Will Cincinnati Bengals Add to Roster Before Training Camp?

Will Cincinnati Bengals Add to Roster Before Training Camp?

with training camp right around the corner fun fact the Bengals have the fewest roster players of any team in the NFL will they make a move let’s get into it you are locked on Bengals your daily Cincinnati Bengals podcast part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day what up Bengals fans and welcome to another episode of the locked on Bengals podcast I’m Jake lisco he is James orine we are your host of the lock on Bengals podcast part of the lock on podcast that we’re covering your team every day you can find this show on YouTube and everywhere you get your podcast if you want to be up to date on all things Bengals with the best One-Stop shop for news and Analysis you’ll find as training camp gets going in just a couple of weeks well you’re in the right place and shout out to all the every dayers and all of you out there who make us your first list and appreciate all of you who have made us part of your routine in one way or another and speaking of routine one regular episode on this podcast James is a mailbag and we are going to embark on that exercise today with some themed questions we often find that no matter when we do a mailbag we get questions that tend to Cluster around similar topics and today we’re going to start with this question of a potential veteran addition or two I opened the show James by saying that the Bengals have the fewest roster players in the NFL at 87 they’re one of five teams in the NFL to have less than 90 players on their roster and the only one at 87 so along those lines we have a couple of questions in the mailbag about depth and Acquisitions the first comes from Balman brothers who asks ranked an order of likelihood which room should we expect a veteran Edition before the end of Camp running back interior offensive line defensive tackle and corner and along those same lines Bryson meracle wants to know about running backs specifically what running backs could the Bengals potentially pursue because he thinks there’s a spot in that room waiting to be filled full disclosure this is being recorded early Thursday afternoon so if they do make a move uh we will certainly have it covered but I I give that disclaimer because I do think they’re going to make a move and it might not be the players we name but why in the world would you go to camp with 87 why wouldn’t you had the extra three I I think it makes sense I think they will and so there’s that and we are less than heck we’re so Monday will be a week away from mock turtle soup July 22nd we’re that close to to basically the start of things Camp starts two days later veterans report on the 23rd of July so we are really really close and as far as running back I I do think that that is the most likely scenario uh of them adding a veteran in in one of these spots and part of it is because they haven’t really addressed it uh you know in the draft they haven’t addressed it with young guys they yeah they brought in Zach Moss who comes in and doesn’t replace Joe Mixon but is that veteran uh that that can help stabilize that room alongside Chase Brown you you resign trayon Williams I think you know what you have there Chris Evans in the final year of his rookie deal I think that’s the the spot that you could easily see a veteran uh Jerick McKinnon someone who they reportedly had interest in last year he’s still out there H you have a guy and Leonard forette desperate to get back in the league I don’t think the Bengals would be interested but you never know uh dvin cook is someone who said he wanted to be in Camp this year and and wants to show that he still have something left in the tank would one of those guys take the minimum or around it I do wonder that the reason I don’t think it’s defensive tackle or cornerback because you could argue that those are bigger needs no doubt about but they have rookies there they have guys that they that they like at those positions they went out and they got Josh Newton who they were impressed with and I think that uh what we saw last year with DJ Ivy they’re willing to to take a day three corner and then see how they are and and see how they uh develop and and how comfortable and how quickly they can get up to speed at the NFL level and then at defensive tackle you want to play your rookies I think I I think that’s their their logic they want mckenley Jackson to be out there they want Chris Jenkins to be out there and so could they add a DT I’m sure they could I wouldn’t put that high on their priority list uh same thing with with corner I could see them adding one but I don’t think it’s as high as running back where I and maybe you disagree but I think they’re too deep in then after that it’s a bunch of question marks or we know what they are and what they are is probably not someone that can give you 10 to 15 carries a game on a weekly basis if you need it yeah when