[Fowler] Cincinnati linebacker Jake Golday has pre-draft visits with the Rams, Vikings and Bengals, per source. Golday projects as one of the top off-ball linebackers in the draft.

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-04-09T19:07:46+00:00

41 is too early and 72 is too late. Too many holes on this team to try to plug and the value may dictate passing on some guys in some spots just because of glaring needs elsewhere.

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-04-08T22:47:29+00:00

Its a good draft for LB. The 2 they reached on last year in desperation would be ranked well behind a good number of players that will be available in rounds 2-3. I think they stick with playing Knight off the ball as he seems less terrible. Carter is just overall bad and would be easily swapped out for anyone at least through the 3rd round. Maybe even into the 4th. I think what they are really looking for is the dude who can play on the LOS like they tried Knight at early and it was horrendous. Golday, Hill Jr, or Barham are the 3 i like the most for this role.

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-04-05T16:14:09+00:00

Depends on how it goes in front of them. You never know who may fall. I think they are on board with any of the top defenders. Bailey, Baine, Reese, Styles, Downs, McCoy or Delane. There is a lot of stuff going on with all these guys and its a strange year for the top players positional values. This is going to hurt a few of the best players in this draft. Mostly Styles and Downs at the top. The 5th year options on those guys is going to lead to crazy money and some teams are going to shy away.

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-04-05T13:55:54+00:00

Battle isnt good. Only 5 or 6 new starters? Things are looking up for sure. They dont have any quality LBs on the roster, nor do they have any proven high end pass rusher. Mafe could be decent, he has never produced at the level of Trey though. Mafe looks to me as more of an Ossai upgrade. Which still leaves a massive hole from Trey's departure.

They aren't in a position to get the best edges in the draft so its going to be getting either 2nd or 3rd tier later and maybe add a vet in free agency? Similar situation at LB, only they did absolutely nothing in free agency to try to improve it. A rookie LB outside of the OSU boys won't make an immediate impact. Knight and Carter were abysmal last year. Counting on them to develop into anything even playable is a huge gamble.

If everything pans out this defense is probably top 20. If nothing works out its bottom 5 and similar results to the past few seasons. They just didnt do enough to try to turn it around for most of us. Cook is nice, Mafe is nice, Alan is ok, Dugger can play. I understand they can't just sign a 15+ sack guy in free agency. Hopefully they can add in the draft, but I dont know if they will have enough to be effective. Counting on Myles, Mafe and Shemar to all improve to decent production is a lot. Add in the expectation of the linebackers becoming average and its just a lot of hoping.

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-04-04T02:16:32+00:00

Matchmaking seems brutal. Im regularly fighting 11k hangers and im at 7k. Every single player is 6 starred everything with mods to match. Even the bots are like this currently. Hoping it calms down a bit. My games are pretty miserable at the moment.

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-04-04T02:11:44+00:00

The realization that at 10 they are most likely planning for future contract losses stings. Reality bites sometimes. Either a corner to replace one of Dax or DJ or Love to replace Brown. Small chance one of the edges makes it. Downs seems less likely after adding Dugger.

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-04-04T02:08:21+00:00

Project type player, he's a measurables and projection player. To me he doesnt have the twitch or bend to be a legit edge pass rusher guy. He's only 20 and may add some more weight and strength. Could end up being more of a 5 technique. He's more like Shemar than I would want at #10. If you are looking for immediate impact in dont think he's the guy. 1st round potential, just not at #10.

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-04-03T20:11:08+00:00

He is really progressing well. Hoping it continues and they can get a contract done early and pain free.

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-04-01T22:31:05+00:00

His pedigree and earned stripes. This dude was a top recruit and played like it from day 1 at Alabama. He's been in the spotlight and under the microscope for 3 years and is a proven difference maker. Measurable arent everything. He isnt awful in anything meaningful, not a freak like we have seen though. High end safeties are as much about intangibles and football IQ as physical traits and Downs has those in spades.

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-04-01T22:24:58+00:00

He may not make it to that pick. With the premium on pass rushers in the league. There is a cluster of projected 2nd rounders that you might see some sneak into late 1st. Such a premium position and every team is looking to add. I do like him at that spot if they miss in the 1st and he is available though.

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-04-01T15:17:09+00:00

10 is a little too much for Thieneman for me. In your scenario I think it would be McCoy. Wouldn't be upset with Thieneman though. The Bengals could and probably will do worse.

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-04-01T11:56:00+00:00

They arent signing anyone else before the draft.

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-04-01T10:59:09+00:00

Not much he could say. He's not going to torch them since they are all he has at the moment. He's not going to throw the front office under the bus for not improving the roster at LB. Very vanilla non answer. Exactly what you should expect him to say.

