Bengals super duper mega free agency signing thread

[Kingspoint]

Nine teams, including the Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals, Green By Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins, traveled to Sacramento to watch massive offensive tackle Lars Hanson work out.

Hanson's testing numbers included measuring 6067, 310 pounds, completing 28 reps on the bench and posting 5.2 seconds in the 40. The belief is Hanson will be destined for a practice squad this fall.

Read more at 2016 NFL Pro Day Results: WalterFootball.com

 

[Kingspoint]

To repeat about MSU...

Mississippi State

About 20 teams were on hand for the Bulldogs' workout, including Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther.

Receiver Da'Runnya Wilson improved his 40 time from the Combine, timing between 4.71 and 4.78. He caught the ball well in drills and completed 13 reps on the bench. Wilson met with the San Francisco 49ers today.

Linebacker Beniquez Brown, who met with the 49ers yesterday, had a very good pro-day workout. Brown ran one 40, timing between 4.62 to 4.67 after weighing in at 236 pounds, seven more than his Combine weight. I'm told he looked outstanding in position drills and moved better than some of the defensive backs on hand. Take note - Brown met with the Dolphins during the day.

I'm told defensive tackle Chris Jones had an outstanding positional workout and was described as "looking like a first-rounder."

Underrated corner Taveze Calhoun also stood out in position work. Teammate Will Redmond, who is still recovering from the ACL injury which sidelined him the second half of the season, was on the sidelines.

Read more at 2016 NFL Pro Day Results: WalterFootball.com

 

[Kingspoint]

Also to repeat...

Tulsa

The New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals (who sent their receivers coach) were just a few of the teams on hand to watch receiver Keyarris Garrett work out. Garrett measured slightly under 6-3 1/2 and 221 pounds, then tested in the vertical jump, where he improved to 38 inches (36.5 inches at combine).

Position work is still going on, but there's a definite buzz building around Garrett, who entered the season graded as a street free agent. Consider this: After a record-breaking senior season (96 recptions, 1,588 yards, 8 TDs) Garrett ran 4.53s in the 40 at the combine, quelling concerns about his speed. He then had a terrific positional workout. Scouts also love the fact the big-bodied receiver comes with 34 inch arms.

Garrett already has visits set up with the Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers.

Read more at 2016 NFL Pro Day Results: WalterFootball.com

 

[Kingspoint]

Nice to see Dansby in for a visit. I hope the Bengals don't undervalue him.

 

[cincygrad]

Nice to see Dansby in for a visit. I hope the Bengals don't undervalue him.

 

[Kingspoint]

One smart thing about bringing in guys like Travis Mays and Brandon Thompson is that they are stashing players who can be added mid-season who already know the system and they won't count against the roster (Mays and Burfict because of suspension and Thompson because he'll be on the PUP). These long seasons guarantee that we'll have injuries and if we aready have players to step in and fill these spots, it makes us that more capable of handling the grind of a long season. The Bengals never used to think this far ahead, as they would continually have a crappy backup QB and an injury to our Sfarter would have derailed the season. Lately, our backup QB's have been much better.

It just goes into one more type of philosophical change that I see from the Bengals. The same thing went into the Ogbuehi pick. They knew when they drafted him that he'd begin on the PUP, and it bought them another roster spot at the beginning of the season.

 

[cincygrad]

I didn't understand the Brandon Thompson deal.... Seems like they were just being really fair to him. They're basically giving him a guaranteed salary (probably at minimum) to go on PUP and maybe not play at all next season. And then he STILL has the opportunity to be a healthy UFA next offseason. Maybe they've made some handshake deals, but it seems like we're being overly fair to his situation.

Taylor Mays..... Not sure what he buys us. I get that we're signing him on a minimum dollar deal and he knows the system. But aside from ST he never did much here anyway. I wouldn't be surprised to see him cut in training camp if they find enough good linebackers in the draft/FA. In fact, if they sign Dansby, he might be gone tomorrow.

 

[Cincyfan78]

From what I said, they expect Thompson to be ready this year, at some point.

 

[Kingspoint]

I didn't understand the Brandon Thompson deal.... Seems like they were just being really fair to him. They're basically giving him a guaranteed salary (probably at minimum) to go on PUP and maybe not play at all next season. And then he STILL has the opportunity to be a healthy UFA next offseason. Maybe they've made some handshake deals, but it seems like we're being overly fair to his situation.

