --> 0:15:22.480
<v Speaker 2>and vice versa, the receiver room. They're obviously super close.

0:15:23.320 --> 0:15:25.640
<v Speaker 2>If he circles back around, he's open to taking a

0:15:25.680 --> 0:15:28.760
<v Speaker 2>deal that is way cheaper than probably even they expected

0:15:28.760 --> 0:15:31.160
<v Speaker 2>coming into this offseason. I don't see why he closed

0:15:31.160 --> 0:15:31.440
<v Speaker 2>the door.

0:15:32.520 --> 0:15:35.240
<v Speaker 1>All right, let's turn to the draft. He came out

0:15:35.280 --> 0:15:37.440
<v Speaker 1>with a mock draft about a week ago. You have

0:15:37.560 --> 0:15:42.120
<v Speaker 1>the Bengals selecting the people's choice Georgia tight end Rock Bowers.

0:15:42.480 --> 0:15:44.360
<v Speaker 1>What's the likelihood that he's there at eighteen.

0:15:44.960 --> 0:15:47.760
<v Speaker 2>I think it's higher than people might expect. I do.

0:15:47.880 --> 0:15:49.440
<v Speaker 2>I don't think he's gonna be a top ten pick.

0:15:49.480 --> 0:15:52.280
<v Speaker 2>I know everyone loves mocking into the Jets, and maybe

0:15:52.280 --> 0:15:54.440
<v Speaker 2>the Jets now that they've added Mike Williams at receiver

0:15:54.520 --> 0:15:56.920
<v Speaker 2>and they've added both starting tackles and you know, Moses

0:15:56.920 --> 0:16:00.000
<v Speaker 2>and Tyron Smith, like, maybe they do just take that swim.

0:16:00.160 --> 0:16:01.600
<v Speaker 2>It's kind of a pick they didn't expect to have.

0:16:01.680 --> 0:16:04.240
<v Speaker 2>They obviously were hoping to be sending the Packers, you know,

0:16:04.240 --> 0:16:06.840
<v Speaker 2>the sixty fourth overall pick, and instead they send, you know,

0:16:07.480 --> 0:16:09.400
<v Speaker 2>or I guess you should say, the thirty second overall pick

0:16:09.720 --> 0:16:11.880
<v Speaker 2>and instead because the whole Rodgers condition all that they

0:16:11.920 --> 0:16:13.800
<v Speaker 2>get to keep their own first and it's a top

0:16:13.800 --> 0:16:15.480
<v Speaker 2>ten pick. So I just I don't know if I

0:16:15.520 --> 0:16:17.520
<v Speaker 2>see it though, because it's not actually a short term move.

0:16:17.560 --> 0:16:19.640
<v Speaker 2>I mean, tight ends, even the great ones they get

0:16:19.640 --> 0:16:22.320
<v Speaker 2>taken super early. They generally take a year or two

0:16:22.360 --> 0:16:25.320
<v Speaker 2>to get going. Like, let's not get Samuel Porta, you know, confused,

0:16:25.360 --> 0:16:28.280
<v Speaker 2>that's not the norm. Mean TJ. Howkinson is kind of

0:16:28.280 --> 0:16:30.840
<v Speaker 2>the most recent. I guess Kyle Pitts had a thousand

0:16:30.920 --> 0:16:34.040
<v Speaker 2>year od rookie season. But anyway, I think the thing

0:16:34.120 --> 0:16:37.640
<v Speaker 2>is after that eleven through fifteen, I don't really see it.

0:16:37.800 --> 0:16:39.240
<v Speaker 2>I see them mock to the Colts a bunch. I

0:16:39.240 --> 0:16:41.280
<v Speaker 2>don't really know why they have a bunch of tight

0:16:41.360 --> 0:16:43.200
<v Speaker 2>ends on their roster. None of them are Brock Powers.

0:16:43.240 --> 0:16:46.240
<v Speaker 2>But anyway, long answer short, I think it's more feasible

0:16:46.240 --> 0:16:48.080
<v Speaker 2>than some people realize. That Maybe they're on the clock

0:16:48.120 --> 0:16:50.360
<v Speaker 2>at eighteen and Bowers is still available, so.

0:16:50.400 --> 0:16:53.640
<v Speaker 1>You have six offensive tackles going before the Bengals go

0:16:53.960 --> 0:16:58.560
<v Speaker 1>select at number eighteen. If say the third best tackle

0:16:58.640 --> 0:17:01.240
<v Speaker 1>or fourth best tackle we're still on the board, would

0:17:01.240 --> 0:17:03.720
<v Speaker 1>you choose that guy over Brock Bowers, Or if Brock

0:17:03.760 --> 0:17:07.000
<v Speaker 1>Bowers is there, should the Bengals pounce.

0:17:07.320 --> 0:17:09.119
<v Speaker 2>I'd probably go to tackle in that scenario. For me,

0:17:09.160 --> 0:17:11.160
<v Speaker 2>the third or fourth guy you're talking about, like Troy

0:17:11.280 --> 0:17:15.000
<v Speaker 2>u Fatanu at a Washington, maybe JC Latham at Alabama.

0:17:15.040 --> 0:17:17.879
<v Speaker 2>They're all ranked differently and fit each scheme differently. But

0:17:18.600 --> 0:17:21.080
<v Speaker 2>you know Tyren Smith is a temporar. Uh, It's not

0:17:21.119 --> 0:17:25.439
<v Speaker 2>Tyrn Smith Brown. Trent Brown is a temporary solution and

0:17:25.520 --> 0:17:27.600
<v Speaker 2>again a guy that you really can't expect to play

0:17:27.600 --> 0:17:29.480
<v Speaker 2>a thousand snaps in a season. And then even if

0:17:29.480 --> 0:17:31.840
<v Speaker 2>he does, you can again and one of these guys

0:17:31.840 --> 0:17:35.240
<v Speaker 2>could be rotating in at guard or maybe even overtaking

0:17:35.280 --> 0:17:37.560
<v Speaker 2>the left guard spot, like Troy Fatan, who I think

0:17:37.600 --> 0:17:39.600
<v Speaker 2>probably comes in just starts at left guard, and you

0:17:39.640 --> 0:17:42.600
<v Speaker 2>make volsin your interior swing guy out of the gate.

