Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Bengals Must Avoid COMPLACENCY On Offense - Find Ways To Improve!

Episode Date: January 26, 2026

The Bengals may feel like their offensive starters are mostly in place for 2026, but that doesn't mean they can't get better on that side of the ball in an offseason that will be focused on fixing the... defense. Jake Liscow and James Rapien break down the priorities for the Bengals on offense, starting with right guard (Dalton Risner), and including key backup positions like quarterback and swing tackle.We discuss potential improvements at tight end, wide receiver to complement Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase, and future needs as we piece together this year's offseason priority list on offense. Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans.Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclubJoin the Locked On Bengals Insider Community! https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonbengalsFind and follow Locked On Bengals on your favorite podcast platforms:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/locked-on-bengals-daily-podcast-on-the-cincinnati-bengals/id1159723162Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7AObc0lh0WmQl5fJVgtajsGoogle Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vbG9ja2Vkb25iZW5nYWxz?sa=X&ved=0CAYQrrcFahcKEwio_sXtj8nuAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAgStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/locked-on-bengalsSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!TurboTaxFor a limited time, you can have your taxes done by a local TurboTax expert for just $150 — all in, if a TurboTax expert didn’t file for you last year. Just file by February 28. Visit http://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today.Rocket MoneyLet Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at http://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDONFanDuelIf you’re a new customer, bet just $5 and get $200 in Bonus Bets if you win. Make it count — because after the Super Bowl, the season is over. Last call for football on FanDuel, an Official Sportsbook Partner of Super Bowl Sixty. Rocket MoneyLet Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at http://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDONPrizePicksDownload the PrizePicks app today and use code LOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFLGametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONfor $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.RobinhoodTrade Every Play with Robinhood. Now available across the U.S. Download the Robinhood app now to begin.Futures and cleared swaps trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Event contracts are offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC., a registered futures commission merchant and swap firmIndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/lockedonnfl.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Transcript
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Starting point is 00:00:00 The pressing needs for the Cincinnati Bengals are on the defensive side of the ball, but they can still press and make changes to this offense to get better in 2026. Let's break it down. 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 Lockdown Bengals podcast. Part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day, the number one sports podcast network in the Lankles. He's James Rapine. I'm Jake Liscoe. We've been locked on Bengals since 2016, bringing you daily news analysis, everything you need to stay up to date on your Cincinnati Bengals. And we've been doing it for you daily here since, well, 10 years ago now.
Starting point is 00:00:51 This podcast has been going. We're coming up on the 10th year anniversary. Is that right? Of locked on Bengals starting back in 2016. October. Boy, time sure flies when you're... you're having fun. And we're going to have some fun today talking about the future of this Bengals offense and the things that they can do this off season to continue to push the offense forward because, as we've alluded to a couple of times here in the last few weeks
Starting point is 00:01:19 since the Bengals season ended and the playoffs began, there's been a lot of discussion around the offense is pretty much set. All they really have to do is sign a right guard maybe. That's what you think they have to do. Bring back Dalton Riser. you're good to go. Good to go, man. Just run it back. Same thing. And as we see around the NFL every year, the best way to win is to just run it back, right? That's what we've learned from watching all the teams. Right, James? You're shaking your head. What do you mean? What do you mean?
Starting point is 00:01:50 By the way, September 25th, 2016 is the exact anniversary. It was the Trevor Simeon game where the Bengals lost to the Broncos 2917, did a post-game pod. So that's when it started. So there you go there's the anniversary um there it is and you know what i was saying in 2016 that we're going to be saying this off season run it better spend the money you better spend the money honey and get better yeah running it back you're trying to give me you're trying to give me a heart attack here even with your joking running it back this the most dangerous game you can play i think if you're this bengals team is oh we have joe jimar and t our offense is set i i think that's a very dangerous game because while you know you need to be better on defense,
Starting point is 00:02:34 the offense will likely be your strength in 2026 if you are good or great. We're talking about Super Bowl 61. And so you want to make sure that you're putting yourself in position to have the right depth, have the right talent, and have the right pieces to be better on offense in 2026 than you were in 25 because there were times, including the finale, where the offense stunk with Joe Burrow. And I'm sick of seeing them stink against the Browns.
