Bengals OTA Takeaways + A Bengals Summer Free Agent Draft

Jay Morrison and Dallas Robinson discuss the sights and sounds from Day 1 of the Bengals’ OTA program. How did Joe Burrow look as he recovers from wrist surgery? Why aren’t Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase participating? Where does the CB2 competition stand? Then, the guys pivot to summer free agency and draft available veterans the Bengals might consider adding over the next few weeks.

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welcome to the pfn Bengals podcast I am Dallas Robinson he is Jay Morrison Jay we’ve got Bengals OTAs it’s it’s phase three of the offseason program you were in attendance for day one of OTAs yesterday we’ve got some news coming out of out of this day of of practice Jamar Chase was not there t Higgins was not there we’ve got a couple other Bengals veterans were not there but Jay you saw all the sights and sounds you saw Joe burrow throwing for the first time since wrist surgery what what are your takeaways your number one takeaways how did burrow look just give me the kind of rundown of like everything that you said saw yesterday at at the first day of Bengals OTAs yeah we we’ve actually we’ve seen him throw since surgery but it’s it’s always been on routes on air uh right yesterday was the first time the first time we saw seven on seven where you know he he had to be more accurate put it in smaller windows and he did he looked great um was seven of 10 uh on his throws and you know one was a drop so he looked really sharp a lot of zip on the ball um it’s hard to to glean too much from seven on seven and it was such a small period most of what they were doing was position drills and and routes on air and install but it was a progression you’re seeing a little bit more and I thought I thought burrow looked great and and just to preface it if he didn’t I don’t think it would have been caused for concern because we know he’s coming off of wrist surgery and this is a progression but the fact that he did look so close to to who he is I think is a great sign for Bengals fans and for the team and for Joe himself um he he really was throwing the ball well um the rest of it you know it was it it’s it’s almost you know what they say you know football or underwear drills like the combine wear jerseys and shorts and they did have helmets yesterday that was that was an upgrade but yeah it’s it’s hard to glean a lot from what you’re you’re actually seeing X’s and O’s wise but you know you you do learn something about you know where they’re lining guys up and who’s who’s playing where and that type of thing I I I think that’s where the real value comes in watching these OTAs and we’ll get a chance to do it again next week uh and then the following week three days of it during the mandatory mini camp and that’s when you know you would expect Jamar Chase would be in attendance because if he’s not he’s gonna get fine now maybe he does still skip it and take the fine but I I wouldn’t think that would be the case don’t think we’re going to see T Higgins for for quite some time but Sheldon rankins and um Trent Brown fall in that same category they’re under contract mini camp is mandatory they can be fine if they’re not there so I I think that’s when you’re G to see three of the four guys that were missing U be present for the onfield work yeah I think there’s a lot to unpack there and what you said there we should have a massive disclaimer I think about talking about any performance from these OTAs right because it is you’re right it is the underwear Olympics it’s hard to glean anything directly from what we see but I did want to talk about the couple guys the few guys who were missing so we didn’t expect T Higgins right long as he doesn’t sign his franchise tag he literally cannot participate yeah wouldn’t expect him until I would think before the preseason maybe the preseason if he follows the Jesse Bates plan I think Jesse bit showed up what right before game two of of that preseason when he right two days after the second game he signed his tag yeah so I I think we could see a similar timeline there I’m curious your thoughts on like why Trent Brown and Sheldon rankins aren’t here I I don’t think it’s like a big deal in any capacity they’re veterans but it is interesting to me I’m sure they’re getting their work in you know where wherever they may be and but it is interesting two guys who just signed two guys who maybe that would want to get to know their teammates and their coaches but it is interesting to me that they’re not here again not mandatory doesn’t doesn’t it’s not going to affect them but I just thought that was interesting that they’re not participating yeah and it’s kind of been ranking Zemo through his career to to you know sit out the voluntary stuff and do work out at home and it it is a little different because they’re on new teams now and learning the scheme that part you would think is important but Zack Taylor didn’t seem bothered by it he’s like these guys are veterans those two rankings and Browns 17 combined seasons in the NFL they’re veterans they know how to get ready um they Zach said they have everything they need they have the Playbook so they can they can do all the mental reps and all of that um so yeah it’d be better if they were here but but the fact that they’re not is is not it it’s not anything to be worried about it is interesting that um Trent Brown was scheduled to throw out the first pitch at the at the Reds game last night and he was listed as a scratch uh for travel issues so maybe he was planning on being back for for it that yesterday you see this a lot on on Memorial Day Weekend where the guys push it they try to extend that weekend as long as possible and take Monday night flights back uh and then get there for the Tuesday practice and sometimes know flights get canceled delayed whatever the case is amarius Mims interestingly enough who’s stepping in