Cornerback conundrum, Draft, & Free Agency

by biggie22 on Dec 30, 2011 1:44 AM EST

Here's my problem, I'm not a huge fan of any of the top corners in the upcoming draft, except for Clairborne and he's sure to be gone by the time we pick. This means we must make resigning Adam Jones a huge priority and we need to do it sooner rather than later. IMO, Clairborne is the only top projected cb (maybe Janoris Jenkins but I'd really like to get away from the bad character guys) who has the potential and speed to be a #1 shutdown guy in the NFL (don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the other guys won't be good, I just don't see them being shutdown #1 CBs), and that's what we need because we already have Leon Hall (assuming he comes back healthy) and Nate Clements who are both excellent #2 CB's but not really #1 type guys.

My ideal offseason would have us resigning all of our own, excluding Geathers (too expensive) Ced (need an upgrade), Kelly Jennings (just sucks), Caldwell (too inconsistent), Tate (can easily be upgraded as well as opening up another roster spot for us) , Livings (another position that can be and should be upgraded).

Free agent targets

OG - Carl Nicks or Benn Grubbs ( I would break the bank to land either one of them)

WR - Pierre Garcon, Robert Meachum, or Reggie Wayne (only if he would come at a reasonable price because of his age). I'd prefer we pick up another veteran WR in FA, because most of the time it take WR's (not named AJ Green) a year or 2 to develop and adjust to the NFL.

CB - Carlos Rogers - He's pretty old, but I'd offer him real good money for a 2 year deal like we did with Nate last year. This would give us the ability to have Pacman, Rogers, Clements and Hall @ CB next year, it would also allow us to have a securtity blanket to find out how Leon can come back from his injury. If we have him signed for two years we can draft a project CB in a later round who has all the tools to be a #1 but needs a little time to be developed, (ie Josh Robinson CF or Asa Jackson Cal Poly) and it would also allow us time to target another top notch shutdown CB in the 2013 draft (LSU alone has some young stellar DB's who are not coming out this year).

I know there are also some pretty good FA runningbacks, but IMO RB's do not have the shelf life where I could justify spending top flight money on a free agent, therfore I would just target a RB in the top 3 rounds of draft to fill that need.

My draft targets

#1 Guard - David Decastro

#1 Safety - Markell Martin or Mark Barron

#2 RB - Chris Polk

If Richardson falls to us, I would take him #1 and Osemeli in round 2

Lastly, I like Keith Rivers and think LB depth is very important. Now having said that, if signing our own (who actually played this year) or landing any one of the free agents ( I've listed above) requires us to release him to free up extra money, I would be all for it. For example; if we resign Manny Lawson for half the money we are paying Rivers we could take that extra money and put it towards landing a Nicks or Grubbs. Whatever we decide to do, thanks to Raiders taking Carson off the books and giving us extra draft picks we should be in prime position to make some aggressive moves during FA and in the draft this year as well as next year.

The future is definitely looking bright for the Bengals!!!

WhoDey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!And lets kick some Ravens A$$ this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Cincy Jungle's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Cincy Jungle's writers or editors.

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Comments

You are wrong about the corners in my opinion

Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick is a stud corner who is long (6’3) and can run with best of them. I think he is just a notch below Claiborne. I would love to pick up Grubbs or Hicks but they will never hit the open market. Guard is a big hole for us and hopefully the Bengals spend one of their first rd picks on one.

If there is no corner that the team likes they should look at WR, with a guy like Michael Floyd from Notre Dame who is 6’3, 225 and can block his ass off. Finding a WR to go along with AJ Green has to be a priority this offseason.

Kenneth Lewis Moore

by lightskin350 on Dec 30, 2011 3:48 AM EST reply actions

Nicks maybe available but he will not be cheap

Saints still have to resign Breese, Colston, Meachum, and Nicks. Last year they just gave there other guard a huge contract (highest paid interrior lineman in the league), therefore they may have some difficulty signing all these guys this year and b/c of the cost Nicks maybe available

by biggie22 on Dec 30, 2011 10:23 AM EST up reply actions

Loomis is a bit of an evil genius and comes from a cap-management background. If there’s ANY way for him to structure a deal to keep Nicks, he will. Drew needs him and I think Nicks likes where he is and will want to stay as long as he gets reasonable money.

But I suspect Colston and Meachem will be available. And see below for my take on which would be better for us to grab.

by FriarBob on Dec 30, 2011 11:35 AM EST up reply actions

They still have to pay Breese and he's going to demand BIG MONEY

Even with great cap management skills it’s going to be tough to sign all of them, plus Nicks knows how much they paid there other guard and I’m sure he will be looking for similiar money from the Saints and I don’t know if they will be able to manage that

by biggie22 on Dec 30, 2011 12:26 PM EST up reply actions

Even if they don't re-sign Nicks he'll be too expensive.......

Mikey isn’t going to pay LT money for a G. I still like Grubbs from the Rat-birds. Cheaper (albeit still not cheap) and weaken their O line.

by The Van Buren Boys on Dec 30, 2011 3:15 PM EST up reply actions

Agree on CB Xavier Rhodes would be nice in 2013 draft

I don’t think Decastro will fall to us, one option would be to trade up with our two firsts to someone like Seattle who will have their pick about 12-16 get Decastro and their 2nd round picks, giving us 2 2nd rounders Casey Hayward CB, Chris Polk RB

by messjunk on Dec 30, 2011 6:21 AM EST reply actions

No Polk

Looks like a 22 year old Cedric Benson.