Starting point is 00:03:05 We don't have a head coach as we record this. I'm sick of it. Yeah, maybe that is the direction that the offseason goes. Find a couple of extra answers for the Cleveland Browns. And that's hard to do because largely what you're trying to do on offense when you're trying to match up with the Cleveland Browns is just deal with Miles Garrett, right? And that's something that 99 out of 100 times you're not going to be able to do. no matter who you are in the NFL.
Starting point is 00:03:29 Miles Garrett is going to get his. But maybe that's the matchup that you're thinking about. If you're the Cincinnati Bengals this off season, we'll see how they approach it. But yesterday, for the everydayers, they heard us cover this and shout out to the everydayers, welcome back. We went through the priorities on the defensive side of the ball, where it's kind of front back.
Starting point is 00:03:52 You were on the defensive tackle train, but it was defensive end, safety, linebacker, defensive tackle. which for me gets elevated if you can go get like a Jeffrey Simmons type of defensive tackle, right? And that's what you were talking about. And you were making your point about defensive tackle leading the way. And they need a slot corner. And today, as we look at the offense, the conversation, and this is what I've identified. So let me know if there's a position that it's on your mind that I haven't gotten on the list here, James.
Starting point is 00:04:19 But I'm thinking you need a starting right guard. Can't line up today. You don't have a starting right guard. You need a backup quarterback. Do not have one, period. under contract with Jake Browning, a pending free agent this year. You need a backup quarterback. And then after that, it's not as much necessarily a clear need of a starter,
Starting point is 00:04:41 but there are potential upgrade opportunities. So to me, there's an upgrade opportunity at tight end. Whether or not they choose to approach it, they've got some money allocated there already for Mike Gisicki, and Drew Sample's under contract. So whether or not they address it, something we can talk about. slot wide receiver. I think there's an upgrade opportunity there
Starting point is 00:05:01 or that third wide receiver wherever he lines up, the Andre Yosevash role. I think there's an upgrade opportunity there. Swing tackle. I would say there's a significant upgrade opportunity there. Somewhere between a significant upgrade opportunity
Starting point is 00:05:16 and a pressing need. Again, I said this last year, would like to see them do better than Cody Ford in that role. The last one I've got on the list is I think it would be nice. It could have an impact if they went out and found an upgrade or another piece of running back. But this one's much lower on the list for me. Is there anything on your mind here?
Starting point is 00:05:36 Maybe center, is center something that you would put on the list? I don't have center on my list. No. One, here's how I look at. Like in general, I wouldn't have center on my list. I also see Tyler Linderbom as a potential free agent.
Starting point is 00:05:51 And I'm always interested in the Tyler Linderbombs at every position. Just to be clear, like always. That's, it's very much how I view it is, all right, we'll go get talent. If you could get talent, you can upgrade areas, you do it. And that's why, one, I'm glad we're doing an offense-only episode because there's going to be a lot of time spent on the defense by everybody this offseason. And it isn't as simple as signing Dalton Reisner, and that's it. You're right. What do you mean?
Starting point is 00:06:19 Like, it wasn't good enough to beat the Browns. Wasn't good enough to beat the Browns. Like, what are you talking about? Like, what are you doing? What are you saying? Like, that offense stunk. Like, so I don't want to hear it. I want to give Joe as many answers as possible and as many options as possible.
Starting point is 00:06:38 And that obviously includes protecting him. That obviously includes giving him a tight end that can do it all, Eric all, but like the healthy version. Right. And you can't bank on Eric all at all, by the way. And we'll dive into more of these as well. And it's not personal with Andre. Like, I think Andre and Joe have a really good rapport. but I'm not not addressing wide receiver three if I feel like I can upgrade there.