you look at where we’re comfortable with depth versus where we think they’re comfortable with depth that’s certainly a big part of this equation when we’re trying to forecast what they will do you mentioned that they’ve added in the draft at a couple of these positions they add two defensive tackles they add a corner and they move Dax Hill into the cornerback room drafted in the last couple of years second round corners they like where DJ Ivy is after a rookie year where he ended with injury but as a seventh round pick they think that there’s a player there potentially if he’s recovered well so I can totally see the argument with you know Alan George and Mike Hilton rounding out that room Jaylen Davis rounding out that room where they’re like we’re pretty happy with our depth the corner we have some guys that are Young Veterans that have been around for a few years my personal feelings are I would feel better if there was an Eli Apple level player in that room a veteran that kind of a baseline starter as a depth piece last year this move was Sydney Jones that didn’t really have the same impact that Eli Apple did where Eli Apple played a lot of games and a lot of big snaps for this team in a couple of playoff runs but they don’t really have that player right now they have a really good starter in the slot in Mike Hilton they have a good starter and cam Taylor Brit and then there’s a bunch of questions beyond that but they have so many guys that they’ve added in recent years with premium picks or midlevel picks that’s one where it’s kind of hard to see them making a move even though I might want them to make a move the defensive tackle they draft two guys with premium picks second and third round picks they of course have BJ Hills Sheldon rankins to start in that room but there’s no fifth guy that I’m very comfortable with and this is where I would personally want to make that move like my personal best case scenario is one of these Fringe roster guys steps up and forces his way onto the team and pushes or or pushes that Carter into improved play but like Travis Bell or something like winning a roster spot and surprising in a good way is one of my best case scenarios for training camp at that position like I’m looking for something else there which is why I would like them to make a move there but to your point if they feel like they’ve got a third round pick from a couple of years ago and a second and third round pick from this year are they really anxious to add a player at that spot perhaps not because they’ve invested resources there they have not invested so many resources in running back where they’ve gotten cheaper at starter quote unquote starter in Zach Moss where they have a guy who was uh drafted last year and is primed for a bigger role in Chase Brown running back certainly looks like a spot where they could add a guy but I keep coming back to the interior offensive line where I I just feel like there’s no depth to speak of at that position unless you think Trent Brown is a guy that’s gonna kick inside and I know we’ve got a question about Trent Brown potentially playing guard that we’re going to get to in a little bit here but the the depth behind the starters is some combination of Jackson Carmen Cody Ford Trey Hill Jackson Kirkland Matt Lee Nate Gilliam Deontay Smith matle doesn’t really have position Flex Trey Hill in all of his years with the team has never really earned the trust of this coaching staff they really like Cody Ford and maybe that’s the one guy that you can write in pen as a sixth lineman or seventh lineman because they drafted Marius Mims this year but I’m looking for another piece that I feel good about to back up that interior offensive line a backup center with position Flex right now that looks like Trey Hill but I’m not very confident in that and I’m not sure that they are either based on his track record with the team so that’s a spot that I would look at hard for potential acquisition as well I think a lot of people agree with you and it’s it’s good because I I have a response when it comes to guard and center but uh I will get to it and then we’ll get to more of your questions coming up next passion drive and patience the formula for winning championships is also what keeps your Rider die alive eBay Motors has everything you need to maintain your vehicle and level it up to Peak Performance from superchargers roof racks exhaust kits LED headlights and more whether you’re into speed power or style eBay Motors has you covered with over 122 million parts for your number one rid or die you’ll always find exactly what you’re looking for and with eBay guaranteed fit your part is guaranteed to fit your ride every time or your money back because with eBay Motors you’re burning rubber not cash with all the parts you need at theice you want it’s easy to make your car the MVP and bring home huge wins keep your ride or die alive at ebaymotors.com eligible items only exclusions apply eBay