for Trent Brown at right tackle in these practices stepped in for him last night and threw out the first pitch um so we we’ll see next week if Trent Brown’s here but again it’s nothing to be alarmed about same with Jamar Chase Jamar Chase T Higgins have they they’ve got that rapport with burrow they know that the scheme even though there’s a new offensive coordinator and Dan pitcher both those guys as receivers I think could show up on the Wednesday before the Patriots opener and and step right in and be good to go so um nothing really to be concerned about there it’s you know we saw Jonah Williams wasn’t it voluntary stuff last year came in for mandator mini camp put his head down had a fantastic season Jesse Bates two years ago same thing waited even longer like you said didn’t come back till the second that after the second preseason game he missed all this stuff they just and he there is a lot more on the play for a safety and missing that part of the off seon it can put you behind a little bit but we’ve seen guys do this in the past veterans they know what they’re doing and and you ideally you’d like to have all 87 of them present but 83 out of 87 is not not a bad percentage as Zach pointed out Zack Taylor he was he was very happy with the number of guys they do have and he wanted to focus on the guys that were here and not the guys that weren’t and it’s not the worst thing in the world that if Trent Brown is not participating that Marius Mims does get those extra reps that if Sheldon rankins is not participating then Chris Jenkins and mckenley Jackson get those extra reps it’s not the worst thing in the world like to not have those guys present and let the rookies get those snaps that otherwise they might not have so I think that’s that’s really important uh going back to burrow for a second I’m just going to read directly from Jay’s excellent article I I know I’m biased here but Jay did an excellent job covering these OTAs I think better than anybody else in the Bengals beat thanks Zack Taylor talking about Joe burrow said I feel really good about where he’s at he’s been accurate he’s been on time he’s throwing with great velocity and power you’d have to ask him what he thinks of his performance exactly but I like what we see right now so I mean it’s positive it’s positive I think that’s what we kind of all expected going into OTAs um Jay did you read about the offensive and defensive plays of the day a couple Great Clips that you put in your articles you tweeted out Trent nwin out fighting Mike Hilton for a contested catch near the sideline and then going up and signaling the first down against Hilton I think that was a great play and then DJ Turner making almost getting an interception off off of Joe burrow going up high and kind of batting the ball down seemed like he was a little uh displeased that he didn’t come down with that interception but still a very good play uh um as you as you look at those cornerback situations Jay did you notice anything in the battle between DJ Turner and uh DJ uh Dax Hill and how is it looking at corner like are we is DJ Turner is he gonna just get that job is Dax Hill gonna give him a real run for his money did you see anything just in terms of lining up and who was playing yesterday that kind of gives you some insight into that battle Yeah I think when we get into training camp we’re going to see those guys probably split first team reps but right now just getting going it was it was DJ with with the ones and then Zach or Dax was coming in with with the twos and um you know that that it’s a little interesting because it does feel like it’s an open competition but again it’s it’s just a handful of rep so I I I just for the continuity sake of it I think that’s why they did it that way um it was interesting cam Taylor Britt stayed out and and ran with the twos as well I think you know just because they’re a little short on bodies right now and and and same at safety um that that it was uh sorry Von Bell was with the first team Jordan battle with the second team but Gino Stone ran with the ones and the twos because they’re really thin at safety right now Tyson Anderson’s still on the rehab field and so uh you never read too much into first team second team but it’s it’s the first time we’ve gotten any kind of look at it so we are going to overanalyze it and and and break it down and um it was it was it you know just from yesterday DJ running with the wands I would like I said I expect that to probably continue maybe in mini camp they do a little more and maybe Dax does get some some first team reps but uh he’s learning in a new position and it probably suits him better to you know not that it’s a huge drop off especially when you’re talking about T and Jamar not being here the the guys that are running ones and twos it’s it’s not a huge drop off but just to to let him kind of ease in and and and run with the twos and get his footing so to speak as a cornerback that made sense yeah it’s I’m interested to see just how open of a battle that is like it seems like DJ Turner has the upper hand is that gonna like what what does Dax Hill have to do to to Really Work himself into that battle is something I’m going to be watching I think as these practices progress uh Jay anything else you noticed I think before we kind of move on here from OTAs it’s like we talked about it’s hard to read too much into what you see as long as everyone stays healthy and you know you’re seeing what you’re supposed to see I think it’s mostly mostly good I thought it was interesting if you had any thoughts on on what the what the report that came out yesterday that the NFL PA is talking about totally overhauling this offseason program and basically getting rid of OTAs getting rid of this kind of early spring workout and then extending training camp and kind of moving it back so it’s a longer ramp up period maybe starting in June longer ramp up and kind of stopping these breaks that