Starting point is 00:07:00 If I feel like I can get a piece that can help because guess what? These games, if you want to be playing in Super Bowl 61, are going to come down to one to two plays. And that drop by Andre could make all the difference. That whiff blocked by Cody Ford because he's your swing tackle could make all the difference. Like, that's it. And maybe you should put Cody Ford at receiver in Andre Yosebosha tackle. And they might have a better way of,
Starting point is 00:07:25 I'm joking, but you get my point is like it's a play or two. And so these fringe moves that you make that go under the radar at OT3 or wide receiver three, whether it's the draft or free agency, could be all the difference and could be the difference between advancing and not. And so yes. The answer is yesterday when it came to the defense and I encourage you to check out that episode was yes. Well, on offense, these are all spots that the Bengal should be open.
Starting point is 00:07:55 to adding to. And yeah, the Linderbom thing is out there. But in a perfect world, you would at least be having a conversation about it. And that's what the offseason's about is. All right, here's where the strengths of free agency are. How do they make our team better? And maybe it balances out with the draft and you do it that way. But you have to add.
Starting point is 00:08:18 And that's it. And so on offense as well, they need to be adding. And for those that say, oh, well, you can't add a rest. receiver, you can't do this. No, you absolutely can and should be seriously considering it because again, you're one T. Higgins injury away or one Jemar Chase injury away from your offense feeling like it did against the Browns when both of those guys were on the field, to be quite frank with you. And you were blessed with health at the wide receiver spot this year. And that's not always going to be the case. Yeah, it's worth remembering here.
Starting point is 00:08:50 Blessed with health is a great reminder. This team, they lost a ton when they lost There is just the publication. I don't remember who did it. I retweeted it. I apologize for not being able to cite it live as we're talking here, but they just published the list of like expected points lost due to injury. Yeah. And the Bengals are ninth, I think on the points lost, but very, very low on the total number
Starting point is 00:09:15 of games lost because it's all from Joe Burrough. But on offense, their offensive line, remarkably healthy this year. Wide receivers, pretty dang healthy. T had the concussions. for sure not minimizing that. That was a scary time for him. And he got back on the field and they had those guys out there. They lost Mike Kaseki for a bit.
Starting point is 00:09:35 But generally speaking, this was a very healthy team on offense this year. They lost Joe Burrow for a large amount of time. They lost Ray Hendrickson for a large amount of time. Those two things hurt them more than anything else could have. No doubt about it. But you cannot take health for granted in this league when typically it's the deepest and healthiest teams that can make these postseason runs. Another thing that these teams had in common in the final four this year.
Starting point is 00:10:01 Let's continue the conversation, James, as we dive into the details here as we get into the priorities for the Bengals on offense in the 2026 offseason coming up next. Today's show is brought to by Game Time. Game time is the app you need. And yeah, it's the off season. No, the Bengals aren't playing. But if you want tickets to any NBA games, like say the Eastern Conference finals last year went to Indianapolis with my guy Moager, guess where we got tickets? Game time. Because
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Starting point is 00:12:33 When it comes to guard, the Bengals found one in Dillon Fairchild. And on the other side, maybe Jalen Rivers can be your backup guard. That's reasonable. Residing Dalton Reisner seems like the biggest no-brainer, especially because he wants to be here, but mostly because of his play, mostly because of the, guard thirst that we've had for years and years and years for the majority of the 10 years that this podcast has existed.
Starting point is 00:12:58 We've been talking about guard and the need for guard and the lack of guard and the importance of guard. And guard, guard, guard, guard, guard. And, yeah, Dalton Reisner, it's got to be at the top. I don't know your list exactly. I don't know how resigning Dalton Reisner isn't at the top of everyone's priority list when it comes to this offense. Yeah, I think there's no real doubt about it.
Starting point is 00:13:22 That should be probably the biggest amount of money they spend in terms of an annual value on a contract on the offensive side of the ball this year. Maybe backup quarterback ends up being a little bit higher because backup quarterbacks, if they're good, do get paid in the NFL. I think so. I don't see them making a big expenditure. I think this makes sense to not spend a lot of money for another wide receiver. Now, would I be interested in, you know, looking around the veteran market for a low-cost, reliable option to build out depth of wide receiver?
Starting point is 00:13:59 I would be. Would I be interested in drafting a wide receiver late on day two, maybe on day three? In the right circumstance earlier? Yeah, I wouldn't rule that out. But in terms of the biggest amount of money that I'm spending per year, I think, again, unless it's one of these backup spots, can sometimes make a little bit more. Like if you're going to get a really good swing tackle, that can sometimes be $5 million.
