Draft vs. Free Agency

by M Shop on Jan 20, 2012 11:45 AM EST

Considering the quality and depth in the draft, what position would best be addressed in FA?

A Guard would open up the Bengals to drafting needed positions of DB and RB in the first round. But grabbing a high profile G in free agency is unlikely.

So what about WR? This pretty much leaves the Bengals to draft a different area of need in the later rounds as they will likely not be drafting a WR in the first two rounds anyway, so a FA wr acquisition doesn't really effect the draft. \

RB? The only RB free agent I think makes sense for the Bengals is M. Bush. Others like Rice and Forte aren't going anywhere and MB wouldn't spend the kind of money required. And even Bush is unlikely as the Raiders have an injury prone Run DMC, so they will likely try and retain Bush.

What about DB? Brandon Carr? However unlikely, grabbing a DB of Carr's caliber in free agency would break the draft wide open for the Bengals in my opinion. Now, it would be more of a "best available player" type draft opposed to a need oriented draft. There are still "needs" (Guard), but I'm pretty sure the only glaring need is in the secondary.

Interested to hear your thoughts. (This was also a post motivated by lack of new mock drafts, haha.) I already can't wait for next season. WHO DEY!

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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I like everything you just said!

Couldn’t have said it better. The better we do in free agency the more things open up in the draft. Bush would be a great fit in the offense but there have been rumblings that because of McFadden not being able to stay healthy that the Raiders may franchise him. Carr would be a nice pick up. KC may have to franchise Bowe so he may be there for the picking but I would like to drop a name like Terrel Thomas of the Giants. He tore his ACL in training camp but he is a stud,look at his numbers and because of the injury may come at a good price. I know that may be taking a chance signing him with Hall’s injury also but ACL’s aren’t that bad to come back from nowadays. Then if we draft a corner in the draft, the secondary becomes so much better. Reciever is a need but with what we have, it’s not a glaring need. The must is the guard positions and extending and keeping some of their own. I know a lot of players wont be back but they need to try and keep Sims,Collins,Lawson,Rucker,Nelson and probably Nugent.

by EPK1979 on Jan 20, 2012 12:10 PM EST reply actions

The Bengals seem more willing to drop a pile of $ in free agency for guy who aren’t on their team as opposed to keeping guys who are on theri team.

For example, they had no problem throwing millions around for L Coles, A Bryant, T Owens and A Odom.

But guys like J Jo and E Steinbach seem to leave w/o so much as an attempt to keep them around.

So with that in mind….
I can see them making a move for a $4~8 million guy in free agency…but let some of our own leave.

So if i’m trying to guess a free agent acquisition i’d guess 1 of the following:
OT (if they don’t retain Andre Smith or finally move him to RG)
DL (to replace R Geathers, and since Dunlap keeps getting hurt)
WR (a veteran to start opposite AJ, keeping Shipley in the slot)
DB (this is a major need and has to be addressed somewhere)

It won’t be a Guard, as the Bengals don’t put much emphasis on the interior of the O-Line

It won’t be a high profile RB. Since Marvin came, they’ve been taking RB’s later and later (Perry in round 1, then Irons in round 2, then guys like Vakapuna, Scott & Finley in rounds 6 and 7). So i get the impression they don’t put much value in a top-end RB….unlike when Mike Brown ran the show and they seemed to draft a RB every year.

by ephram on Jan 20, 2012 12:59 PM EST reply actions

Addressing a Guard through FA makes sense.

I would rather draft a RB then sign a FA, mainly because its less wear and tear and probably will be cheaper. Possibly much cheaper. As for CB, the draft is fairly deep in CBs, and we should get one in the 1st round. I don’t like the idea of using a 1st rd pick on a RB though, I would rather see us get an OG via FA and pickup a CB and Saftey via Rd.

by redrifle14 on Jan 21, 2012 8:59 AM EST reply actions

Safety and CB via Rd. 1..... Sorry.

by redrifle14 on Jan 21, 2012 9:00 AM EST up reply actions

RB in the draft is the best way to go.

FA RB’s are usually damaged goods. You don’t see guys like Rice, Peterson, and Johnson switching teams it just doesn’t happen. I don’t remember a FA RB ever making a big splash on a new team. They are usually let go for a reason. With the game going more towards the pass it’s still very important to have a good RB and that’s what we need to help Dalton. With RB’s self life not being as long as a lot of other positions your going to see alot more RB’s come out of college earlier than they have in the past. Usually RB’s get drafted, perform good enough to warrant a big contract but when that time comes their already on the backside of their career so they get low balled. This year the majority of underclassmen are RB’s so theirs alot to choose from. Hopefully they don’t address that position in FA.

by Bigcatdaddy on Jan 21, 2012 4:16 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

I would rather us get a G or DB in FA as well........

but we seem to love spending $ on skill position players, especially WR. I see us signing a guy like Meachem.

"The next person you see that throws something, point em out! You don’t live in Cleveland, you live in Cincinnati!"
- Sam Wyche

by The Van Buren Boys on Jan 21, 2012 10:27 AM EST reply actions

If you can't be swayed then there is no use continuing this discussion

I will say however, Josh enforces the rules of this site. I, personally, leave that to him.

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

by JUNGLEJOHN on Jan 25, 2012 8:50 AM EST reply actions

Wow

Gotta say, I’ve seen some back and forth before, but that was just annoying. Every time I see a new post on my article I scrolled down to find the two of you bickering….again….and again. I know it wasn’t the most interesting article in the world, but c’mon…let’s move on. what do you say?

by M Shop on Jan 25, 2012 9:50 AM EST reply actions