guaranteed fit only available to us customers tell me what you think about this interior offensive line situation I think it it ties to defensive tackle cornerback and even running back to a degree did they invest draft Capital well yeah with Matt Lee but I think they’re they’re high on Cody Ford like you mentioned they obviously use the Marius Mims and they’re use their first rounder on him and they’re really high I think on their tackle room as a whole but the other element here in the the Dark Horse and the guy that I would just keep an eye on I think they like Jackson Kirkland I think that’s a guy that could be one of those Camp guys that that shines maybe not and we’ll get into the camp stuff but I I think he’s impressed some of his teammates I think he’s someone that the Bengals think they can develop into a a quality at least quality backup lineman and so that if you if you look at it from that perspective if they are confident in Ford they like that Matt Lee is here to to push Trey Hill and potentially take Trey Hill’s job and then they like a guy like Jackson Kirkland well now we are talking about the eighth the eighth lineman or the ninth lineman and so it’s kind of it’s easier to see the vision at the same time this is the the same team that we’ve seen yeah when they’ve lost in the playoffs the offensive line has been a big reason why and whether it’s injury whether it’s depth all of those things I’m not going to debate you so if they sign someone as this Show’s going up all day I’m all fourth and I think everyone watching and listening is too I also think that they’re higher on Jackson Kirkland than some would say I I think that you’re right about Cody Ford obviously they have amarius Mims and I do wonder about the the Trent Brown scenario but we can get to that when the question comes up yeah maybe the game day eight at offensive line are the five starters or Lando Brown cell Volson Ted Caris Alex Kappa and then Trent Brown slash Marius Mims let’s just say Trent Brown for Simplicity sake and your three backups perhaps Cody Ford to back up guards and a tackle if needed he would be your four position backup Mims a tackle backup and mat Lee a center only backup that’s what makes it a little bit murkier is because last year in the last few years they’ve had backup interior linemen that are Center guard flex and this year if it is Matt Lee who ends up winning that that job instead of Trey Hill we’ll see how that shakes out Matt Lee is is very much we think Center only player and and so that’s what makes him a little bit more dicey this year I guess is is is finding those pieces to to back up multiple spots which is what this team really likes in backups but perhaps the most Salient point when you talk about well the Bengals at a a depth offensive lineman piece is this team has consistently done one thing with its offensive line which is really like their own gu guys to their own detriment and they eventually learned that lesson and they and they went out and they remade the offensive line a couple years ago after the Super Bowl but even after doing that there’s always been this kind of blind spot to one or two guys in the room or or more in in some cases where they just like their own guys that they know that do things the way they want them to be done and all this stuff and they haven’t made that extra move on offensive line have they done enough this year well we’ll find out if Trent Brown and Cody Ford are the veterans that they needed to add and retain in the last couple of years here to to have suitable depth there but you only have eight guys up and maybe those eight guys that I talked about are are something they feel comfortable with it’s just when you start to deal with injuries and you need to get the next guy up the Jackson Kirkland or the Trey Hills or the Jackson car where if they had an established veteran there we’re probably all feeling better but probably a lot of teams feel like that in the NFL yeah yeah in in I was just I’m glad you mentioned him how Wild is it that Jackson Carmen wasn’t the first Jackson mentioned yeah think like think about like I’m I’m looking at the depth chart here and I’m just like oh my gosh like so that that is a big as we do our uh training camp preview Jackson Carmen Deontay Smith those guys are really fighting for a roster spot and I you just did the game day eight and I think that’s pretty realistic and so if you’re if you’re if you’re Smith if you’re some of these guys it’s an uphill climb and we’ll see if they respond the right way yeah uh on the topic of the offensive line do you think that according to Malachi Hayes’s question here uh Trent Brown at Right Guard with am Marius Mims at right tackle is is a legitimate possibility would Alex Kappa move to left guard to try to get the best five on the field uh in the case that amarius SPS just ready to go at right tackle and Trent Brown can can play right guard do you think that’s a realistic possibility I I