Starting point is 00:14:25 You're going to get a really good backup quarterback. Or backup quarterback. Yeah, that can be like, what, eight to $10 million sometimes because of the nature of the quarterback position. But for starters, yeah, right guard is at the top of the list. For me, this is the thing that I think I spoiled it yesterday. This is the only position that really competes with the defensive needs because they very clearly need a starting,
Starting point is 00:14:46 and ideally good starting right guard to slide in there. They don't have that on the team right now. And outside of that, you're looking on offense mostly to build out these depth positions and build out for sub packages and build out for certain skills that perhaps you're missing that I would probably like to talk about it, slot receiver a little bit,
Starting point is 00:15:09 that third receiving threat to put out on the field with Jamar Chase and T. Higgins. But yeah, I think right guard is pretty unambiguously the top here and you can just check that box pretty easily by getting something done with Alton Reisner because one place where I will be relatively fine to run it back for 2026 is the offensive line. Unironically. Like if you had the same starters on the offensive line, I think I'm pretty happy with the
Starting point is 00:15:34 direction those guys were going with Scott Peters. I would like to build depth. I would like to find another player to develop there in the draft and whether that's a successor at left tackle or a successor at center because maybe that isn't. least future, there's more to do there. But as far as the starters go, yeah, sign Dalton Riser and on we go or someone better than Dalton Risner if you want. Yeah, I think the reason I was surprised is just, I'm not sure what Risner is going to make. And so that might, that's why it also makes a, is a no-brainer for me is like, he wants to be here. He wants a home.
Starting point is 00:16:11 It's very Orlando Brown Jr. from a few years ago where like, good play. good fit makes sense now do tackles make way different money than guard for sure is risner older than brown absolutely like there's but but from a all right i've bounced around i'm done with this i want to block for joe burrow like and he came here and it was rough to start and you saw how he responded like it just it makes a ton of sense and so if it's what if it's two for eight or two for ten yeah like in that range i don't know like could i'm just going to throw it out here and this what if rsid shahid really likes really like Cincinnati what would it what would that i don't think they're doing it man it's not about them doing it right obviously i i i don't i don't think they necessarily will but i i think that
Starting point is 00:16:59 if you could get rachit jihad for two years 14 i would be totally in i don't know why they wouldn't but i don't think they would necessarily well so yeah i agree if they're going to do some of the other stuff we've talked about as far as manipulating the cap this year if they're going to restructure some of Joe's deal, some of Joe's salary, and push some of those cap expenses into the future. Where I do think it gets hard is because of the way they manage the cap, they need to do most of their cap spending on the defensive side of the ball. And the way they do the cap,
Starting point is 00:17:30 that means that I don't think that if they're not going to do anything differently, I have a hard time advising them to spend additional cap resources on the offensive side of the ball. Part of it is if they don't do anything different, then it's going to be real, really tough. And I do think, this is a whole conversation, but certainly the path is there for them to push. Anyways, there aren't, to your point,
Starting point is 00:18:00 there are a few options, backup quarterback, swing, tackle, and maybe on the one in 100 chance that they actually listen to me and say, hey, let's go get this guy that would fit really well with your warranty. Outside of that, there aren't many scenarios where they're spending more average annual value than at right guard the only one might be they just get a real deal there and they can put that money towards a a joe flack or towards a insert whoever swing tackle but we agree that right guard is the spot don't risner should be the guy what uh what else how do we prioritize the rest of these let let's dive into that after right guard we will do that coming up next
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Starting point is 00:20:42 I'll get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. Let's go locked on NFL for $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup price picks. It's good to be right. James, let's dive into the rest of what we think this offense can do. For me, the next up is backup quarterback. Where do you go next after starting right guard? What's the next on your priority list?
Starting point is 00:21:07 Swing tackle. Swing tackle. I think Orlando Brown. Yeah, Orlando Brown aging. knowing what it looked like when Cody Ford was in there for Amarius Mems briefly. And it's just like get a swing tackle. Maybe it's the draft and it's a developed type of piece. And Ford is under contract.