Very accurate. But, should he rehab sooner, and rehab well, we have a huge leg up on retaining his services having treated him well. Any NT doesn't get truly strong enough to handle the position until he's 27, so we'll have an opportunity to get three years of quality DT play on his nex contract, where Peko's money will be available.

 

[Kingspoint]

Hobs states Saturday that the order of business this week will be to continue to negotiate with LaFell and Dansby. Sounds about right.

If we could lure Dansby here, I'd be tickled pink. Here's a guy who still plays at a top level, regardless of his age, and he knows the AFC North and the rest of the AFC very well.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Dansby would be a big fit here, especially in pass sets. He would immediately team up with Burfict and/or V.Rey.

Not to mention the depth would take an amazing turn for the better. Burfict, V.Rey, Dansby, RayM not a bad first 4.

 

[Be Weary of Query]

 

[Kingspoint]

From Rotoworld with Rotoworld comments:

Dansby's play slipped in 2015, but he's still a quality starter. He graded out as Pro Football Focus' No. 3 inside linebacker in coverage and is a known playmaker.

 

[Kingspoint]

Dansby will be going from being a highly productive ILB in a 3-4 at Cleveland and at Arizona to a 4-3 SLB (MLB while Burfict is out before he swings over to SLB). It's much easier to play the 4-3, as the assignments aren't as diverse and you don't have to fight off as many blocks. He's instantly the team's best coverage Linebacker, an are on the team that is easy to exploit. Not now.

 

[Cincyfan78]

So, with the report that Lafell is signing, this would appear to end the F/A period for the Bengals.

Honestly, a pretty damned good off-season all things considered.

Key players Kept: A.Jones, Iloka, V.Rey

Key player lost: M.Jones

signed: Dansby and LaFell.

With all the hubris surrounding this F/A period before it all began about how many good players this team would lose, the fact that they only lost one real impact guy in M. Jones, and was able to sign Iloka, Jones and V. Rey and then add Dansby and LaFell is probably more than anyone could have realistically expected.

 

[Kingspoint]

Agree completely. A+ grade for them, and I like the Mays and Thompson signings, too, for the reasons I already stated (duplicated in Hobs' opinions from his mailbag responses on Monday).

They still have flexibility should they feel like working on any midseason extensions (Gio, for example), or see another opportunity present itself (a cut Veteran that fits into need and cost).

Otherwise, the rest of the roster additions will be the seven draft picks and 7-10 Undrafted Free Agents.

(It would be foolish to trade away McCarron, as difficult as it is to find a half-way decent QB prospect.)

So, on to the draft.

They have put together a 12-win team, +/- 1. Even if Dalton went down, this is still a 10-win team and would still be the Division favorites. Vegas' over/under will probably be 10-10.5, as Zampese remains a question mark. Take the over.

They have never been in a better position to go BPA in this draft, though there are some plain needs of C, CB, WR, NT, SS and MLB, in that order.

 

[Kingspoint]

Going into the Mays, LaFell and Dansby contracts, the Bengals reportedly had $14M+ left in cap money. I mentioned Gio, but, Eifert and Zeitler are also up for contract extentions this year. So, there's no money left except for maybe a Veteran minimum. Not knowing the LaFell, Dansby and Mays numbers, but I'd guess a Veteran Minimum for Mays, $4.0-4.5M for Dansby and $1.5M for LaFell counting against this year's cap.

 

[cincygrad]

So, with the report that Lafell is signing, this would appear to end the F/A period for the Bengals.

Honestly, a pretty damned good off-season all things considered.

Key players Kept: A.Jones, Iloka, V.Rey

Key player lost: M.Jones

signed: Dansby and LaFell.

With all the hubris surrounding this F/A period before it all began about how many good players this team would lose, the fact that they only lost one real impact guy in M. Jones, and was able to sign Iloka, Jones and V. Rey and then add Dansby and LaFell is probably more than anyone could have realistically expected.

If you would have offered this to me several weeks ago, I would have gladly accepted. I expected us to be aggressive with our own players and we were. I expected that we'd lose a starter or two and we did. I didn't expect us to sign to veterans from the outside and I'm pleasantly surprised that our defense is looking so good.

 

[cincygrad]

BTW -- It's still not out of the question for us to get Nelson back on a cheap deal.

 

[Kingspoint]

BTW -- It's still not out of the question for us to get Nelson back on a cheap deal.

A cherry on top.

A red bow to wrap it up.