Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - BENGALS SQUAD SHOW: Is Jonathan Allen the Bengals Big Free Agency Swing?

Episode Date: March 14, 2026

The Cincinnati Bengals made another move late this week in free agency, signing former Minnesota Vikings and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen to a 2-year, $28 million deal. It's a good signing, but is that it for the Bengals in free agency?  Alex Frank, Coach Art Valero, and Mike Santagana discuss what Allen could bring to the Bengals interior defensive line and if they will make a move at linebacker.  Maxx Crosby is NOT going to the Baltimore Ravens. The guys discuss what happened and the impact that now Trey Hendrickson going to the team will have on the Bengals and the AFC North.  Meanwhile, the Bengals did reach an agreement on a two-year extension with Orlando Brown Jr.. Is this a needle-mover for Bengals fans?  Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!  TurboTax This year you’re getting a major upgrade — Intuit TurboTax now has in-person locations nationwide. Visit http://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today.  Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.  FanDuel FanDuel is giving you a way to turn that energy into even bigger potential wins with a College Basketball Parlay Profit Boost. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game.  5-Hour ENERGY Have your cake & drink it too. Birthday cake-flavor is back, no fork needed. Vanilla-y cakey flavor, caffeinated kick, and no sugar. It's party time. Order Now at 5-hourENERGY.com or Amazon.  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.

Well, the Cincinnati Bengals did make an addition to their defensive line, but Mike's antagona, this can't be all, right? Yeah, they might be. We know the Bengals, but they have at least been a little busy and spent some money picking up some guys to help bolster that front. And coach, I still can't get past that comment you made to me on Wednesday. I just hope they're not making these moves to get the media and fans off their backs. Well, you know what? There's still a long way to go. And, you know, the big names have left. So there's a lot of second-guessing by a lot of fans and a lot of coaches around the league. So we'll find out where they go from here. They solidified the front and they've got some mature people up there. Now it's a matter of time of filling in some other spots.

Indeed it is free agency Friday on this edition of the bengal squad show. Today, it's the bengal squad. Everything Cincinnati Bengals every week. Breaking down all the big hits and game changing plays from the Queen City, the way only the locked on podcast network can. From the jungle to the playoffs, the bengal squad show starts now. Happy Friday the 13th to all of you. Welcome to the bengal squad show. We are live on the lest. lockdown magno's YouTube channel and the lockdown podcast network, the number one sports podcast network in America and the world. We are presented today by Fandual. FanDuel's giving you a way to turn that energy into even bigger potential wins with a college basketball parlay profit boost. Head to fanduel.com to get started. My name's Alex Frank, joined on this Friday by Mike Santagana, coach Art Valero, who is just wrapped up practice in meetings with the UFO's Orlando

Storm. He's the running backs coach. They got their first game coming up in 16 days. We got plenty to get to today on the free agency front that Bengals made in addition yesterday signing a former Minnesota Vikings, Washington commanders defensive tackle. Jonathan Allen, it's a name Bengals fan should be very familiar with Mike Santagana. Unfortunately not for very bright reasons, but now he's on the Bengals. And at the very least, in addition to the amount of money the Bengals spent on him, it's another body on the defensive line, and I think to a degree that that matters. Yeah, you know, what's interesting with Allen is, to me, he's a guy that he's not what he was at his peak.

I think at his peak he was one of the best defensive tackles in the league. But he's not a bad player either. I think that contract is okay for him. He's a solid player, by all means. they're doing something at defensive tackle. And I think if you want to have the cynical view, this doesn't affect their comp picks. So that's part of the reason they might have been working in a more limited pool because he was a cut player. It's not going to have an effect on them on the Trey Hendrickson and whoever,

and Gino Stone just signed with the bills. So there's some reasons to be a little bit optimistic about it. He also, you know, he is the guy that shredded Joe Burroughs knee, his room. rookie season. I think I would have, if the idea for Allen is, okay, this guy is going to give you a pretty good rotational piece at the defensive tackle position, I feel good. If the idea is John Allen is going to fix our defensive line, there's probably some concern. So Jonathan Allen, two-time pro bowler in his NFL career in college, he was the 17th overall pick in the NFL draft by Washington back in 2017.