0:17:42.760 --> 0:17:45.320
<v Speaker 2>So if those guys are available, I do it. I

0:17:45.320 --> 0:17:48.119
<v Speaker 2>think it's more a question of like if a Marius Mims,

0:17:48.160 --> 0:17:51.000
<v Speaker 2>who's super talented but has played like eight hundred college

0:17:51.040 --> 0:17:54.040
<v Speaker 2>snaps his entire career, Like, if those guys are there,

0:17:54.080 --> 0:17:56.359
<v Speaker 2>it becomes more of a tough question. Or you know,

0:17:56.400 --> 0:17:58.000
<v Speaker 2>the interior defensive lineman as well.

0:17:58.840 --> 0:18:03.639
<v Speaker 1>So let's say Powers is gone and tackle six, seven, eight,

0:18:03.720 --> 0:18:07.439
<v Speaker 1>whatever number you know you want to guess at, is

0:18:07.480 --> 0:18:10.800
<v Speaker 1>still available at number eighteen. Do you think that's more

0:18:10.960 --> 0:18:13.639
<v Speaker 1>likely than a defensive tackle, which is obviously still an

0:18:13.680 --> 0:18:14.240
<v Speaker 1>area of need.

0:18:14.920 --> 0:18:16.880
<v Speaker 2>See that's where it gets intering to me is that

0:18:17.080 --> 0:18:19.600
<v Speaker 2>I think the drop off from the top two guys

0:18:19.800 --> 0:18:22.480
<v Speaker 2>you know, in Byron Murphy at Texas and Johnny Newton

0:18:22.480 --> 0:18:26.159
<v Speaker 2>Gerson Newton at Illinois is pretty steep to the next players.

0:18:26.160 --> 0:18:27.920
<v Speaker 2>There's some guys I like, but I'm not sure I

0:18:27.920 --> 0:18:29.760
<v Speaker 2>would take any in the second round. They'll go in

0:18:29.760 --> 0:18:32.320
<v Speaker 2>the second round, but I think it's really a pretty

0:18:32.320 --> 0:18:34.080
<v Speaker 2>steep drop off. And so if the Bengals look at

0:18:34.119 --> 0:18:36.320
<v Speaker 2>it from that perspective and just say we can get

0:18:36.320 --> 0:18:39.439
<v Speaker 2>a talent that is well above the next tier of

0:18:39.440 --> 0:18:42.280
<v Speaker 2>players at this position, I'd probably go that round. I

0:18:42.320 --> 0:18:44.679
<v Speaker 2>think Byron Murphy's a special talent. I think he is

0:18:45.280 --> 0:18:49.600
<v Speaker 2>an incredibly shifty, bursty, quick interior defensive lineman. Yeah, he's

0:18:49.600 --> 0:18:52.040
<v Speaker 2>a little bit undersized, but look in today's NFL, they're

0:18:52.040 --> 0:18:54.000
<v Speaker 2>all under side. We probably stop saying that the league

0:18:54.040 --> 0:18:56.480
<v Speaker 2>is different. And he's also he's still a good run

0:18:56.520 --> 0:18:58.680
<v Speaker 2>defender for his size, Like it's not an issue. It's

0:18:58.680 --> 0:19:01.240
<v Speaker 2>such a strong base and anchor that he doesn't get

0:19:01.240 --> 0:19:03.480
<v Speaker 2>blown off the ball against the run. And then Johnny

0:19:03.480 --> 0:19:06.200
<v Speaker 2>Newton too, love him. I probably haven't marked a little

0:19:06.200 --> 0:19:09.240
<v Speaker 2>bit below, but go watch the the Wisconsin tape or

0:19:09.280 --> 0:19:11.400
<v Speaker 2>the Penn State tape of Johnny Newton. He's the best

0:19:11.400 --> 0:19:13.560
<v Speaker 2>player in the football field. I mean, he is undoubtedly

0:19:13.640 --> 0:19:15.800
<v Speaker 2>the best player on the field in both of those games.

0:19:16.000 --> 0:19:18.040
<v Speaker 2>And Penn State's gonna have multiple first round picks, so

0:19:18.320 --> 0:19:19.840
<v Speaker 2>I personally probably go that route.

0:19:20.560 --> 0:19:24.959
<v Speaker 1>So I think in your mock draft you had alt Waga,

0:19:25.080 --> 0:19:29.120
<v Speaker 1>Batanu Latham as the top four. If those guys are

0:19:29.119 --> 0:19:33.000
<v Speaker 1>gone and your next two were Fashu and Barton, do

0:19:33.080 --> 0:19:35.679
<v Speaker 1>you go Murphy and Newton over those guys.

0:19:36.160 --> 0:19:38.720
<v Speaker 2>I go Fashu at that point. I like Barton a lot.

0:19:38.760 --> 0:19:40.679
<v Speaker 2>But to me, and it's I guess, I don't know

0:19:40.720 --> 0:19:42.880
<v Speaker 2>my opinion is relevant. Everyone in the NFL is telling

0:19:42.960 --> 0:19:44.920
<v Speaker 2>us he's a guard center, so I'll take their word

0:19:45.000 --> 0:19:48.320
<v Speaker 2>for it, you know. And he's a good player, great player.