"Pawtucket Patriot Beer. If you drink it, hot women will have sex in your backyard."

by Evil Monkey on Dec 30, 2011 11:47 AM EST up reply actions

M. Ball.........will maybe slip to 3rd-4th round. NFL ready and can actually pass block.

by The Van Buren Boys on Dec 30, 2011 3:12 PM EST up reply actions

Montee Ball is my first choice for drafting a RB

If Richardson isn’t still on the board for our first pick. I’d think we could get him in the third round.

by Luke on Dec 31, 2011 10:46 AM EST up reply actions

Couldn't agree more........

would be great value there. Possibly second best RB in the draft in 3rd-4th round. Would be a steal there.

by The Van Buren Boys on Dec 31, 2011 1:31 PM EST up reply actions

Geathers isn't a free agent in 2012

by bengaljohnboy on Dec 30, 2011 8:05 AM EST reply actions

Guard and Corner have to be the first two picks, but...

what if a stud DE is available? I know our front seven is strong, but Dunlap just can’t seem to stay healthy and when he’s out there the Bengals ability to pass rush significantly drops. Just throwing this out there. I still think Guard and Corner are a must. There is no depth at the corner position and Hall will be a myster until the season starts. Clements is also getting up there in age (but has been pretty solid this year), so drafting a corner that can develop under him would probably be a good idea.

by M Shop on Dec 30, 2011 8:41 AM EST reply actions

when he's "out" not "out there"

by M Shop on Dec 30, 2011 8:41 AM EST up reply actions

If Mikey would be willing to pay

We’d do far better targeting Marques Colston over Meachem. Dude is one TOUGH sucker, who would be a GREAT addition to pair with AJ. He’s quite capable of being a possession receiver, but also is a wily vet who can get open and go over the middle and all sorts of other useful things as well. He’s probably not a primary deep threat, but AJ is already more than capable of that role and whomever sticks from the current crop of Tate/Simpson/Caldwell are also at least semi-adequate deep threats as well.

Problem here is that Colston is looking for big money. And while he deserves it, Mikey may not be willing to pay enough.

by FriarBob on Dec 30, 2011 11:32 AM EST reply actions

I like Colsten Skill set

But apparently the word is that he has bad knees and he can’t consistently stay healthy, therefore I’d rather stick with the ones I’ve listed for a cheaper price tag

by biggie22 on Dec 30, 2011 12:22 PM EST up reply actions

Snicker. Saints must be trying to put out bad rumors to avoid losing him. Not that I blame them. Hell I don’t really want them to lose him either, I’m just willing to admit they might.

He’s had knee surgery, it’s true. But the guy came back from a broken collarbone in three weeks.

by FriarBob on Dec 30, 2011 12:52 PM EST up reply actions

A big time Safety is more imprtamt than a CB IMO. It would make the CB job much easier.

Crocker is not the guy.

"If we always agree, one of us is not necessary"

by JUNGLEJOHN on Dec 30, 2011 10:22 PM EST reply actions

+1

by WHYUS!! on Dec 31, 2011 9:06 AM EST up reply actions

Mays is though...

There are 5 Safety’s on the roster now. Crocker is getting old and Wilson, cut at least one of them. Drafting a safety is not that big of a priority at least not early. Nelson and Mays will prove useful!!!

"Men often become what they believe themselves to be. If I believe I cannot do something, it makes me incapable of doing it. But when I believe I can, I then acquire the ability to do it even if I didn't have it in the beginning."

by Dwight Carter on Dec 31, 2011 12:52 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed.

I think Mays can be the guy… he definitely has all the tools and Zimmer and co have shown that they can make players work where other organizations/coaches have failed. Just look at what they have done with Reggie Nelson… I think Mays can develop given a full offseason and can be a VERY solid safety. He already has done pretty decently this year. And don’t forget we have Sands developing as a project also.

by Luke on Dec 31, 2011 1:31 PM EST up reply actions

Everyone on here seems to gloss our safety position deficiency for some reason

I think it’s b/c we all love Nelson and for the most part played great but still can be inconsistent at times. Crocker however is a different story and so far Mays has not even been able to get on the field (although I’d love to see it). Even with Leon out and JJoe gone our safety position has been the defenses biggest liabilty thisyear. Or safeties have given up more big plays and hurt us more than even our CB position, depite having to play Kelly Jennings (who sucks). Crocker has given up a ton of huge plays and even Nelson has given up a few. If we have an opportunity to significantly upgrade the position, I’d be all for it. Just look back @ the games, the safety play has hurt us more than anyone seems willing to admit and most certainly more than any other defensive position on the field

by biggie22 on Dec 31, 2011 2:48 PM EST up reply actions

biggie, you spoke to my point exactly.

This is especially true in AFCN play. Reed and Troy are big time player and we have had nobody to counter them. We need a stud Safety. If Nelson is the guys who can step up I am all for it. If Mays can do it – cool. But I do not see the level of Safety play we need to get to the next level. I don’t care if they are already here or if we need to go get one, but Mays and Nelson have not shown me anything. Crocker has. He has shown me that it is time for him to go.

Today may be a good example. The weather conditions very well could cause the game to be a run oriented one with a lot of short passes in the 10-15 yard range. They have Rice. We do not have a Rice. This situation plays into the Ravens strength and our weakness.

"If we always agree, one of us is not necessary"

by JUNGLEJOHN on Jan 1, 2012 11:53 AM EST up reply actions

BUT Leonard is back today...

We need to use him a LOT more today than he is usually used. He can do the running and can catch well out of the backfield (better than other RBs). Also would like to see Peerman get some carries.

by Luke on Jan 1, 2012 12:28 PM EST up reply actions