He was a national champion with Alabama on their 2015 team that you may remember, Derek Henry is the Heisman Trophy winner that year. In 2016, he was the SEC defensive player of the year, the Bronco Nagorski Award winner, Chuck Fednarik Award winner, Ted Hendricks, Lombardi, a unanimous All-American, three-time first team, all SEC. So, Coach, when you hear that, this goes back to what we talked about on Tuesday, the plan of the players the Bengals are signing in free agency. And I think that's why you have to say there is a positive and an upside to this addition

to the Bengals defensive line. Well, you know what it is is they're bringing in a lot of very good players with winning backgrounds so they know how to win and they know what it takes to win. Now, as they get older, hopefully they can pass that on and spread it in that locker room. in order to go. Now, Jonathan Allen, he's older. He's older than, you know, older than the 27-year-old guy that just signed with other people. But he brings that maturity to that group that, you know, what they need. And you know what? You looked at it last year. Those inside two defensively were very, very quiet. They did their job, but they were, they weren't game wreckers. And

in a rotation with those other guys, he has Jonathan Allen, because he is a little bit older, he has a chance to really become quite the wrecker. And you know what? They're going to need the push in the pocket and his pass rush inability up front to force him into those defensive ends. And I think that's a good fit for him. Mike, what is the film on Jonathan Allen? What stands out to you when you watch it? Yeah.

To me, he has one of the more unique pass rush abilities in that he kind of has both a hump move and then also kind of this bear hug bull rush. If you think about how you teach defensive linemen how to play with power is to be extended and try to break the angle of the offensive line and push them upward, gain the leverage and be extended. Extend those arms out, lock them out so that they can't make contact with you. Alan has always done this weird kind of bear hug, play them tight, and now neither one of you can use your arms. And then he uses his entire lower body and core to kind of drive that offensive lineback. That's actually what he did to Mike Jordan on the play where Burrough gets hurt. So that's always been unique to me in that he rushes differently from a lot of guys. He plays with power.

He has some moves, but he has one move, and he's really the only guy I can think of that uses that move, that kind of bear hug playing really tight and trying to bull rush while being chest to chest with a guy. In the run game, I think he was a bit miscast with Brian Flores. I think that's people have kind of pointed to the PFF scores. To me, one of the worst things PFF does is grading defensive tackles in the run game. And it's just because it's very. you only get the pluses for going above your job, really. You can get a minus.

I know in some place because I've looked at the plus minus per play thing. You can get a minus for doing your job, making a running back bounce, but then you can't make the tackle while engaged with the center. And your friend, the defensive end, goes and finishes the playoff. He gets a plus one and you get a minus. But you're the reason that running back bounced outside. I don't think he's a bad run defender. I think he's still a solid run defender, actually.

the other part with the John Allen with this is it is interesting it's another guy that has played well against the Bengals both this year and in the past we talked a lot about that Washington game but also this year he was very good for the Vikings this season I think the Bengals offensive line at that moment was not what it ended up being they were still a work in progress there but he was very good against them so it kind of fits the similar trend of a guy plays really well against the Bengals and then they go in sign him. I think that's true about a lot of teams, but you know, you do notice it with the Cincinnati Bengals recently with like Gino Stone, but you think of Brian Cook, even back then, his rookie season in the AFC championship game in 2022, he caused one of the interceptions by being able to break a pass up to T. Higgins down the right sideline. So that also sticks out to me. So unique pass rusher, still a solid run defender. And I think miscast with Flores, Flores likes to get those guys to fire off the ball and kind of attack the then react to what's going on. I think Allen will do a pretty good job in this system where he's

being asked to play the block in front of him versus just firing off the ball and getting penetration. So, Coach, when you hear all that Mike is saying about Jonathan Allen and, you know, the one unique move that he has and what he's able to do in the running game, then maybe we didn't see in Minnesota. From your offensive line perspective, what can Jonathan Allen do against the opposing AFC North lines and then the other offensive lines, the Bengals will face this season. Well, you know, the one thing he does from a, from a defensive standpoint for an offensive player is he forces a lot of double teams, you know, because he is a playmaker. He can make things happen, whether it be in the run game or in protection.

He forces it, and that's got to be able, the benefit of that is singling up the other defensive linemen as well as the linebackers. You know, when your linebackers are making on the plays, those sacrificial the lambs up front are taking on double teams and not allowing movement up front, it creates havoc. Because if you can't get movement, it's very, very difficult to run the ball. So Jonathan Allen last year, according to pro football reference and pro football focus, he had 68 tackles last season with the Minnesota Vikings, three and a half sacks. His career high in sacks is nine. That was back in 21. He has 45 and a half sacks in his career.

he's played nine seasons. Now, for a defensive tackle, I can live with that because you think of Sacks coming from Eddrush. So I mentioned in the open to this segment that the thing I like about Jonathan Allen is that he adds another body to your defensive line. But I also like it. And we talk about this. Coach, you love saying this.

