“I don’t want to pay more money for the same team”

[J24]

(08-06-2025, 06:42 PM)ochocincos Wrote: If this FO had a history of hitting on defense and OL draft picks who could contribute well early, I think we'd have more confidence in the likes of Fairchild, Stewart, Knight, and Jenkins and Jackson from last year to be good contributors this year.
I think these draft picks can become decent starters or role players, but how long will it take them is my worry.

Lucas Patrick was not a well-known OL on the FA market (I even said WHO?!?!), and RG might be his worst position out of the 3 IOL spots, so we'll see on that.
Might be better than 2024 Cappa, but it's really hard not to be. Is better than 2024 Cappa really the bar though to get to and win a Super Bowl? That's my concern.
Same thing with Fairchild over Volson.

Slaton is an upgrade in the run game for sure, but not pass rush.

Battle and Chase are upgrades over 2024 Moss and Bell, but for Battle, is he good enough to be at least middle of the pack SS in the league?

Out of the adds, the really only one I would is a clear upgrade is Fant.
Dude was a first rounder and has had consistently good production in the NFL since coming into the league.
He is a well-rounded TE and not just a pass catcher, but I think he's more of the Erick All replacement than Sample.
Sample will still have a role as a blocker.

When you draft  Jackson Carmen , Dante Smith,  Trey Hill, and Cordell Volson over Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, and Zach Tom. Then yeah you have to question the FO ability to draft OL outside of the first RD.( the last time they drafted an actual good player on the line outside of the first RD was Clint Boling in 2011 4th RD).

(08-06-2025, 07:42 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: How will this team be good enough for a AFC Championship game? Hard to imagine the Super Bowl.
1. Burrow/Chase/Higgins have to all have great years
2. The DL. Slaton has to stop the run. Feel good about that. We will be better there. Somebody else has to emerge as a force. Whether it’s Shemar or whoever.
3. OL Brown and Mims need to stay healthy. Dylan has to be better than Volson. RG is scary
4. Chase Brown…. He’s not Saquan Barkley but he needs to make his name known in the NFL. The NFL needs to know he’s our star running back. Not a number.
5. The secondary. They need to play much better

I see this team making it to the AFC semi finals. I just don’t think we are better than KC, Balt,or the Bills. But in that group of 4.

Yep!

(08-06-2025, 08:30 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Oh I'm right there with you, possibly even more pessimistic.
I don't think this team is really better than last year, and they were maybe a 11-12 win team if they hadn't started so slow.
This team did not address pass rush and pass blocking like I felt they needed to to be able to compete with the pass-heavy juggernauts like KC and BUF.
As much as doing better against the rushing teams in the AFC North might help them get into the playoffs, those teams aren't getting to the Super Bowl. It's the teams with good passing QBs.
I guess getting to the playoffs is a bit better than just barely missing like the past two years, but if they can't get to AFCCG or Super Bowl, it's still a disappointment in my eyes.

to your point about pass rush and IOL.

In the last 6 Superbowls(19-24) each team that participated in the game the average 3T had 61 pressures in the regular season according to PFF. The Bengals DTs last season had 60 total.
So you need an interior pass rush and guys that can block the interior pass rush to reach the Superbowl.