happen now where players go on vacation coaches go on vacation it’d be a pretty big overhaul I think and it’s curious you know know the NFL PA it seems like they’re pushing forward I wonder what coaches think of if it’s going to result in loss practice time or not I don’t know if you if you talked about that with any of the Players yesterday but I wonder if you have any thoughts on what the what the Bengals might think of that if if how that would kind of change how they go through their offseason program if if the NFL paa was to do that it sounds like that’s something that could happen as soon as next year that that the offseason program could be changed as soon as 2025 so I wonder how the Bengals might adjust if that does happen yeah I don’t I don’t the coach is obvious viously wouldn’t like it uh a couple of the players were asked about it there was obvious a couple of the the reporters were were doing that story a couple of the TVs and they were asking and I I think a lot of times a couple or when it was happened the players didn’t quite understand the question they they were more about you know why are OTAs valuable is how they’re answering it as opposed to do you think they should just get rid of them and and go with what you said the the earlier ramp up to Camp um I don’t know this it I think that’s part of the reason you see some of these guys not showing up for the voluntary stuff because they do want that the season ends and they want that long break they have families they wna they want to hang out with their kids and and some of them you know Logan Wilson’s having a a charity softball tournament Saturday and and Tanner Hudson’s having a charity golf tournament in Nashville and um you know a few of the players I talk to I asked if they were going and they’re like no you know it’s it’s family weekend and they would as much as they would like to support their teammates it’s that that time is valuable so uh it’ll be interesting to see I I would I would assume the NFL paa has to put it to vote um and I I would think you would probably get Mi mixed reaction I know the coaches would like to keep it the way it is um but they’ve been shrinking for a long time what they can actually do at this time of year so yeah it seems like a natural progression just to kind of wean it all wean away from it and go to the the longer ramp up um but it was really nice yesterday it was 70 degrees it’s one of those careful what you’re wishing for if you’re wanting to come back in mid to late June that’s going to be a lot of hot practices you know although most these teams have indoor facilities but when you’re dealing with a roster of 90 people you need to be outside because you need the multiple Fields you need to have people in different areas doing different things so yeah a lot of stuff to take into consideration there no one’s gonna ask the media I like the way it is U I like I like having some things to write about it in May but we we’ll see how it plays out all right for the next half of this show we are going to do a draft now Jay Jay and I we love to do drafts in this show I don’t I don’t know what draft this is what number this is for us but we love to do them we’re going to do a free agent draft we we’ve talked about on the show before that maybe the Bengals should get a little more active in in summer free agency maybe they should go out and fill some gaps that they have in the in these summer month we’ve seen other teams in the division like the Ravens they they’ve just come away with excellent free agent signings in May June July you find veterans who can end up contributing throughout the year and and play a lot of snaps and have a big role so that’s something that we’ve been kind of we’ve been talking about the Bengals could do to fill some of these gaps so we’re just going to look over what free agents are on the board still as we enter I mean it’s almost June we’re almost to June it’s almost past June one which free agents are on the board which ones could fit with the Bengals so Jay and I are going to do a little draft here I’m going to share our screen so those of you that are watching on YouTube can kind of follow along at home and this here so we’ve got our we’ve got four positions that we’re going to consider consider from we don’t we don’t think the Bengals are going to go out and sign a a quarterback at this point we don’t think the Bengals are going to go out and sign a wide receiver we do think that you know running back interior offensive line defensive line and defensive back could could maybe be all on on the table here in these coming months so what we’re going to do Jay and I are going to draft two players each we’re going to go snake format and we’re just going to try and pick some free agents who could fit what the Bengals are looking for at these four positions it’s it’s pretty simple and the way we’re going to score it is if anybody gets any any of these players we get points and if they don’t then don’t the odds of the Bengals actually signing any of the guys we pick is over under is probably on what0 five if we if we get one we’ll be probably happy with it but I do think it’s a valuable exercise to just kind of do one last look at this free agent Market see where the Bengals gaps are and see which of these players might fit in um Jay are you excited for this draft I am I spent way too much time looking over these guys and it is worth noting that you know last year they had some openings they they Wen weren’t at 90 and they didn’t they didn’t sign anybody after uh Trevor Simeon on May 3rd and they went into Camp below the limit and so the the year before they they were low and they signed some guys right before the start of Camp they signed Dominique Davis who was still a Bengal they signed Raymond Johnson who was with the Lions last year and they signed T gry scales a linebacker um from Indiana who played locally in Cincinnati at Co rain high school he’s no longer on a