0:19:48.320 --> 0:19:49.520
<v Speaker 2>I think he's gonna go earlier than a lot of

0:19:49.560 --> 0:19:52.840
<v Speaker 2>people expect. But fash to me, is fascinating where I mean,

0:19:52.880 --> 0:19:55.239
<v Speaker 2>there are people saying last year or if you think

0:19:55.320 --> 0:19:57.480
<v Speaker 2>he wasn't eligible to declare, but if he did declare,

0:19:57.520 --> 0:19:59.280
<v Speaker 2>he would have been the first tackle taking was like

0:19:59.320 --> 0:20:02.960
<v Speaker 2>the consensus opinion. He had some rough outings, No question

0:20:03.040 --> 0:20:05.160
<v Speaker 2>the Ohio State game for him was not a good game.

0:20:05.760 --> 0:20:08.960
<v Speaker 2>But he is probably still the cleanest path protector in

0:20:09.040 --> 0:20:11.679
<v Speaker 2>this class at tackle, and he's a clear left tackle,

0:20:12.000 --> 0:20:14.919
<v Speaker 2>has great footwork, can handle it, can absorb power for

0:20:14.960 --> 0:20:17.960
<v Speaker 2>the most part. That was not on display against Ohio State.

0:20:18.000 --> 0:20:19.679
<v Speaker 2>So I would still take him. I would say, you

0:20:19.680 --> 0:20:21.720
<v Speaker 2>know what, he's fallen too far. He could have been

0:20:21.760 --> 0:20:24.040
<v Speaker 2>a top ten to seven pick last year as a

0:20:24.080 --> 0:20:26.280
<v Speaker 2>twenty year old. Now he's twenty one, he's gonna fall

0:20:26.359 --> 0:20:28.560
<v Speaker 2>to US eighteen. I probably take it. But if it

0:20:28.600 --> 0:20:30.840
<v Speaker 2>becomes the Bartons and the other, you know, the other

0:20:31.280 --> 0:20:34.680
<v Speaker 2>kind of flex inside outside guys, then I would go detackle.

0:20:35.320 --> 0:20:40.720
<v Speaker 1>So you still had Mims Geiden and Sue Matia Matia

0:20:41.000 --> 0:20:44.560
<v Speaker 1>from BYU going in the first round. So it seem

0:20:44.680 --> 0:20:47.320
<v Speaker 1>like you concur with the many people who seem to

0:20:47.320 --> 0:20:50.399
<v Speaker 1>think this is a historically good offensive tackle draft.

0:20:50.720 --> 0:20:52.879
<v Speaker 2>I really do. I really do like Mims. The talent

0:20:52.920 --> 0:20:54.920
<v Speaker 2>is insane. Like you watch some of the games, he's

0:20:54.960 --> 0:20:57.439
<v Speaker 2>clearly just the best athlete on the field, and like

0:20:57.840 --> 0:21:00.320
<v Speaker 2>his technique is even super sound, but it doesn't really matter,

0:21:00.480 --> 0:21:01.960
<v Speaker 2>and some of the best players get away with that,

0:21:02.040 --> 0:21:04.560
<v Speaker 2>and obviously you want to refine that and get better there,

0:21:04.960 --> 0:21:06.840
<v Speaker 2>but you do have question marks, but not only missing

0:21:06.880 --> 0:21:09.280
<v Speaker 2>time during the seasons. You then go to the combine.

0:21:09.320 --> 0:21:10.960
<v Speaker 2>He pulls up lame after I want to say a

0:21:11.000 --> 0:21:14.040
<v Speaker 2>forty and doesn't finish the combine that day. I don't

0:21:14.040 --> 0:21:16.439
<v Speaker 2>think anything's been a severe injury, if I'm not mistaken.

0:21:16.440 --> 0:21:18.439
<v Speaker 2>I don't think he's had like a ligament tear. But

0:21:18.560 --> 0:21:20.520
<v Speaker 2>you do want to see, you know, availability is the

0:21:20.520 --> 0:21:23.160
<v Speaker 2>best ability and all those things, especially at offensive line,

0:21:23.160 --> 0:21:25.240
<v Speaker 2>you need to be a durable player. So the talent

0:21:25.320 --> 0:21:28.359
<v Speaker 2>is truly undeniable. He looks like his build, he's a

0:21:28.400 --> 0:21:29.960
<v Speaker 2>freak like he's six foot eight and there's not a

0:21:30.000 --> 0:21:33.680
<v Speaker 2>bad pound of weight on his body. And there are

0:21:33.720 --> 0:21:35.919
<v Speaker 2>some games where you're like chuckling as you watch him play.

0:21:36.119 --> 0:21:40.119
<v Speaker 2>But it's certainly scary there to me guidance a total project.

0:21:40.160 --> 0:21:42.399
<v Speaker 2>My mocks are not my opinion. They're what I'm hearing

0:21:42.560 --> 0:21:45.600
<v Speaker 2>and what I'm seeing elsewhere from people I respect and trust.

0:21:46.280 --> 0:21:48.639
<v Speaker 2>I get why people like the tools. I don't think

0:21:48.680 --> 0:21:50.240
<v Speaker 2>he's a guy you want to start really out of

0:21:50.240 --> 0:21:52.200
<v Speaker 2>the gate. And then so I'm Tella, I think is

0:21:52.240 --> 0:21:54.000
<v Speaker 2>a guy that I am way high. He's probably not

0:21:54.000 --> 0:21:55.800
<v Speaker 2>going to the first round. But I just love him.