He's not a jag. He's not just a guy. Like, you know this guy. He was very, very good in college. He's a leader. I know he hasn't played on a lot of necessarily winning teams. But he did play on the commanders in 24, a team that went to the N. F championship. He did play for the Minnesota Vikings this year. And the Vikings, I know they had a

nine and eight season. They missed the playoffs. But that defense, you saw the way they played, you saw that they played for their defensive coordinator, Brian Flores. You saw they played for one another. Their defense was not the reason why they weren't very good last year. So the way I see Jonathan Allen is as a leader. I think he's going to be able to get something out of the young defensive tackles like Chris Jenkins Jr. Like McKinley Jackson, who are both entering crucial prove-it third years. And the Bengals going down and gain a guy, it reminds me a lot of, and Mike, you remember this, what they did in 21 when they brought in maybe guys you hadn't heard of,

but they weren't like just another guy, so to speak. They were good players, leaders on really good teams, and those are the kinds of players that helped the Bengals revive their defense in 21. And it could be, they've signed three players already, it could be what helps their defense at the very least look more competent and functional this season. Yeah, I think you can kind of make some, you can kind of squint at some of these and see a lot of similarities too. I think especially Boy Maffey,

where it's not a proven, 100% guaranteed stud at defensive end, a good player. But he's part of a rotation, right? right? And you're thinking you give him more snaps on this second contract, and he might be able to provide more value than he ever did when he played for his last team. I think you could kind of squint at that and go like, that's a little similar to Trey Hendrickson. Trey Hendrickson, a little more sacks, but a lot of people were thinking, like it's part of a heavy rotation, a great defensive line, this really good defense all around him. So I feel like kind of went a little under the radar there.

Will Boy Maffe be Trey-Henrichson? I'm not saying that, but you can kind of see that similarities. Brian Cook, another guy, 27 years old, second contract, kind of had all that good, you know, that good defense around him, the good defensive coordinator. So a similar feeling there. And Jonathan Allen, to me, you could, I think there's two comparisons you can make. Hopefully it's not similar to Sheldon Rankins because I think you could make that comparison. No. Because similar production, similar or older, you know, I think you could also make the comparison to Larry O'Ginjobie in a way where you're thinking he's not going to be, you know, a complete game wrecker up front. But I think this guy could be a quality

contributor along the defensive line like Larry O'Ginjobie was. So yeah, I think you can squint at this and see a little bit of 2021 with it. Time will tell if it plays out that way. But I like their thought process more this season than I think I have the last couple of years where I think they've actually made some effort here. Last year felt like they didn't make effort. Like they assigned guys to minimum deals, and we're just kind of hoping for the best. Yeah. I should make that effort.

Well, that's what I like about this too. And you mentioned Jonathan Allen and tackles for loss and Larry Ogan, Joe beat the comparison there. Jonathan Allen has four seasons of double-digit tackles for loss. I like that. Coach, another thing I like, durability. He did miss 11 games in 2017. he did miss nine games in 2024. But listen to these other seasons.

He played all 16 games in 2018 and 2020, missed just one game in 2019, all 17 and 21. He played all 17. He missed one game each in 22 and 23. He played all 17 games last year. I know you don't like that he's a little older than Osio Diggisua, but he's still playing. He's still playing every game.

That matters. Hey, at this point in time, his dependability, that on every Sunday, he is going to put a helmet on and he is going to go out there and play. You know, the one major season, because he had a major injury, but he showed his durability and his ability to come back and continue to top it off with seasons where he missed very few snaps. He was a part of a rotation. You knew you could depend on him every week. And he made place in every game. And his, I mean, regardless of how old he is, his best ability right now, is his bend ability.

Yes, and that's a big thing. That's a big thing to have. If the Bengals weren't going to sign DJ Reeder, I'm glad they signed this guy and Jonathan Allen. As for linebacker, what are we doing? Or maybe the better question is, what are we not doing? I'll tell you one thing they are doing. They're playing with fire and we'll explain that next on the Bengals squad show.