Starting point is 00:21:28 Maybe you move on from Ford and you apply that money to get a proven guy. I would love whoever the Trent Brown is. Maybe it is Trent Brown. But I would love that type of guy with that type of size that can play both left and right tackle. I just would behind Orlando Brown Jr. And behind a Marius Mems because you're right, I'm great running it back. I'm fine with running it back. But that swing tackle spot is a huge, huge priority for me.
Starting point is 00:21:54 Somewhere where I wonder how they would approach it. I don't think that this is a spot where they've really been very aggressive or really spent a lot of resources. Cody Ford is making, what, $3.5 million or something like that, $4 million in 2026. If he keeps that contract, which is part of why I'm skeptical. that he keeps that contract. I think that you just can't rely. Don't let your eye, like what you have seen should be proof enough, I guess, is where I'm trying to go here, that that probably shouldn't be your plan.
Starting point is 00:22:26 So whether that's a draft pick, maybe that's where they end up going at 10. Maybe that's where they go in the second round, who knows. But I totally get that idea at swing tackle. For me, swing tackle is pushed down just because, For me, it ends up lower because I think that there are opportunities to get better for positions that might be on the field more. So I went back up quarterback and then if they were interested in getting better at tight end or slot-wide receiver before I got to swing tackle, just because those guys could hypothetically see the field more. But similar to your argument about like we saw what it was like when we went from a Mario Swims to Cody Ford.
Starting point is 00:23:06 We saw what it would what it was like when we went from Joe Burrow to Jake Browning. and they didn't have that viable backup quarterback option because it didn't turn out that that was Jake Browning the way they thought it would be this year. That's why it ends up higher for me. I guess the way that you could really think about this in a way that I hadn't thought about it until right now is which of those is more likely to be something that you need.
Starting point is 00:23:33 And almost certainly you're going to have to put your swing tackle in the game, even if it's just for a series or two, at some point in the season. And hopefully Joe Burrow can get through a season healthy. And there's always going to be a huge drop off there. But we've talked about the priority and how much sense it makes for the Bengals to go get Joe Flacco in that way. And maybe another part of this tiebreaker for me is like they do have Cody Ford on the roster. I think that that is a significant upgrade opportunity.
Starting point is 00:24:05 We've talked about that. I've talked about it for years now. I would like to see them be better than Cody Ford is the first lineman off the bench. But there's literally no backup quarterback on the roster right now. And so you do need to figure that out. Well, there is. It's Jake Browning. I thought Browning was a free agent.
Starting point is 00:24:22 I said he was a free agent. He's restricted. Yeah, he's restricted. So, okay, that's interesting, though. Like, do they actually tender Jake Browning? Yeah. No doubt. Technically, they don't have a quarterback on the roster until they tender Jake Browning.
Starting point is 00:24:38 Sure. And I doubt he's hoping that happens because backup quarterback is right there. So think about this for me. I have right guard, swing tackle. I never want to hear about trenches again for people to say, oh, James doesn't care about the trenches. And then my third one is backup quarterback, skill player who? Like that's my ranking in the priority.
Starting point is 00:24:58 And you're right. This offense can't just die. The strength of this team can't just go to hell because Joe Burrow gets nicked up. because it wasn't just that they went one and eight without Joe Burrow. It's that they went 0 and 3 the moment he got hurt. They went from 2 and 0 to 0 to 2 and 3 and they go 0 and they're scrambling and the offense doesn't function and then they have to make the trade for flacko and all these things like it needs to be able to function.
Starting point is 00:25:27 It needs to be able to work. And I do wonder, as weird as this sounds, and there aren't many backup quarterbacks out there, but when you include the draft that I know it's a weak draft class, is it easier to find the backup quarterback that could keep you afloat for a month and go two and two? Or easier to find that swing tackle that you're confident in when you're in Cleveland and the number one seat is on the line that you're going to be able to thrive
Starting point is 00:25:55 with the Marius Mims and the medical tent. That's where I kind of went back and forth. It's tough. I think it is still easier to find a swing tackle just because they're so many more guys that play that position. There's so few guys that can play functional quarterback in the NFL. And we've seen that the last couple of years with all the quarterback injuries. The Bengals could do way better at swing tackle.