0:21:56.040 --> 0:21:58.639
<v Speaker 2>Smooth mover for his size byu tackles a little bit

0:21:58.720 --> 0:22:02.280
<v Speaker 2>scary though too. It's a system that protects their offensive line.

0:22:02.320 --> 0:22:03.879
<v Speaker 2>They don't play a lot of great pass rushers in

0:22:03.880 --> 0:22:06.000
<v Speaker 2>the Mountain West, and you know, they've had some guys

0:22:06.000 --> 0:22:07.320
<v Speaker 2>come out and not really be as good as they

0:22:07.320 --> 0:22:09.879
<v Speaker 2>were in college. But but he's awesome to me.

0:22:11.000 --> 0:22:14.440
<v Speaker 1>The Bengals had ten picks, including two third round picks.

0:22:14.800 --> 0:22:17.200
<v Speaker 1>Should they be wheeling and dealing and try to move

0:22:17.280 --> 0:22:19.440
<v Speaker 1>up in this draft, they.

0:22:19.280 --> 0:22:21.320
<v Speaker 2>Are one of the teams that Stan pat more than

0:22:21.320 --> 0:22:24.199
<v Speaker 2>anybody else. They rarely ever moved up or down. They

0:22:24.320 --> 0:22:27.520
<v Speaker 2>rarely move. But I don't know. I mean, maybe if

0:22:27.560 --> 0:22:29.480
<v Speaker 2>a guy that you think is just like can't miss

0:22:29.520 --> 0:22:32.280
<v Speaker 2>one hundred and ten percent at either tackle or detackle,

0:22:32.880 --> 0:22:34.879
<v Speaker 2>and I guess maybe Bowers. But I probably would move

0:22:34.960 --> 0:22:37.119
<v Speaker 2>up for Bowers personally. But yeah, let's say if it's

0:22:37.160 --> 0:22:40.080
<v Speaker 2>a small move up. For example, the Steelers trade last

0:22:40.119 --> 0:22:42.240
<v Speaker 2>year is probably the perfect analogy, right, They were from

0:22:42.280 --> 0:22:46.200
<v Speaker 2>seventeen to fourteen to get Broderick Jones. They also viewed

0:22:46.200 --> 0:22:48.200
<v Speaker 2>the you know, the tackle drop off from your Darnell

0:22:48.280 --> 0:22:50.760
<v Speaker 2>Wrights and those guys and Broderick Jones down to the

0:22:50.800 --> 0:22:53.920
<v Speaker 2>next tier, you know, not as a pretty steep drop,

0:22:53.920 --> 0:22:55.679
<v Speaker 2>and I would I agree with him. Last year, that

0:22:55.800 --> 0:22:57.479
<v Speaker 2>wasn't that expensive a trade. I want to say they

0:22:57.480 --> 0:22:59.880
<v Speaker 2>give a third to the Patriots for that move up.

0:23:00.400 --> 0:23:02.680
<v Speaker 2>It may have been a fourth if I'm not mistaken.

0:23:02.760 --> 0:23:05.600
<v Speaker 2>So I would do that. I'm not trying to catapult

0:23:05.680 --> 0:23:08.280
<v Speaker 2>in like the top ten or anything like that, but yeah,

0:23:08.480 --> 0:23:10.240
<v Speaker 2>you have the ability to maybe be a little bit

0:23:10.240 --> 0:23:12.560
<v Speaker 2>aggressive because you have ten total picks and he probably

0:23:12.600 --> 0:23:15.000
<v Speaker 2>don't have ten roster spots you know, available right now.

0:23:15.760 --> 0:23:19.879
<v Speaker 1>What other tight ends do you like other than Brock Bowers.

0:23:18.960 --> 0:23:20.560
<v Speaker 2>You know, the one I would say is probably Ben

0:23:20.560 --> 0:23:23.960
<v Speaker 2>Sonata Kansas State. Who is is? He set himself at

0:23:23.960 --> 0:23:26.040
<v Speaker 2>the Senior Bowl the most versatile tight end in the class.

0:23:26.119 --> 0:23:27.800
<v Speaker 2>I would agree with him. He can be an h

0:23:27.880 --> 0:23:30.320
<v Speaker 2>back in the backfield, it can be a legit just

0:23:30.359 --> 0:23:33.200
<v Speaker 2>true fullback, can play in line, he lined up out wide,

0:23:33.200 --> 0:23:36.639
<v Speaker 2>sometimes in the slot. He's a fun, versatile weapon that

0:23:36.680 --> 0:23:39.120
<v Speaker 2>you can move all over the formation do different things with.

0:23:39.880 --> 0:23:41.360
<v Speaker 2>But I still probably wouldn't take one of the first

0:23:41.359 --> 0:23:45.760
<v Speaker 2>two rounds. And then you know THEO Johnson a Penn State.

0:23:45.920 --> 0:23:47.400
<v Speaker 2>I think you didn't see a lot of him because

0:23:47.400 --> 0:23:50.920
<v Speaker 2>it's not a pass heavy offense. But his testing was insane,

0:23:51.520 --> 0:23:53.280
<v Speaker 2>and maybe he's a guy who's a developmental player. We

0:23:53.280 --> 0:23:55.159
<v Speaker 2>don't hear about him for two years and then he

0:23:55.280 --> 0:23:57.840
<v Speaker 2>kind of is that classic like third year breakout tight end.

0:23:57.880 --> 0:24:00.720
<v Speaker 2>But yeah, outside of brock Bowers, I'm probably not using

0:24:00.800 --> 0:24:02.960
<v Speaker 2>a Day two pick on any ted end in his class.

0:24:03.359 --> 0:24:06.600
<v Speaker 1>A couple more questions for Brad Spielberger from Pro Football Focus.