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doing and what they're not doing at linebacker. I genuinely do not know what their plan is. Are they going to sign a veteran like Bobby Wagner? Are they going to maybe make a big splash and a linebacker that's still available? Unfortunately, all the big fish are now signed and they missed out on that wave, which yet again. But whatever they are going to do, do, whether it be in free agency, whether it be draft sunny styles, which I would be all in for. I need to know what the plan is. That's the biggest thing, coach. It's, I don't know what they're doing. But right now, because they haven't signed a linebacker, they're playing with fire at a position that was glaringly terrible last year. Well, you know what I mean, as I have been looking at the last,

since our last podcast, I'm looking at it as if either they got outbid and they weren't willing to spend the money on these big hitters, or they tried to get somebody, but nobody wanted what they were trading, whether it be a person on the team right now, or whether it be a draft choice to get those people. So right now they're stuck with saying, okay, all the big linebackers, are gone, you're basically playing with no one different than what they've already had. They have all those young kids that are now a year older. And so now you're going to go out and sign a free agent for a lot of money more than those young guys are making.

And they're not a lot different. So I can see them waiting until the draft. And I'd like to see, hey, if you're sitting at the kid from Ohio State, you think you can get him, go get him. can make things happen. Now, everybody else, I haven't done that much of an in-depth dive towards the linebackers in the draft, but I'm sure there's good players out there. Well, there might be, and that's fine, but what did we talk about on Tuesday show? And that is you attack free agency to help out your issues. The draft is where you build talent. I mean, I'm here to say this right now, And I've said it before.

If your plan is to go into 2006 with Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. And linebacker, I'm sorry, you're asking for trouble. I don't care how good your defensive line has gotten in free agency. I don't care if Brian Cook is now on your team and Gino Stone is off to Western New York. Linebackers are still very important because you need that, you need that guy that can cover sideline to sideline. You need that linebacker that can cover him pass protection. prevent runs from getting to the third level. They are extremely important.

Mike, where's your frustration level at with the Bengals and their inactivity at linebackers so far in free agency? It's definitely the one position left that leaves me frustrated because it does feel like they might just be okay heading into the draft with what they have. They may, I mentioned the comp picks. They may be looking just at cut guys. They might just want not, like at this point,

they think we're not getting high-end talent here. We're going to play in a smaller pool. So they might be looking at Bobby O'Kareki as one of the top guys because he was cut. You look at a few other guys, Anthony Jennings, which said that fake report came out. One guy I'm looking at, and I can't get away from, is Akeem Davis Gaither was cut. And it makes you think, like, do they just do the familiar thing?

Do they just bring him back? Which would be okay. Yeah, I think all of these moves are okay. Like, none of them are terrible. But it does kind of frustrate you that they might be playing in a smaller pool. Like they won't go after Bobby Wagner or Lavante David and get a veteran into this room that might be able to help this young unit. Like an older veteran that used to be an all pro level player and maybe their body's not keeping up anymore. They can still play an okay level.

But is that why they weren't that interested in Leo Channal? Does this mean, you know, Caden Ellis? Is that some of these guys that might be able to do kind of what they asked Demetrius Knight to do, play on the line of scrimmage at times, be able to take on tight end blocks and play, not hand in the ground, but in that same position as an outside linebacker stand up on the ball. And they said, I think I heard Golden say they don't really want Knight to do that anymore. Well, you're going to need somebody to do it. Akeem Davis Gaiters done that even though he's smaller.

Anthony Jennings was basically almost a pass rusher for New England. So that would be an interesting one. Jelani Tavai was also cut from New England. So are they playing in that pool? There's a question I wish I could ask, but obviously they're never going to say yes or no to that. But I get the feeling they may like the idea of keeping a comp pick from this offseason and then just playing in this cut players pool.

And Jonathan Allen was cut. Is that why they signed him? Is that why they went after him instead of looking across at DJ Reader, possibly? You know what's funny is that as you look at it, And the linebackers that are left, they're either old or they've been cut for a reason. And you're wondering, like Mike was talking about, are they just looking for putty to fill that hole until they can get a guy ready? Or are they really aggressively seeking it? You know, I'd love to be a fly on the wall with Chase and with Jamar Chase and with Joe Burrow.

and find out how they feel about how from the outside looking in, how they think, because they were very, very adamant about, hey, we've got to change some things. We've got to move forward. And how do they feel? Yeah. And I think that's a great point because I was reading Paul Dana Jr.'s article in The Athletic yesterday morning.

And for the first time, you read comments from fans saying that they wouldn't be surprised if next season is a disappointment that Joe Borough requests to trade. Like we're getting to that point. Now, that was before they saw. Jonathan Allen, which may have cooled the temperature a little bit in the fan base. But still, they have to understand that you're, you're dealing with Joe Burrow here. You're dealing with Jamar Chase. And I do think more moves could be coming.