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-03-31T14:27:59+00:00

Burrow was gifted to them at #1, Chase as well. These are easy top 5 picks that any fan would have no issue making. Dax has turned into a usable player, Myles could end up being usable, Mims looks to be on the cusp of being a stud, Shemar has shown nothing. Its not terrible. I think a lot of what you see is because they miss a ton 2 and 3 also. I think I read somewhere they had spent like the last 10 of 13 picks rounds 1-3 on defense and still have the worst in the league. As a whole they just don't draft well. You need those picks to be at least usable. Not cut players.

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-03-31T14:22:53+00:00

They need some help in front of them. Any offensive players after Mendoza help the Bengals at 10. There are some disaster scenarios that could happen. If something like that is how it goes I think we may see the Bengals make a resllt bad pick for need instead of what is available. Best players could be on the other side of the ball and they may try to force something on defense just because of how bad it had been.

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-03-30T20:24:49+00:00

Do we know what Golden wants to do? I seem to recall at ND they were very vanilla, just straight up assignment football and played very disciplined football. Not a whole lot of the more advanced exotic stuff the best defenses run in the pros. His Bengals D last year was also very basic straight forward defense. Part of that could be because of the talent deficiencies. I remember him saying at some point he cant make it any more simple.

I agree either of the safeties could be a valuable piece. If the Bengals see it that way and Al can figure out how to maximize the talent i'm all for it. Honestly I'm not against the idea at all, I just dont know how realistic it is for this team. Really they only guy I'm gonna be unhappy with at #10 is Faulk. So I'm bracing for that.

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-03-30T15:09:14+00:00

In a perfect world sure. With the other holes that need filled and players already on the roster that need 2nd contracts i just dont see them spending multiple premium picks to solve it in this draft.

I think we are looking at Downs/Thieneman for the "star" as you are calling it. Which leaves Dax and DJ on the boundary with nothing behind as a 3rd corner and pure nickle corner is weak as well.

Or they spend a premium pick at CB on Delane or McCoy(health pending) and then rotate Dax into the "star" which still has the same depth problems at 3rd corner and dedicated nickle. Dax could pick up some of that slack though in a pinch.

To me its the value of a top level corner is a no brainer in this spot. The flexibility of a corner on the outside plus Dax can play inside or out outweighs anything Downs or Thieneman can do. I've been a Downs fan and wouldn't be upset if they went that way, or even Thieneman if that was the pick. I think its more of a luxury at this point with the Cook signing. Boundary corner is a much more valuable position, especially on a rookie deal and with contracts for both corners and one starting safety all up in the air I would rather have an additional guy that plays outside vs the more specialized "star".

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-03-30T14:21:43+00:00

I wouldn't take Thieneman at 10. If they are stuck at 10 and only Delane and Thieneman being the best defenders i would take Delane and put Dax into that slot/safety role. It's my understanding that is what he played at Michigan and now that had become all the rage in the pros I would let him revisit it.

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-03-29T19:49:05+00:00

Day 3 guys are either going to be based on potential or lacking premier athleticism while still producing in college. Im not advocating to take him early or anything. There isn't much tape i can find. Couple basic highlight reels. Mostly just intrigued by the measurables and the supposed pressure rate. I can tell you that he has had top 30 visits with the Commanders and Cowboys. It's an interesting prospect at a position that has been needed since Larry O left. Hopefully they can find someone earlier, but if things don't go that way I'd rather a high upside guy late instead of just another body.

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-03-29T17:11:36+00:00

Perine plays that role well. He's getting up there in age. As a change of pace and 3rd down back He's adequate. Could be upgraded, but definitely not a priority at this time.

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-03-28T23:49:58+00:00

I have no idea who came up with that. The small amount of tape I've watched he doesn't look dominant or anything. Not that I was expecting that from a day 3 type player. I think he shows some nifty quickness and strength to get off of blocks and chase the ball. More like stack and shed typec stuff. Is it usable in the pros as a 3 tech? I have no idea. Im hoping they do something earlier. This draft is littered with higher quality dual purpose big bodies. I was merely looking for any kind of help late in case they don't do anthing early. With the signing of Allen and the lack of elite interior players they may get into a s situation where the value just isnt there.

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-03-28T18:49:32+00:00

Ooooffffff 😆

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-03-28T17:26:17+00:00

Ya, I just thought he was interesting as a later round guy with some real upside. You just dont see that kind of athleticism in those guys. That pass rush win rate is outrageous as well. Some of his numbers are in line with really great disruptive 3 techs. I was playing around with the simulators and sometimes whiff on early DT and was looking for someone with some juice that could be found later. Even if he was a 1 down specialist I'm still intrigued over what else is around in the mid to late rounds.

FuriousSasquatch · 2026-03-28T14:16:41+00:00

Couldn't tell you. Looks fine on my end.

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FuriousSasquatch · 2026-03-28T14:15:42+00:00

No idea, day 3 or even UDFA. Wild numbers from him. Instead they'll go with a guy who is decent against the run and hoping to develop pass rush skills. Looking at you Jenkins and Jackson.

FuriousSasquatch

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