0:24:06.760 --> 0:24:10.439
<v Speaker 1>You did a story recently where you talked about a

0:24:10.480 --> 0:24:13.040
<v Speaker 1>team's best move in free agency or the movie you

0:24:13.119 --> 0:24:15.239
<v Speaker 1>like the most, and then the move that you liked

0:24:15.280 --> 0:24:17.920
<v Speaker 1>the least, and where the Bengals were concerned. You didn't

0:24:17.960 --> 0:24:20.800
<v Speaker 1>really criticize any of their moves, and you had a

0:24:20.840 --> 0:24:24.639
<v Speaker 1>sentence that kind of implied that that's generally how you

0:24:24.680 --> 0:24:27.359
<v Speaker 1>think the Bengals do in free agency. Is this a

0:24:27.440 --> 0:24:30.840
<v Speaker 1>team that you feel consistently does a good job in

0:24:30.840 --> 0:24:31.600
<v Speaker 1>that area.

0:24:31.880 --> 0:24:33.800
<v Speaker 2>At least in recent history, Right the last four or

0:24:33.800 --> 0:24:36.119
<v Speaker 2>five years, I think they've been great in that regard.

0:24:36.160 --> 0:24:38.679
<v Speaker 2>We'll be talking to j reader Trey Hendrickson, probably one

0:24:38.680 --> 0:24:40.520
<v Speaker 2>of the better free agent signings of the for any

0:24:40.560 --> 0:24:43.359
<v Speaker 2>team in the NFL the last five years. You know,

0:24:43.680 --> 0:24:45.520
<v Speaker 2>like you know, Nick Scott didn't totally work out, but

0:24:45.560 --> 0:24:48.239
<v Speaker 2>it's obviously a you know, one year ended up being

0:24:48.240 --> 0:24:50.760
<v Speaker 2>like four million dollars, not a huge deal. So they

0:24:50.800 --> 0:24:53.399
<v Speaker 2>don't take those swings all the time. When they do,

0:24:53.520 --> 0:24:56.639
<v Speaker 2>they've hit a lot recently. Obviously, Shelby Woozier was a

0:24:56.640 --> 0:24:59.239
<v Speaker 2>great istion Mike Hilton's been a phenomenal player still is

0:25:00.080 --> 0:25:02.479
<v Speaker 2>you know. Yeah, They've been really really good how they

0:25:02.560 --> 0:25:04.960
<v Speaker 2>navigate free agency the last couple of years, balancing kind

0:25:04.960 --> 0:25:08.080
<v Speaker 2>of the short term needs with the young, foundational draft

0:25:08.080 --> 0:25:10.200
<v Speaker 2>pick core they have. They've been great.

0:25:11.080 --> 0:25:13.159
<v Speaker 1>All right, final question for you. I reached out to

0:25:13.200 --> 0:25:15.960
<v Speaker 1>see if you were available for this podcast. You said yes,

0:25:16.000 --> 0:25:19.040
<v Speaker 1>and then shortly after that you shared the news on

0:25:19.080 --> 0:25:22.560
<v Speaker 1>social media that you are leaving Pro Football Focus. What

0:25:22.680 --> 0:25:23.200
<v Speaker 1>is next?

0:25:24.000 --> 0:25:26.560
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, yeah, so glad we can squeeze this in. I

0:25:26.560 --> 0:25:28.479
<v Speaker 2>will not be doing a whole lot of media going forward.

0:25:28.680 --> 0:25:30.840
<v Speaker 2>I'm going to work at an agency to be a

0:25:30.880 --> 0:25:34.760
<v Speaker 2>contract negotiator called Grand Central Sports Management, So I'll be

0:25:34.840 --> 0:25:37.440
<v Speaker 2>negotiating the deals for all of our clients in the

0:25:37.560 --> 0:25:40.040
<v Speaker 2>NFL at least and I'm very excited for it. I

0:25:40.080 --> 0:25:42.639
<v Speaker 2>appreciate the question and looking forward to finally, you know,

0:25:42.640 --> 0:25:45.840
<v Speaker 2>getting directly involved and entering the arena, so to speak.

0:25:46.400 --> 0:25:49.000
<v Speaker 1>Is this something that you've always had a desire to

0:25:49.040 --> 0:25:51.080
<v Speaker 1>do or did it just kind of fall into your lap?

0:25:51.680 --> 0:25:53.359
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, you know, I think I always knew that I

0:25:53.400 --> 0:25:56.399
<v Speaker 2>wanted to be directly involved in some capacity. Obviously I

0:25:56.480 --> 0:25:58.720
<v Speaker 2>do all the contract projections and so much work in

0:25:58.760 --> 0:26:01.080
<v Speaker 2>that space at PFF, and you know, being able to

0:26:01.080 --> 0:26:03.760
<v Speaker 2>actually apply that to the real world and also just

0:26:03.840 --> 0:26:05.440
<v Speaker 2>kind of you know, use my latter you a little

0:26:05.440 --> 0:26:07.600
<v Speaker 2>bit more for my parents are happy, I'll actually be

0:26:07.640 --> 0:26:09.399
<v Speaker 2>you know, using that a little bit more, and you know,

0:26:09.440 --> 0:26:11.840
<v Speaker 2>reading the fine print of language and truly you know,

0:26:11.840 --> 0:26:14.600
<v Speaker 2>putting those skills to work. Yeah, it's something I've always

0:26:14.640 --> 0:26:16.919
<v Speaker 2>wanted to do. I wasn't trying to leave PFF, but

0:26:17.000 --> 0:26:20.199
<v Speaker 2>but the opportunity has been phenomenal or is phenomenal, and

0:26:20.359 --> 0:26:21.159
<v Speaker 2>I just couldn't say no.