think if they got into a pinch Trent could certainly do that I don’t think that they view it that way I don’t think they view Mims that way either I know that was was talked about some and and I do Wonder like how how willing would they be because you could you could easily make like if what if Mims just kind of hits the ground running here and you’re like all right well we should try to get Trent Brown on the field too like that’s that’s a huge you imagine Trent Brown lining up next to Orlando Brown Jr or you so comical it’s it’s so outlandish it’s wild uh I I will say this I think of all these guys I’m pretty bullish on Kappa I think he’s gonna bounce back in a big way this year obviously we know Ted Carris is the stabilizer Orlando Brown Jr gonna bounce back as well are we sure that Cordell Volson doesn’t take another half step from what he was at the end of last year because if so and I think that’s what the Bengals are are kind of expecting then this is really a not a not a combo anyway and and I think the the thing we do have to be careful with is they they signed Trent Brown to be a tackle and we want Joe Bro to be upright and when you start playing now if Cordell comes in and he’s awful or there’s an injury things could go hey what you just never know and maybe by the way maybe Brown would be the sixth lineman where you know he’s starting but if if an injury happens at left guard or right maybe he goes in I just think that that’s pretty unlikely when’s the last time Trent Brown played guard ah I don’t know and do you want to do that with your first round or with Mims for example I I don’t I don’t know if I want to chain I mean is Mims gonna get any run it guard I I feel like I’d be surprised if we even see practice would you would you I would rather him practice at me personally would would I like even want to do that I don’t know I don’t even know it’s it’s tough because you don’t want him to like his his mind to start racing or him to start not that he would doubt himself I think he could do it it’s but it’s not about could it’s about where’s he gonna be best yeah and and you’re hoping he’s I mean you drafted him to to hopefully be your your witw worth of this generation you know I think there’s still a competition to right tackle at least in the early part of camp unless Trent Brown just comes in and is in better shape and and is just ready to go right away he missed the offseason program of course with with family health stuff going on not that I hold that against him but he’s just going to be a little bit behind where he could be if if he had been there so I think there’s still a little bit of a competition there on Cordell Volson you asked are we sure he doesn’t take another half step I I wouldn’t say we’re sure and I think that a lot of our commenters call me a cord Cordell Bolson hater and and I’m somewhat notorious among some but the the path is is still potentially there for him to be a Clint bowling player it’s still the door is still open he had three real stinkers to open the season last year which really color our perspective on cord of vol him but you mentioned how he finished the season he was much better at the end of the season than the start of the Season including a a stretch of games where he was average to good in every game and if you’re average to good more often than you’re bad then you can get to the Clint bowling career level you start getting more consistent and if he turns into Clint bowling I think we’re all pretty pleased with that outcome yeah I think he checks one he checks all the boxes you’re looking for from an intangible standpoint physically I think he’s got the the power and the strength that and all of those things it’s just the the change of Direction abilities the constant question Frank Pollock talks about it yeah the foot speed get those feet moving and so can he get it get it moving a little bit more and if so you know Cordell is someone that could be really really good so we’ll see hopefully he does take a step because it would be huge could you imagine if he took a step Orlando Brown Jr uh bounced back after the the gro last year and then Alex Kappa which I think Brown and Kappa reasonable bet reasonable to to expect this to bounce back after what they did last year it was just kind of uneven and then you have Trent Brown who should be an upgrade for this offense or if amarius Mims beats him out well then it’s a good problem to have as well is that time of year where we like to look for the best case scenario for the Bengals offensive line happens every year around this time doesn’t it isn’t it realis that like the veteran part of we talk ourselves into this every single year I’m just saying all right let’s uh I I want to respond to that and I will coming up next we do talk ourselves into it Jake we do but let’s go negative then real quick and this is going off script and not getting to ma bad questions but that’s let’s do that all I can think of right now is