I remember the 21 free agency class. It was a little slow and coming together. But then towards the end of the week, they bring guys in like Trey Hendrickson. They bring guys in like Mike Hilton. They bring in Chedobie, they bring in Larry Ogunjobe, they bring in Riley Reef on the offensive line. So maybe more moves are coming. You look at the available linebackers, like a Bobby Wagner, like Jermaine Pratt. I don't think they would go that road. Justin Stern has still available. But like you keep going, then you get to like Eric Kendrix. He may have signed

already. Matt Milano. I forget. Someone checked that for me. I think Matt Milano is free. Matt Milano is free. I'd even be okay with that. Like there are players available, but you missed on that first big wave. And now you're, I mean, if you sign somebody great, but like, again, we're in that same situation. Like, what are they not prioritizing here? That's my biggest thing. Like, are they not prioritizing linebackers? It has to make you all frustrated when you see other teams like San Francisco and what

they've done with their defense. You look at what the Rams have done with their secondary. You look at other teams of linebacker. And the Bengals just, from what they have not done so far, their message to us is we are good at linebacker. We're not really focused on that. What? That's the impression you get, you know, from the outside looking in,

and we'll never know, and they will never tell us what their ultimate thoughts are. Did they go to the bat, ready to swing, and struck out, or are they just trying to get on base? And that's one thing that we won't know until something happens. and for two days when they were pretty much silent, you know what, when there's no transparency, people's minds start to go all over the place and you start to think of what could have been.

And I think that's where they put the fan base. Mike, grade the Bengals Free Agency signings so far. Like a C-plus. Somewhere around there where, I don't know, maybe I'm a horse grader, but I think they've gotten better, but the linebacker thing sticks out. It feels like they have no idea upgrading their depth at offensive line either. I feel like that's just not even run past them. The idea of maybe upgrading from Drew Sample at tight end as a blocking tight end maybe.

I don't think they've made that effort. It feels like they, you know, it's not bad, but it's also not ideal. Like I still think they could have done more here. But I also think they have, they are a better defense today on paper than they were last season on paper when healthy. So I like that they made some moves. I wish there was just a little bit more, especially at linebacker because I did feel like they had one of the worst linebacker units, the entire NFL last season and trying to go into next season, or at least even into this draft, on a hope and a prayer that these guys just improve. that's usually not going to work out in the NFL. Maybe one of them does.

I would like to see those two in a competition, really, to try to get onto the field, but I would like to have more people in the competition as well, just even if that is Akeem Davis Gather and a third round pick, but just something to bolster that unit so that we're not just going into next season thinking, like, okay, the defense hinges on the ability of these two players to improve. Coach, we talk about adding guys and bodies to different levels of the defense.

And the Bengals, we heard earlier this offseason that they may bring in a volume of guys. We also heard them say they have the resources to attack the offseason in a big way. Show me only three signings so far. And then again, maybe more are coming. But right now, we can only judge you on what you've done and you haven't done enough. Well, you know, as I look at it, and this is one's own personal opinion, definite upgrade with Cook. Yep. I mean, that puts you in the A-A-minus high B-plus ranking.

The defensive end, I think he's a good player. Is he a boom, jump out at you? I think that lowers it a little bit. And then I would like those scene like, Mike, hey, you go out and you get yourself a real, one of those big time linebackers. Then you go Jonathan Allen. Oh, then I think your group raises quite a bit and your high Bs as far as helping what you need. And right now we're still down at guessing on who the linebacker choice is going to be.

And you really don't want a 31-year-old defensive tackle and a 32 or 33-year-old linebacker. because, yeah, they can give you leadership and they can give you, show you the direction, but it's very, very difficult to how much time are they actually on the field? Are they first and 10, second and six or less players, run stoppers, or are they every down linebackers? Yeah, I think that's the big thing because, you know, their defense was so young last year. Allen's older, as we mentioned, Mafei and Cook are just entering their primes. That's good. Now, there is a lot of risk that comes with Boy,

Mafei, you hope that he can get his sack totals up. I think he will. But as Mike mentioned, hope and a prayer, I don't like living on that. Maybe Bon Jovi does. I certainly do not. Up next, I am going to give a take that may put me in the very small minority, and I'm okay with it.