team but um that was like a day or two before training camp so you you mentioned the odds maybe being low of them signing any of the guys we pick the odds could be low they don’t sign anybody they’re at 87 right now um but there there are I think what they look for here is is not necessarily ticking off and and looking at best available um because a lot like a xaven Howard type of player it would be sure he would be great to add to the room but he’s a guy that’s been a St his whole career and you don’t want somebody coming in and then they’re they’re not in that role and they’re forced and maybe they maybe he wins it but they like what they have in Dax and DJ Turner and they want one of those guys to win it and be a long-term solution so I think that’s that’s more the direction they kind of would be looking is these these guys that are can be role players that have been role players and maybe a guy that can sign a one-year Pro it deal and come in and and get some playing time and turn that into a bigger contract next year I just they have the money to to sign some more expensive guys but I just I don’t think that would be the direction they would go if they were interested in those guys I think they would already be here but it’s still fun to kind of look at some of these guys that are available and and see how maybe they would fit if the if the Bengals went in that direction yeah the Bengals have $23 million or so in cap space remaining and you’re right J that that’s kind of the the tag that I took too was yes the it’s not necessarily just okay the Bengals need this position who’s the top rated free agent let’s let’s pair them it’s who who are the realistic players that the Bengals might go after at this point now I’m not saying xaven Howard’s not on my list because he absolutely is and he might be relatively high on my list but but I I take your point that it’s they’re they’re probably not going to go out and sign like the tier one guy available at this point in the summer all right I’m gonna take the first pick on this one because I believe Jay had the first pick on our last draft I’m I’m going to start with my first and then the way we’re doing this we can pick any position by the way we’re not doing we’re both pick we’re all picking running backs in interior offensive line we can pick any of these four positions we want I’m gonna start with interior offensive line and I’m gonna go with a guy that the Bengals know pretty well and that’s Max sharping I don’t think he’s anywhere close to the best interior offensive lineman available but I think he has familiar with the Bengals I think that he if if the Bengals get to a point later in the Summer where Trey Hill and Matt Lee are not playing up to the level that they’re hoping I think M sharping could be a guy that they say hey let’s come back let’s come back on a one-year veteran minimum deal he doesn’t really have the center flexibility I think that you’re looking for he’s only played 12 snaps Center those were all last year when Ted Carris was out for time was it one drive or something so he doesn’t necessarily have that but I think that familiarity could be enough where if the Bengals feel like they need one more interior offensive lineman in July they call up Max sharping and and give him a one-year deal so he’s my number one pick all right um I am I’m gonna pick a guy that that maybe might be on the top of some lists for for best available at his position uh cam Acres the running back he he’s only 24 and I I don’t think Chris Evans is a lock for this roster by any means uh trayon Williams has been here for a long time I just I think that would be a solid gamble a guy like that that and I know he’s bounced around some I’m not sure what the issues are why he doesn’t stick he he is coming off the Achilles injury too yeah what when did that happen that was it was in November nov so he was on my list too as like a guy who could be available later in the year too like if you sign him now and hope that he’s available by November December put him on pup and but I I mean of all these guys I was looking at at all these positions it’s they’re all like right at 30 plus 30 there’s there’s a handful that are under 30 and he was the youngest by far at 24 I just thought that was a kind of a good flyer to take um my my next and played for Shawn McVey played for Kevin oconnell so he’s already got the familiarity familiarity with the offense he was on my list too I think my thing my one question was he kind of got run out of town in Los angelist from the Rams like like demanded to be traded nobody wanted him I do Wonder it’s like does Zack Taylor call up Shawn McVey and try to get a the intel on cam acres and maybe the maybe The Vibes aren’t so great with that one but then again he did end up in Minnesota with with Kevin oconnell who who obviously has a AA McVey connection so there there’s lots going on there where I think that does that does make sense as a pick yeah and that’s funny you say that because this what the my next pick is because it’s a guy and maybe a lot of Bengals fans haven’t even heard of this guy but it’s I thought that that the coaching connection between Zach and in this case Matt laflor could call him up and and get the real read on this guy but safety shander and Sullivan um he’s only 27 he hasn’t missed a game in the last five years and he’s only got 32 starts in that time but last year was his first year where he was in a fulltime starter played 234 special team snaps so he he’s he gives you special team value uh he played for laflor and Green Bay so um that’s a guy they’re just so thin at safety right now especially with Tyson Anderson coming back I talked about it earlier why why Gino Stone was playing first and second team reps yesterday so that’s a guy that uh a 27y old with starting experience in this league who would be very very cheap and could be a nice depth piece at safety and on special teams and not that the Bengals