that that Arrested Development meme but but this time it could work it but why like Orlando Brown Jr is a a four-time pro bowler so it should work there oh yeah I’m not saying we’re wrong I’m just saying it’s funny that we talk ourselves into it every year Kappa is is a proven veteran that was good at times last year especially going into the buy he was playing his best ball I think and it just it was uneven for whatever re you know whatever reason um Trent Brown should be better in this offense than than Jonah Williams but let’s just say all right negative Trent Brown gets nicked up in Camp Mims goes out there and is just not ready yet okay well is it is it going to be much worse than than Jonah was in those those dropback situations I I don’t know I I think Mims is built for that so part of it is just the physical gifts that Mims and brown have bring me some hope combined with the the veterans like brown and Kappa who I assume are going to play at least average ball for what we expect of them which would which would be better or more consistent at least than they were last year yeah I think the issue for this offensive line as it is with many offensive lines in the NFL is consistency last year they were remarkably healthy I know that Orlando Brown was playing through injury but they got over a thousand snaps over 1,50 snaps from every single offensive lineman so if they can run that back and and have a good string of health and maybe not have to deal with playing through as many injuries and just be a little bit more consistent not have Cordo volson’s three games at the start of the year not have Orlando Browns three games in the middle of the year not have have Alex Camp was uneven this well then they’re a much better unit and and so that would obviously be a boon to this team couple more questions I want to get to here in this mailbag James the next one is from bullet Smasher who has the better chance of winning their respective Awards Jamar Chase for offensive player of the year or Joe burrow for MVP fun fact over on FanDuel Sportsbook they’ve got the odds for these Awards Joe burrow for MVP is currently in a tie with CJ Stroud who is a little bit surprising for me to see here at third in the NFL regular season MVP odds behind Patrick Mahomes at plus 500 Josh Allen at plus 800 and Stroud and burrow tied at plus 10,000 the next couple on the list just in case you’re curious Lamar Jackson plus 1400 Jordan love Plus 14400 for offensive player of the year Jamar Chase also tied for third Tyreek Hill plus 800 Christian mcaffrey plus 900 CD lamb Jamar Chase and Justin Jefferson all at plus 1,000 um I think uh that’s why Joe burrow was asked if if he feels like he’s being slept on a bit I I know CJ strout was awesome last year you put you putting strout ahead of burrow and Lamar Jackson not to be like a Ravens thing about this or Lamar Jackson about it obviously I agree with you but like didn’t Lamar just win another MVP yeah and if they’re really good this year after all their losses it’s gonna be because of Lamar yeah like like if the Bengals do everything that we think they can do right win the division win 12 plus G burrow is gonna be a big reason why like sometimes odds are weird is all I’m saying no doubt in in the injury part is baked in some for sure yeah uh the stoud one surprises me some but they’re like the and they’re really good but they’re the offseason team the offseason darling whatever I I would say this though it’s is Joe and the offensive player of the year odds is he there no they’re they’re only non- quarterbacks as far as I can see running backs and wide receivers all the way down the list oh Josh Allen actually shows up eventually so he’s first quarterback and then way down at plus 5,000 yeah backs Josh Allen Patrick Mahomes Joe burrow Anthony Richardson all at plus 5,000 Lamar all right so basically they’re they’re trating offensive player of the year which I guess makes sense as non- quarterbacks MVP and then MVP is just quarterbacks offensive but yeah yeah for sure but guess what all those offensive players would be ahead of most of the defense most of them I I would I would bet on of the two I would probably say MVP it with burrow because if if Jamar has offensive like is putting up huge numbers then Burrow’s numbers are going to be insane the Bengals are going to be really good and you you mix all that together BR is one of the biggest stars in the game so he’s got the star power too I mean it pretty pretty easy to see him being one of the MVP favorites Midway through the year or Beyond I’m also on the MVP more likely than offensive player of the year my reasoning may be a little bit different I just think that it’s harder to win offens player of the year for Jamar Chase he he’s on a team that still has t Higgins harder wow yeah I mean because of the the way the Bengals offense tends to run like he’s not gonna I mean I guess he could I shouldn’t say he he’s not going to but the the track