0:26:21.920 --> 0:26:24.440
<v Speaker 1>Well, you will be missed at PFF. Your salary cap

0:26:24.480 --> 0:26:28.280
<v Speaker 1>analysis and free agent rankings have always been very valuable

0:26:28.359 --> 0:26:30.560
<v Speaker 1>to those of us who love reading about the NFL,

0:26:30.680 --> 0:26:32.639
<v Speaker 1>So thank you for your hard work and best of

0:26:32.720 --> 0:26:34.439
<v Speaker 1>luck and you're a new endeavor going forward.

0:26:34.640 --> 0:26:35.960
<v Speaker 2>Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

0:26:36.720 --> 0:26:38.760
<v Speaker 1>More on the draft in a moment, but first, here's

0:26:38.760 --> 0:26:41.480
<v Speaker 1>a quick reminder that the Bengals Booth podcast is brought

0:26:41.480 --> 0:26:43.880
<v Speaker 1>to you by pay Corps, Proud to be the Bengals

0:26:43.920 --> 0:26:48.760
<v Speaker 1>official HR software provider, by Alta Fiber future proof Fiber

0:26:48.840 --> 0:26:52.159
<v Speaker 1>Internet designed to elevate your home, business and community to

0:26:52.240 --> 0:26:55.680
<v Speaker 1>a new level, and by Kettering Health the best Care

0:26:55.880 --> 0:26:59.400
<v Speaker 1>for the best fans. Kettering Health is the official healthcare

0:26:59.440 --> 0:27:03.680
<v Speaker 1>provider of the Bengals. This year, the Bengals have ten

0:27:03.800 --> 0:27:07.119
<v Speaker 1>draft picks, two in the top fifty and four in

0:27:07.160 --> 0:27:09.840
<v Speaker 1>the top one hundred. Since they have an extra pick

0:27:10.080 --> 0:27:12.640
<v Speaker 1>in the third round, I thought it would be fun

0:27:12.680 --> 0:27:14.879
<v Speaker 1>to get on a mock draft simulator this week and

0:27:14.960 --> 0:27:18.439
<v Speaker 1>take a stab at those first four picks, sharing my

0:27:18.640 --> 0:27:22.320
<v Speaker 1>options at the time, and then the rationale for each

0:27:22.359 --> 0:27:25.199
<v Speaker 1>of my selections. We start in round one with the

0:27:25.280 --> 0:27:29.119
<v Speaker 1>eighteenth overall pick going in. I'm on the lookout for

0:27:29.320 --> 0:27:34.639
<v Speaker 1>offensive tackles, defensive tackles, and tight end brock Bowers, although

0:27:35.080 --> 0:27:38.159
<v Speaker 1>there are wide receivers, cornerbacks, and edge rushers that I

0:27:38.240 --> 0:27:42.960
<v Speaker 1>would consider if they somehow fell to number eighteen. When

0:27:42.960 --> 0:27:45.960
<v Speaker 1>I started the simulator, four quarterbacks went in the top

0:27:46.119 --> 0:27:46.960
<v Speaker 1>six picks.

0:27:47.280 --> 0:27:47.720
<v Speaker 2>Hooray.

0:27:48.320 --> 0:27:51.000
<v Speaker 1>Since the Bengals aren't the market for a QB, that

0:27:51.200 --> 0:27:54.640
<v Speaker 1>means I'm going to get one of my top fourteen players.

0:27:55.240 --> 0:27:58.960
<v Speaker 1>Four tackles were off the board before I selected Joe

0:27:58.960 --> 0:28:03.679
<v Speaker 1>Alt from Notre Dame, Olufashanu from Penn State, Talisa Fuaga

0:28:03.680 --> 0:28:07.879
<v Speaker 1>from Oregon State, and JC Latham from Alabama. And the

0:28:08.000 --> 0:28:10.840
<v Speaker 1>four picks immediately before the Bengals were on the clock

0:28:11.280 --> 0:28:15.760
<v Speaker 1>were all guys worthy of consideration. Brock Bowers went fourteenth,

0:28:16.160 --> 0:28:20.600
<v Speaker 1>cornerback quin Yon Mitchell from Toledo, fifteenth, wide receiver Brian

0:28:20.640 --> 0:28:24.840
<v Speaker 1>Thomas from LSU sixteenth, and cornerback Terry and Arnold from

0:28:24.880 --> 0:28:30.400
<v Speaker 1>Alabama seventeenth. That left me and the Bengals with plenty

0:28:30.520 --> 0:28:35.320
<v Speaker 1>of great options, including offensive lineman Troy fought Utanu from

0:28:35.520 --> 0:28:40.240
<v Speaker 1>Washington and Amarius Mims from Georgia. My top defensive tackles,

0:28:40.320 --> 0:28:43.320
<v Speaker 1>Byron Murphy and Johnny Newton are still there, along with

0:28:43.560 --> 0:28:48.720
<v Speaker 1>edge rusher Leatu Latu from UCLA. It came down to

0:28:48.760 --> 0:28:53.280
<v Speaker 1>two guys for me, the offensive tackle faugh Utanu and

0:28:53.320 --> 0:28:57.640
<v Speaker 1>the defensive tackle, Murphy. Now you might be asking why

0:28:57.760 --> 0:29:02.320
<v Speaker 1>fought Utanu instead of Mims at offensive tackle. After all,

0:29:02.640 --> 0:29:05.680
<v Speaker 1>Amarius Mims looks like he was made in a right

0:29:05.800 --> 0:29:11.360
<v Speaker 1>tackle lab. He's six' eight three forty with gigantic arms

0:29:11.360 --> 0:29:16.680
<v Speaker 1>and hands. He definitely has star potential, but there's risk involved.