Starting point is 00:26:17 No doubt about it. I agree with you there. I still think it's harder to find a quarterback, right? Yeah. It's close. I mean, I just, in general, yes. But if Joe Flacco isn't prioritizing money and is going to wait and all of those things, then it's like, all right, well, then it's like, all right, well,
Starting point is 00:26:35 would it be the worst thing if Jimmy Garapolo were a Bengal or if this guy were a bang or that guy? And that's a whole other show. But like I was just looking. I was like, well, it is backup quarterback. Like, you just need to be able to get him to function. And sorry, undrafted Jake Browning. So it became a pumpkin really quickly. Fine.
Starting point is 00:26:55 But like just go find someone that can function for a little bit. And yeah. So on one hand, yes, it's really hard. on the other, I think it's hard to find swing. I mean, they've had awful starting tackles, right? Bobby Hart is still in the league. And he was a punchline when this podcast started 10 years ago. Just keep referencing that.
Starting point is 00:27:17 So like it's tough. The point is relative, though. Both backup spots are really huge and important. For the quarterback spot, you hope you don't see him. If you do, you need to be able to function. And for OT3, you're going to see them. Yeah. And having that versatility to play both spots would be huge.
Starting point is 00:27:36 I think you've convinced me to move swing tackle up. And I had it as a virtual tie. There we go. I had it as a virtual tie with tight end and receiver. Trenches, baby. That's what they call me, the Trenchman. I love trenches. Yeah, that's what they call James, the Trenchman.
Starting point is 00:27:54 Yep, that's the nickname goes way back. Come into the Trenchman podcast. Don't, don't back check me. Or we talk trenches. Don't fact check it. Games are won and lost in the trenches. baby that's what they say so so the way i had it was like five and five point one like they were virtually tied and it's just like if i had to do one first i would go for these guys that i think
Starting point is 00:28:14 are going to be like if you are healthy could be part of the office because if they had a tight end like you mentioned earlier say eric all is healthy and has that promise that he had as a rookie where you don't feel like you have to take him off the field you can put him in line he can do enough as a receiver because they don't have a guy that does both of those things right now. They just don't. They have guys that can block. They have guys that are big slots. They don't have a true tight end who does both at a high level or even an above average level.
Starting point is 00:28:46 They have very specialized tight end. So for me, tight end, if they could get a guy like that could be transformative for this offense. We saw what Eric Hall did for the offense. Same thing with slot wide receiver or that third wide receiver. Like if they could get that short king for Joe Burrow for the first time, in his career, that shifty guy to go in the slot and just give you a different element. I know Jamar does some of this, but be that yards after catch guy in the slot,
Starting point is 00:29:12 like a different, totally different style of receiver from Andre Yosevaish and Charlie Jones and the other depth pieces that they've tried to put out there. And, you know, who knows, maybe Keisham Williams develops into this, right? But, like, we've seen the value of having a deep and buried wide receiving core in having that reliable third option or a more reliable third option and I know Mike Gaseki can do some of this as well but still stylistically they're missing that Shifty guy
Starting point is 00:29:40 Shifty Short King. Where's my Shifty Short King in the slot for Joe Burrow, the 510 guy who can make a bunch of guys miss and work the middle of the field? Yep, that's it. That's why I mentioned Shaheed is because he's one of those guys that would come in and give a lot of things a boost right away. I get you'd want to find that in the draft.
Starting point is 00:29:59 all right go find it right and uh and we'll see now he's i remember seeing him this is the last in new orleans a few years ago and he scored and we're like who the hell is rashid she he and he scored a couple times yeah and he's become uh quite the player so yeah something of that ilk yeah he might be a few inches shorter i'm not going to argue you know you want to be five nine or five ten and you come in here and you start dominate and stuff it just makes me look better right You know, Chase Brown just makes me look better because he's coming in at 5'9 and playing the way he is. So, yeah, I'm not going to argue with you. You know me.