necessarily need any more slot options but he spent a lot of time in the slot too so he’s he’s another depth piece on the interior there I think it’s a good pick all right I’m going to go with a running back as well well I’m goingon to go with jar McKennon um I think he’s you know an older player but doesn’t necessarily have all the wear and tear that a running back of his age might usually have because Jer McKinnon wasn’t a starting running back for most of his career um he’s also had a lot of injuries so that’s that’s why he’s going to be cheap he’s a very good receiver I think that’s something the Bengals might be looking for and I think this is a caveat that I would say with a lot of these players it’s maybe the Bengals will wait and see how their intert options look once we get to training camp and if Chase Brown is not developing as a pass catcher if Zach Moss isn’t looking like he’s being as as quite of productive as a pass catcher as he was for at times for the Colts maybe you go out and get a guy like McKinnon who you know can be a good dump off option he’s been kind of Hit or Miss as a pass blocker according to PFF like his he’s had some Seasons where he’s been outstanding and then some Seasons where it’s like the brightest of red on on BFF scale and it’s just um I will I will say I remember a lot of good Jer McKinnon blocks where he’s just like destroying incoming blitzers so not not to weigh my own personal memories too hard but I I do I do have memories of him just destroying incoming blitzers trying to go after Mom so I will put McKinnon as kind of a veteran you know lower tier rb3 option that they could consider later in this summer for my next we’re doing snake I’ll do I’ll do one more pick here I’m gonna go zaven Howard J I know he just talked about it but like I I just I’m going to go with him I think that there’s there’s too many connections right he he has the experience with Len Aro and Taylor in Miami um he’s got a lot of starts he led the league in interceptions I think three or four years ago very good ball production I think he’s pretty scheme versatile which is good under Luan aruma who likes to do a lot of different things I think xaven Howard has the football IQ to be able to instantly process what he needs to process and figure out how this defensive scheme Works you’re right about the cost like I’m I’m wondering what the price will be at this point like if we get to Mid July if we get to training camp and zaven Howard still doesn’t have a team somewhere I don’t know what the price will be I I I think it would be pretty low a guy who’s had injury issues who’s is he I don’t know if he’s is he 30 he’s got to be close to 30 I would think it’s got to be lower less than $5 million maybe some incentives on playing time or something you’re right that like I you don’t want to block opportunities for guys like DJ Turner but you get to later in the summer and zaven Howard’s still out there on a cheap deal I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bengals take a chance yeah he’s exactly 30 so um yeah I mean like I said it probably wasn’t likely but it’s you can’t rule it out and um what you mentioned with McKennon I was stunned when I was slotting these guys to see that he was 32 I just had it in my mind that he was a much younger guy and that’s yeah probably because of what you said where he just he’s never been that full-time guy and he’s had some injuries and there’s there’s some things that have kind of slowed down his career but I I was really surprised to see he was he was that old uh so while we’re talking old I’m gonna take the oldest free agent available out there it’s it’s total Pie in the Sky they got the guys they wanted uh Jenkins and Jackson now I I mean why not take a flyer on six foot eight Kus Campbell and just what he could do as a a situational pass rusher he’s at the end of his career obviously he’s never gonna give you a a big snap load but he is a 100% great human being he’s been in this league for a long time obviously he’s 38 still chasing that first ring um I just I I think that you get him in on a on a cheap deal and let him do that ring chasing for his final year I mean you put someone like that in the middle pushing the pocket with that length he he could be a real weapon at times and um again it it’s probably a pie in the sky but it’s fun to think about what he could do um in this situation um you know he’s I mean he is older but 6.5 sacks 17 QB hits last year and played he could so scheme versatile so position versatile absolutely play defensive tackle but he was playing true Edge for the Falcons last year like true Edge rusher at his size he can do a lot of different things played for the Ravens for a long time knows a Division I in terms of like absolute like fit and upside and just a gener type player I I think Campbell like has all of that for sure yeah it would it would be really fun and it’d be a win for the scribes because he would be a go-to guy in the locker room for sure um I’m gonna go to the interior the o line and Ohio State connection Pat elfline um oh he’s played some guard he’s played some Center I know they drafted Matt Lee they they they like him a lot but it it does it’s still we’ve talked about on past pods we were surprised they waited as long as they did and didn’t really address it didn’t sign it much in in undrafted free agency so um I I could see someone like that he’s only 29 so he’s been in the league since 2017 uh that would be a good one to to kind of boost the depth on that interior of the offensive line I liked your sharping pick but that one just seems if he isn’t here yet then then why wouldn’t he be because of the history they already have and and bringing someone in fresh like elf line could make sense no I I like it I think that makes sense as well I am going to go back to Corner for my next pick because for me I don’t know about you Jay but like when I looked at these positions I still do think corner