record for these crazy huge years for cidd lamb Justin Jefferson Tyreek Hill Christian mcaffrey is there like those are the guys that are pushing 2,000 receiving yards or thousands of allpurpose yards and all these touchdowns that Christian mcaffrey racks up as offensive as an offensive player the year candidate Jamar has shown that he can do it but and part of this is is health for sure and what this team has gone through in the last couple of years including Jamar having his own injuries but those players are are more the engine of their offense I think in in some ways than Jamar is the engine of the Bengals offense not that Jamar is not an engine of the Bengals offense but as long as T is also there I think there’s there’s that big uh split production between the two of those guys I I think to a degree diminishes jamar’s chances compared to like a cedd lammer Justin Jefferson who are the entire offense for those teams Jordan Addison yeah I mean sort of is it yeah I think so I think there’s a big difference there I don’t because it’s not like T’s had a 100 Catch season or an 90 Catch season Jamar you’re expecting him to have 100 plus catches I it’s similar I mean now the Cowboys for sure they may be calling you to play receiver if Brandon Cooks gets nicked up I mean they’re they’re in in a rough spot with with CD lamb and and no one else I mean I I like Cooks but he’s he’s older he’s getting up there but um I mean look I I just think that chase this be a year where he he does much he he exceeds his rookie year production we’re talking 1500 plus yards and regardless of T because this offense should shouldn’t hold him back from the the explosive plays again we he should average 14 or 15 yards per catch again it shouldn’t be 11 or 12 it it’s got to be higher that that that volume can stay high but the the explosiveness needs to be there in the offense and I think that’s the goal and so even if he drops to 95 catches I I think the the yard should be I think it’s just hard to win offensive player of the year it is no doubt it is there were three receivers in the NFL last year over 1780 receiving yards Tyreek Hill cidd lamb a St Brown four including two those three probably won’t two of those three probably won’t hit that Mark again it’s really not it’s hard that’s why there’s only one guy that wins these Awards and the Bengals have two guys that are tied for third in their respective odds to do it last question real quick because this ties into our our last conversation Noah Klein what stat is most important for the Bengals this season not including wins and uh that this ties right into it for me it’s explosive plays on both sides of the ball and and that’s where you know if Jamar is popping off a bunch of explosive plays and isn’t forced to be this underneath weapon this year I think that is a a good barometer for this team if they have figured out how to contain the explosive play more consistently on defense and have figured out how to get back to being more explosive on offense that is a big indicator to me that this team will be going the right direction this year plays they’re Game Changer and whether it’s on defense which you would take a lot of them right maybe this is going to just be the opportunistic defense that forces a bunch of turnovers I would take that all day long on offense they have to be more explosive it can’t be every scoring Drive is 12 plays there’s got to be some two three playay some long uh runs some big runs that that’s a big key to it and then obviously getting Jamar three down field or Mike giki or t Higgins or Germaine Burton or or or you get the point so yeah they have to be more explosive I agree with you yeah finding a way to unlock the explosive play on offense more consistently than they did last year s like we did see it at all but we we need to see that more consistently in a league that by and large just wants to take away the explosive play that’s an area where I think we’re both looking for the Bengals to be better and the Bengals are also looking to be better in 2024 we’re back to five episodes a week next week James getting ready for training camp training camp previews offseason reviews all things you need to get ready for the return to football the Bengals will be back in just over a week a week and a half I guess reporting for training camp in the July 23rd July 22nd area I don’t remember the exact date so I’m being a little bit more General about it but that’s going to do it for this episode of the lock on Bengals podcast until next time thanks for listening HUD day and have a good one

The Cincinnati Bengals have three open spots on their roster ahead of training camp. Will they add pieces? Who could they target? What positions?

The guys answer those questions, plus they have a conversation about award odds for Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, and whether Trent Brown will play guard this year.

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