0:29:17.040 --> 0:29:19.160
<v Speaker 1>He missed most of last year with an ankle injury

0:29:19.480 --> 0:29:21.959
<v Speaker 1>and made a total of eight starts in his career

0:29:22.360 --> 0:29:26.840
<v Speaker 1>at Georgia. I favored Troy faugh Utanu because he's more

0:29:26.840 --> 0:29:29.680
<v Speaker 1>of a sure thing. He's big enough at six four

0:29:29.800 --> 0:29:33.720
<v Speaker 1>three seventeen and is an excellent athlete who plays.

0:29:33.400 --> 0:29:34.360
<v Speaker 2>With a mean streak.

0:29:34.920 --> 0:29:39.120
<v Speaker 1>Greg Cosel from NFL Films said the following about fa Utanu.

0:29:39.680 --> 0:29:42.480
<v Speaker 1>I wouldn't be surprised if he develops into one of

0:29:42.480 --> 0:29:47.440
<v Speaker 1>the better offensive linemen in the NFL relatively soon. That's

0:29:47.520 --> 0:29:52.400
<v Speaker 1>high praise from Greg. Fautanu played tackle and guarded Washington

0:29:52.640 --> 0:29:56.280
<v Speaker 1>and could conceivably compete with Cordell Vohlsen for the left

0:29:56.280 --> 0:30:00.160
<v Speaker 1>guard spot as a rookie before eventually kicking out to tack.

0:30:00.680 --> 0:30:02.960
<v Speaker 1>So then it comes down to him or my top

0:30:03.040 --> 0:30:07.280
<v Speaker 1>defensive tackle on the board. Byron Murphy from Texas According

0:30:07.320 --> 0:30:11.960
<v Speaker 1>to Coseel, Murphy's twitchy, almost freaky, and plays low to

0:30:12.000 --> 0:30:16.600
<v Speaker 1>the ground, maximizing his power. He's often compared to Falcons,

0:30:16.600 --> 0:30:20.240
<v Speaker 1>Pro Bowl or Grady Jarrett because he's similarly sized at

0:30:20.280 --> 0:30:24.600
<v Speaker 1>six feet tall two hundred ninety seven pounds Alas that

0:30:24.720 --> 0:30:27.720
<v Speaker 1>means he's not a three hundred and thirty pounder like

0:30:27.840 --> 0:30:31.840
<v Speaker 1>DJ Reader. So forced to choose between offensive tackle and

0:30:31.920 --> 0:30:36.360
<v Speaker 1>defensive tackle, I went with fa Utanu. This is a

0:30:36.520 --> 0:30:40.400
<v Speaker 1>historically good offensive tackle draft, and free agent right tackle

0:30:40.440 --> 0:30:44.200
<v Speaker 1>Trent Brown only signed for one year. Protecting Joe Burrow

0:30:44.200 --> 0:30:47.120
<v Speaker 1>and giving him weapons is always the number one priority,

0:30:47.480 --> 0:30:50.600
<v Speaker 1>and the Bengals can't go wrong with the offensive lineman

0:30:50.880 --> 0:30:54.200
<v Speaker 1>out of Washington. So I made that pick on the

0:30:54.200 --> 0:30:58.760
<v Speaker 1>simulator and get this. The next three picks were offensive

0:30:58.760 --> 0:31:03.400
<v Speaker 1>tackles mim at nineteen, Tyler Geiden out of Oklahoma at twenty,

0:31:03.640 --> 0:31:07.000
<v Speaker 1>and Graham Barton from Duke at twenty one. And before

0:31:07.040 --> 0:31:10.200
<v Speaker 1>the first round was over, Jordan Morgan from Arizona went

0:31:10.240 --> 0:31:15.960
<v Speaker 1>thirty first and Kingsley Sua Mattia from BYU went thirty second.

0:31:16.760 --> 0:31:21.280
<v Speaker 1>In short ten offensive tackles were selected in the first round.

0:31:21.800 --> 0:31:24.720
<v Speaker 1>If the Bengals want one of those guys, they'll probably

0:31:24.760 --> 0:31:29.000
<v Speaker 1>have to select him at number eighteen. Now, let's move

0:31:29.040 --> 0:31:32.000
<v Speaker 1>to the second round and pick number forty nine. There

0:31:32.040 --> 0:31:34.160
<v Speaker 1>are a couple of good slot receivers on the board

0:31:34.200 --> 0:31:37.640
<v Speaker 1>in Roman Wilson from Michigan and Ricky pearsall from Florida,

0:31:38.000 --> 0:31:40.560
<v Speaker 1>along with my number two tight end in the draft,

0:31:40.880 --> 0:31:45.120
<v Speaker 1>Jatavian Sanders from Texas. But my pick came down to

0:31:45.160 --> 0:31:49.080
<v Speaker 1>a pair of defensive tackles, Bryden Fisk of Florida State

0:31:49.480 --> 0:31:53.240
<v Speaker 1>and Chris Jenkins of Michigan. I went with Fisk, one

0:31:53.280 --> 0:31:56.200
<v Speaker 1>of the stars of the NFL Combine this year, placing

0:31:56.320 --> 0:32:00.200
<v Speaker 1>first among defensive tackles in the forty the broad jump

0:32:00.360 --> 0:32:04.600
<v Speaker 1>and the vertical jump. Daniel Jeremiah from the NFL Network

0:32:04.840 --> 0:32:08.960
<v Speaker 1>ranks Fisk thirty seventh overall in this year's class, making

0:32:09.040 --> 0:32:12.000
<v Speaker 1>him a good value at pick number forty nine, and

0:32:12.040 --> 0:32:14.800
<v Speaker 1>he said the following about the six four, two hundred

0:32:14.880 --> 0:32:19.720
<v Speaker 1>ninety two pound lineman. He's disruptive in every game I've studied.