is the position where where they if they’re going to sign one guy I think that’s the spot so I’m gonna I’m gonna go with one more early pick here at corner I’m GNA go with ad dor Jackson yeah um you know played for the Tennessee Titans and then just spent his last few years with the New York Giants um he he’s a guy you talked about McKinnon being surprisingly old adori Jackson to me was surprisingly Young 28 28 I was I was thinking Tory Jackson’s like on his last legs here and he has had injury issues he’s got a lot of a snaps under his belt but again only 28 years old I I this is a guy I think very much in the same vein as Howard where he was probably hoping he would end up with a starting role this offseason it doesn’t look like that’s necessarily happened he’s probably waiting for a team def to suffer a cornerback injury and he can find some team where he can go go out and start if that doesn’t happen by July maybe he’s in a team like the Bengals you know adori Jackson hasn’t necessarily played on a ton of good teams maybe he’s interested in coming somewhere to the Bengals where there could be an opportunity to start there could be an opportunity to get snaps in in the event of an injury and you’re playing on a good team who’s going to have a lot of Prime Time games a lot of big games you’re gonna get your name out there if you get on the field it’s gonna give a guy like adori Jackson that chance to get one one more significant contract before he turns 30 I I think he’d be a good fit here on the Bengals yep I like that one and then I’ve got one more pick I’m going to go back to running back um we’re going with older free agents I’m going to go with a pretty old running back I’m going to go with latavius Murray okay I was kind of impressed by what latavius Murray did last year for for the Buffalo Bills he I was looking at his Stats today he had a 57% rushing success rate I’m like oh that’s pretty high how how good was that go into pfr stat head one of the most valuable tools out there if if you guys don’t have stat head make sure you get a subscription among running backs with 70 attempts which you know will set that line kind of low third best rushing success rate in the League last year so latavius Murray was doing pretty well and pretty productive pretty efficient for the bills last year he is 34 years old but a guy who is a good pass blocker has shown some receiving chops in the past you’re not asking him to come in here and take 300 carries you’re asking him to be around in the event of an injury and do a little bit he’s probably not going to do special teams at his age which that could be a problem for a backup running back but I’ll put him as my next pick here just on the off chance that the Bengals want to get a little more depth in the back field yeah I I’ll stay at running back and and go Kareem hunt um he’s still only 28 been around for a while I know he’s had some off the- field issues but he knows the division he’s great in the passing game and we know how much Joe bur loves to to to hit the receivers it’s not like he’s gonna beat out Chase brown or Zack Moss but having I mean having two backs is better one having three like that is better than two and and and you do protect yourself for some injury and I I most likely he probably gets a deal somewhere else for a little more money but if if teams shy away from him a guy that knows the division would be extra motivated for those two games against Cleveland every year um I think he’s worth taking a flyer on in this in this exercise and then um ah I’m torn between a couple guys [Music] here this is great I know um it’s great podcast great podcast yeah uh I’ll stick with kind of the same thing um with quarterback that knows the division well a Kell Weatherspoon um only 29 uh played in Pittsburgh 57 career starts uh he he’s a guy that has has not been paid a lot you could probably get him on a oneye one million type of deal um and he’s got the experience if if things go sideways with the Turner in in in Dax Hill battle you know maybe he’s a guy that could step in um I didn’t look at his splits I’m not sure if he’s played in the slot a lot or not but you know if something happens with with Mike Hilton I think you automatically slide Dax Hill that’s probably his all spot you would slide him over there but then you would be looking for depth on on the outside and so um I I like that aspect of of getting a guy that knows the division well and has starting experience in the league oh I like it a lot yeah he played for the Rams last year right I think he was with with the Rams and had had a had a really good season I mean a really good rebound season i i a guy who I’m a little surprised has not found a job so far this year and I maybe that just speaks to cornerback that that teams don’t really trust quarterbacks that quarterback performance is so up and down that you get a guy like Witherspoon who does have a a pretty good breakout year with the Rams and maybe you just look and say well his entire career has been kind of up and down maybe we’ll weigh that a little more because quarterback is such a you know finicky position so I can understand that a little bit you went with two guys there Jay that that uh AFC North experience including Witherspoon who spent some time with the Steelers I’m going to go with a guy who spent the last couple years with the Steelers as well going back to the interior offensive line I’m gonna go with Mason Cole who was a full-time starting center for the Steelers for the last two years I not a world beater I’m I’m not saying that this guy’s gonna come in and beat out Ted Carris I don’t even know for sure if he’d beat out Trey Hill or or Matt Lee but it’s a guy who’s got 73 career starts under his belt knows the division like I said from these past few years almost 3 500 snaps at Center can play a little bit of guard a tiny bit a little bit of action at guard throughout his career but mostly a center I just