Starting point is 00:30:35 I prioritize the trenches, but do I understand that weapons do matter? Absolutely. That's why the Patriots are four and a half point underdogs because weapons matter. And one team has weapons, the other doesn't. And that's why James Rapine is known as the trench guy. The trench man. The trench man. Don't fact check us.
Starting point is 00:30:54 please uh the running back position is also on my list james as like it would be nice yeah maybe could have an impact i really like chase brown i really like simajy p rind yeah i i don't think that ruling out adding to that room is something that the bengal should do outside of that i think we're talking about backup positions right like the reason i mentioned center earlier is perhaps a backup center is something this team will want to invest in in the future i don't think jaylon rivers is ever going to play his long-term future might be backup internal offensive lineman, which is fine. If that's what they want to do with Jaylon Rivers, that's his development path. I think that's an okay plan.
Starting point is 00:31:34 For 2026, you should expect some development from year one to year two. You could be a fine backup guard. I don't know how they feel about Matt Lee. And we'll see how they treat that position this offseason. It seems like Lucas Patrick was a backup center ahead of Matt Lee, even at times when Matt Lee was on the roster. I know Matt Lee was dealing with that injury last year, but I wouldn't surprise to see them try to find a successor to Ted Karras at some point this offseason as well,
Starting point is 00:32:04 with Ted having one year left on the deal, right? Yeah, and he's added a year each time. I do wonder how many more are left. That's an interesting one because I think a lot of people say, oh, yeah, draft one in the fourth or fifth round develop him, and he can be the starter next year. And it's like, yeah. They don't have a fifth round pick.
Starting point is 00:32:25 though guys that's in an ideal world like in an ideal world it's much easier said than done to say oh let's go find our starting center in 2027 now yeah and it work and so yeah that that's another one of those spots where um you look at you say all right well what's what's the plan how do you do it uh it would be nice and maybe this is it is they find a center with that center guard flex and uh it's hard to find the center tackle flex that that isn't much uh not much of those out there unfortunately, but maybe some center guard flex. And then that rookie or whoever, like a Lucas Patrick, can be active on game day and serve as your backup center as well.
Starting point is 00:33:03 That would be nice. Yeah. It's the reason that they value that versatility. The last thought for me here on the offensive side of the ball. We talked a lot about swing tackle, but maybe part of that conversation should have also been left tackle of the future with Orlando Brown entering the last year of his contract. And we'll see what direction they go with Orlando Brown as far as the potential extension or not. but that is certainly something else that you could talk about is
Starting point is 00:33:26 and I alluded to it a little bit like if it is the first round pick for example that's probably your left tackle of the future in addition to a guy that's going to be your first tackle off the bench I don't know if that player exactly exists that makes sense at 10 as far as I know the top tackles in this draft are mostly right tackles or guys that might kick into guard at least for the potential first round pick so somebody might correct me on that in the comments and that's fine it's early in this draft process we're still in the process of learning who these guys are and how they might fit but that's it for the offense we got one starter a couple of rotational spots potentially where you
Starting point is 00:34:06 can find some role players that could help you and then important backup jobs at a quarterback offensive tackle maybe developmental tackle and just never ruling out running back because that's a position that you just a lot of times want to turn over and keep young in the NFL. And maybe they think Tash Brooks is going to take a step forward. I don't want to completely ignore that. I do wonder, I think there's a topic there with Orlando, like a bigger topic. And one that we can tackle there, pun intended, because it could go one of a bunch of ways, right? And in how they do that may give them enough space to do what they need to do.
Starting point is 00:34:44 and so yeah his future in general what it should mean if they should stand pat with him if they should go one way or another I think that's one of the many many topics Jake that we will be talking about over the next few weeks but yeah
Starting point is 00:34:58 right guard swing tackle backup quarterback and then the skill guys because I'm the trench man I'm the trench man baby let's go heard it here first and it goes back forever James has never felt any other way trench man
Starting point is 00:35:13 especially in the 20th 21 NFL draft didn't feel any other way trench man that's going to do it for this episode of the lockdown Bengals podcast until next time thanks for listening whodey and have a good one should have my own trench theme song

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