0:32:20.160 --> 0:32:25.560
<v Speaker 1>Fisk is a competitive, athletic and impactful defensive lineman capable

0:32:25.560 --> 0:32:29.680
<v Speaker 1>of starting right away. So in the first two rounds,

0:32:29.720 --> 0:32:32.080
<v Speaker 1>I stayed in the trenches, going O line in round

0:32:32.160 --> 0:32:36.440
<v Speaker 1>one and D line in round two. The Bengals first

0:32:36.440 --> 0:32:40.280
<v Speaker 1>third round pick is number eighty overall. Sanders, the tight

0:32:40.400 --> 0:32:43.240
<v Speaker 1>end from Texas, went late in the second round, and

0:32:43.320 --> 0:32:47.200
<v Speaker 1>his college teammate Mammoth three hundred and sixty six pound

0:32:47.280 --> 0:32:51.360
<v Speaker 1>defensive tackle to Andre Sweat went five picks before the

0:32:51.440 --> 0:32:55.160
<v Speaker 1>Bengals round the clock at number seventy five. My best

0:32:55.240 --> 0:32:58.840
<v Speaker 1>options are offensive weapons like speedy Florida State running back

0:32:58.880 --> 0:33:03.920
<v Speaker 1>Trey Benson, our wide receivers Devontes Walker, Javon Baker, or

0:33:03.960 --> 0:33:08.000
<v Speaker 1>Malachi Corley. I went with Walker, who finished his college

0:33:08.040 --> 0:33:11.560
<v Speaker 1>career at North Carolina after starting out at Kent State.

0:33:12.280 --> 0:33:14.720
<v Speaker 1>We know the Bengals are looking to be more explosive

0:33:14.800 --> 0:33:18.040
<v Speaker 1>on offense, and Walker can fly. He ran a four

0:33:18.040 --> 0:33:21.080
<v Speaker 1>to three six forty at the Combine, and his nineteen

0:33:21.160 --> 0:33:25.880
<v Speaker 1>touchdown catches in college averaged more than thirty yards. He's

0:33:25.880 --> 0:33:28.560
<v Speaker 1>got decent size at six one and a half and

0:33:28.680 --> 0:33:32.120
<v Speaker 1>is one of the smoothest, most fluid receivers in this class.

0:33:32.680 --> 0:33:35.480
<v Speaker 1>With a likely departure of Tyler Boyd this year and

0:33:35.600 --> 0:33:39.480
<v Speaker 1>perhaps te Higgins next year, it's important to add another

0:33:39.520 --> 0:33:43.520
<v Speaker 1>receiver to the mix. Finally we get to the Bengals

0:33:43.600 --> 0:33:46.880
<v Speaker 1>second pick in the third round, number ninety seven overall.

0:33:47.280 --> 0:33:49.640
<v Speaker 1>I thought there was a chance that Benson might still

0:33:49.680 --> 0:33:54.520
<v Speaker 1>be there, but he went ninety third. Fortunately, there are

0:33:54.520 --> 0:33:57.240
<v Speaker 1>some good cornerbacks on the board and the Bengals need

0:33:57.280 --> 0:34:01.000
<v Speaker 1>one after losing chitabey O Wouje in free agent. They

0:34:01.000 --> 0:34:04.000
<v Speaker 1>have Cam Taylor, Britt and DJ Turner as the likely

0:34:04.080 --> 0:34:07.719
<v Speaker 1>starters on the outside, but they need to add depth

0:34:08.160 --> 0:34:11.720
<v Speaker 1>and I see two good options, Ronardo Green from Florida

0:34:11.800 --> 0:34:16.960
<v Speaker 1>State and Chris Abrams Drain from Missouri. I chose Green,

0:34:17.120 --> 0:34:20.200
<v Speaker 1>who has decent height and length, ran a four four

0:34:20.320 --> 0:34:24.480
<v Speaker 1>nine forty and, according to Pro Football Focus, graded number

0:34:24.600 --> 0:34:28.400
<v Speaker 1>one in Manda man coverage of any corner in this

0:34:28.520 --> 0:34:29.240
<v Speaker 1>year's draft.

0:34:29.960 --> 0:34:32.200
<v Speaker 2>So how did I do? Overall?

0:34:32.960 --> 0:34:36.600
<v Speaker 1>My first two picks, fa Utanu and Fisk got A

0:34:36.760 --> 0:34:41.040
<v Speaker 1>plus grades from PFF, my third rounder Walker got a

0:34:41.080 --> 0:34:45.000
<v Speaker 1>B plus, and my second third rounder, Green earned a B.

0:34:45.800 --> 0:34:50.480
<v Speaker 1>My overall grade was an A. So if Duke Tobin

0:34:50.520 --> 0:34:54.000
<v Speaker 1>and his staff are looking for volunteer help, they know

0:34:54.080 --> 0:34:54.719
<v Speaker 1>how to reach me.

0:34:55.640 --> 0:34:56.400
<v Speaker 2>That's going to do it.

0:34:56.440 --> 0:34:58.759
<v Speaker 1>For this episode of the Bengals Booth podcast brought to

0:34:58.760 --> 0:35:01.360
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<v Speaker 1>of the Bengals. If you haven't done so already, please

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<v Speaker 1>subscribe to this podcast and if you have a minute,

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<v Speaker 1>give it a rating or share a comment that helps

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<v Speaker 1>more Bengals fans find us. I'm Dan Horde and thanks

0:35:29.760 --> 0:35:32.919
<v Speaker 1>for listening to the Bengals Booth podcast.