think it’s a guy like if you’re if something happens to Ted Caris God forbid I mean you’re you’re looking at Trey Hill or Matt Lee snapping the ball to Joe burrow I just don’t know that’s what you want on a team that’s going for the Super Bowl I I’m just not sure that’s what you want in the middle of your offensive line I don’t think Mason Cole’s gonna come in here and light up the world but he’s he’s been in the NFL he’s been in this division he knows what he’s doing from a technical standpoint I I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bengals want just a little more experience depth there on the interior so I think Mason Cole kind of fits that build yeah I like that one um are I’m losing track here are we you need to pick one more interior offensive line and one defensive lineman and so I’ve got two and then you’ve got two is that how it’s work I’ve got two yep okay we’re actually yeah yeah do you have another one in this round because you should have one at the end since you had one at the beginning one at the end is it my pick right now maybe it’s my yeah it’s my pick right now it’s my pick right now all right so I’ve got to pick another I need to pick Let’s see two more defensive linemen I have not picked any defensive lineman and that makes sense because I had them all pretty low on my list because I I I for me I think this is the position where the Bengals are are probably okay I mean you spent two two picks on defensive tackles I think you’re probably okay there unless there’s an injury the Bengals are pretty solid Edge again at barring it barring un foreen injury so I think this is the spot where I’d kind of be surprised if they do add a body I’m going to go back on the familiarity route and just say Josh tupo and maybe that you know the they Bengals get to training camp and maybe McKinley Jackson just is not ready to be an NFL caliber nose tackle I mean there we know that at least according to the consensus boards that McKinley Jackson was more like a fifth or six round pick may maybe that’s the case and maybe he needs a little more development in year one if that’s so maybe the Bengals go and get a guy on Josh Tupa who they know who can play in that nose tackle position again I think it’s all the concerns you mentioned before Jay if the Bengals wanted to resign him why why didn’t they they could have but if we get to a point and we and we see how these rookies are kind of progressing and if maybe they’re not quite ready maybe the Bengals go out and say Josh tupo come in you’ll compete you’ll compete for a spot you know they can always stash him on the practice squad with a new practice squad rules so I would be interested if Josh tupo still on the radar yeah and I thought he was here I I I mean for a guy that came in as an undrafted free agent he crafted a pretty nice career um here in Cincinnati and he was he was solid he was never spectacular but he was he was solid when they counted on him um for for my next pick I’m gonna I’m G to go back to a buckeye on the offensive line and it’s it’s not about the Ohio connection it’s more about this guy’s only 25 years old he was just a third round pick a couple years ago you know I think that’s something that’s worth taking a flyer on it’s Wyatt Davis and he played for three teams last year that’s a bit of a red flag but you’re talking about bringing a guy in that is going to give you some depth on the offensive line if he doesn’t beat out a Trey Hill or any of those other guys on the interior of the offensive line that are backups yeah what’s the there’s no loss but you could get him really cheap and and possibly find something now just because he’s a third round pick doesn’t mean the Bengals had a third round grade on him but generally if if if you’re getting a day two draft pick I I just think it’s it’d be too soon to pull the plug on a guy like that a couple years into his career so why not take a flyer and then my my last one would be on the interior of the de or defensive line um I don’t know here there’s it’s tough it is defensive line free agents were pretty thin they’re they’re old and so I I’ll go with Brian Moore he’s 28 it’s just a it’s just a flyer I’m not I’m not even going to go into his credentials because it’s probably not gonna happen I’m sorry not Brian Moore Brian moan um but uh yeah it’s just I need an and he’s my eighth pick he was on the I I believe he was on the pup list last year for quite a bit because I I remember doing our pup list tracker at pfn and I had him on there just about every week so I think he’s an interesting guy I’ve got one here yeah exactly he’s due to be healthy I I’m going to go in the same lines and go for a younger guy here on the defensive line I I’ll throw out some of my other options I had here got Mike Purcell 33 years old 330 pounds true nose tackle same thinking as Josh tupo if McKinley Jackson is just not not cutting it in training camp maybe you bring a guy like that in Lawrence guy got 122 starts for the Patriot Patriots and other teams uh got like Emanuel ogba who just got released down in Miami 30 years old can play inside outside I’m going to go with a younger guy though I’m going to go with rashim green he’s played 29 career starts for Seattle Houston and Chicago uh had a career high sacks back in 20121 6.5 sacks he’s got youth on his side he’s got length on his side other than that I I don’t think there’s a ton of selling points I think it would take an injury for the Bengals to go out and get a guy on the edge but if if something happens again God forbid to Joseph osai who got hurt last year or Cam sample or any of the Bengals edges I think they could be interesting in interested in a big strong young guy like rashim green who maybe has a little ont potential but at the very least has the experience I think that they could be looking for and we will see if we hit any of these is there any other any other players you wanted to toss out there were a couple other guys on my list that I had kind of like Stephen Nelson I I brought him up a ton the cornerback I think he’d be a good fit and then a couple of the other interior line options are still a little bit intriguing to me Tyler larsson’s got 36 career starts at Center for Carolina and Washington 32 years old Conor mcover I think is interesting now there there are two Conor McGovern in the NFL both of whom play interior offensive line both of whom played in the AFC East it’s very confusing I’m talking about the one who’s a little older he’s still a free agent 91 career starts he was the jet starting center up until last year when he got a knee injury again a guy who just has been there and and we know can do it at some level I just think if the Bengals want to have a contingency plan up front in the interior I I really do think they can consider one of these guys the last one I’ll say is Greg van Ren 34 years old really good season for the Raiders last year doesn’t play center which is a problem he’s pretty much guard only um on defense the I think the one guy we kind of left out was probably the biggest name is Stefan Gilmore who is you know he’s one Defensive Player of the Year probably looking for a pretty significant contract he’s like him and cus Campbell I mean are really the only guys on this list that I think could still command significant money at this point in the year you know maybe maybe the Bengals get into training camp and say DJ Turner you’re you’re doing fine but we’re going to go out and get Stefan Gilmore who’s one Defensive Player of the Year and we’re going for the Super Bowl we’re we’re go out and give him you know $10 million in a one-year contract I think it’s like a pie in the sky absolute like dream scenario that I don’t think is gonna happen but I do think Stan Gilmore is probably the number one you know Premier free agent left on the board at this point yeah I think a guy like that’s probably just waiting out an injury waiting for a team to get desperate there was an injury in Camp and then the team comes and gets him um the one left over had that it was kind of in line with Kus Campbell it’s lynville Joseph he’s 35 170 career starts in the league you know 64 329 pound guy that could could be in the middle of the defensive line but um like you said it was slim pickings in the defense I like that he’s a guy I believe that signed with along with with the Eagles at midseason or was that last year maybe the year before but I think he’s a guy that’s he’s coming and signed even during the season so that’s that’s even like another era that we haven’t even considered you know looking farther down the road in season editions but I think this was a good exercise to kind of just go over the last bit of free agents and again it’s it’s a pretty thin crop but there are guys that they can do and we saw like a guy like Dalton Ryner who I think was on both of our lists heading into this exercise that signed with the Vikings today so teams are still making additions and trying to fortify their rosters going into the summer and maybe the Bengals will do the same and if they do we’ll we’ll come back and and see how we did on this game um Jay anything else before we sign off like you said you’ve got you you’ll be back at Bengals OTAs next week to cover one more day of of when media is allowed to be there um but other than that Jay will keep having his Bangles coverage on pf.com I will continue having our general NFL coverage anything else Jay before we sign off on this this midweek edition of The pfn Bangles pod no I’m looking forward I’m going to Logan Wilson’s softball tournament on Saturday or softball yeah I guess it’s a softball game charity game with a home run derby um lot of Bengals are going to be there supporting Lan Wilson for his his foundation his charity um that’s a lot of fun I don’t know that I’m going to write any stories off of it but depending on where they put us I I plan on uh taking video of the Home Run Derby and and seeing if Joe Bachi can can defend his crown and I I I just I love it watching these guys play a different sport because they are the Elite football players in the world and everything they do is so effortless and impressive and it’s crazy you would think it would translate and it does not if you get a chance to go you will be surprised you be like well they look just like us playing softball they throw the ball awkwardly they swing awkwardly some of them will be really impressive yes but but some of them you will be surprised I always I went to uh ju a few years ago down at at the Florence um Freedom stadium and I was I was just stunned at how awkward some of these professional athletes looked when you put them in a different sport so uh if if you’re not doing anything this weekend follow along on my Twitter hopefully I’ll have some videos of guys rushing the ball they won’t be hitting it out of the Dayton Dragons Stadium they’re going to have a makeshift fence it’s going to be much shorter than what the baseball players try to do but home run Derbies are fun whether it’s whiffle ball or whatever it is so looking forward to that on Saturday yeah that that sounds like a lot of fun we’ll see Todd Frasier won the Home Run Derby back in the day right so for the Reds so this one of the most electric moments I’ve ever been to in person and it’s so weird cuz it’s just an exhibition but cuz it was in Cincinnati I was there covering it and it was it was amazing it was one of the the just the the vibe the electricity from the home the hometown the home crowd cheering him on and then him actually pulling it off it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever covered in my career let’s hope that the Logan Wilson softball game can can live up to that we’ll see we’ll see if he gets to that level or not all right well everyone check back next week we’ll have another episode for you next week thanks so much for listening on the pfn Bengals podcast [Music] a [Music]