We'll do that next on the Bengals Squad Show. Today's edition of the Bengals Squad Show is brought to you by Fand College basketball is nonstop. I'm here in Nashville covering the Kentucky Wildcats at the SEC tournament. There are big games. There are a lot of big games tonight. Tight spreads, momentum swings every single night from early tip-offs like I had today in Nashville to late-night West Coast shootouts. There's always action on the board.

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situation fiasco with Max Crosby and the Baltimore Ravens. I feel very sad for the Ravens because here's an organization that has been a model of consistency for 30 years. They get praised for drafting, they get praised for playing the right way for winning championships. They have two Super Bowls. And then this happens. And, you know, teams now are going to question if they should, you know, work with them on trades in the future, et cetera. And I kind of feel sad for them because I believe they are not going to be made a mockery of when it comes to situations like this.

If they had gone through with the Max Crosby trade, fine. Would I have been a little concerned from the Bengals perspective? Hell yeah. But like this, I mean, you screwed the Raiders over. You screwed a bunch of other teams over. Kind of do feel sad for them in a way. Do you guys agree? No.

No. I don't feel bad at all. You know, and the reason why I don't feel bad is they were giving up a lot from Max Crosby. They were going to give up two ones, a whole bunch of money, a lot. to go ahead and work that deal before you knew he had a clean bill of health. Now, not to say that their doctor on the side, didn't say, hey, oh, he didn't pass a physical. Who knows? But you gave up a lot, and the moment you found out that you could get Trey Hendrickson for nothing.

I mean, nothing. Yeah, good point. I mean, that, I mean, that's a no-brainer. Send him back where he came. We got the next best option, plus our two first round picks back. And we're not going to have to pay the guy as much. And I, so that was the cards that they dealt. And all of a sudden they had, someone called their hand and they folded and they went for the cheaper end of it.

Now, who I really feel bad for is the Bengals. fan base because you had a great player who's been very good to the community walk away and you receive nothing in return you received I mean absolutely nothing and that that hurts if I was a fan if I'm a teammate I'm feeling we we got get rid of our the person we needed last year not to be you know to have a chance and you got rid of it for nothing that that doesn't makes sense to me. So I think there are two losers in that whole triangle, that Bermuda triangles that they just... To me, I feel bad for the Raiders, right? You've got, they spent money as if he was gone. And then they had $30 million for this season, come back onto the books.

Now, right now they can afford it, but did it slow them down from trying to keep going in free agency or making any other trades. Now they have to find another trade for Crosby. It's not going to be as good because the Ravens are claiming he failed as physical. Some people in the NFL are claiming the Ravens knew his medical problems. And, you know, my own conspiracy and it sounded like Coast was kind of losing this. They saw how bad Trey Hendrickson market was, which to me, a little angry at like the bills. Why are you not in on this?

Why are you trying to, you know, negotiate that price down? you should just pay that guy. Like that is a guy you've been missing on this defense. The entire reason you keep not making the Super Bowl, you don't have studs on defense. Instead, they go sign Brad Chubb for cheaper. It's like, yeah, well, Bradley Chubb's not going to get you to a Super Bowl in the same way. Maybe they will.

But I feel like that feels very much like what they should have done to me. But I'm set for the Raiders because they were supposed to get that off the books. They made all these different deals. They signed Linderbom to this huge contract. I believe they signed Quitty Pay. They went out and got all these. different players. And then they got $30 million come right back. So they don't actually have any more money to play with and keep fixing this team until they can get rid of it again. And with the

failed physical stench on it, I think that's going to lower his cost. One, the Ravens are already given him the best deal. They took the two first, not out of, you know, the goodness of their hearts of the Ravens. That's the best deal they had. Now the deal was already a one plus whatever else. I think somebody said a one plus like a three or something from Philly might have been the next best option or Dallas. Dallas isn't making that trade anymore because they trade for Rishon Gary. It just makes you the puzzle, the puzzle piece of the solve like where does Max Crosby fit? It's a much more narrow window now that free agency, the first wave of it is over because a lot of teams that would have traded for Crosby went out and made big signings and they can't afford it now. So Crosby isn't going to fit every team in the same one.

way. Plus, now they're going to be really, you know, scrupulous about this medical evaluation just to make sure that the Ravens didn't catch something extra here. And that's the reason that the trade that they backed out of this trade. But yeah, I mostly feel bad for the Raiders. It's like that they should have been allowed to have that cap space. They had two first round picks from this. And now they've got nothing. They lost $30 million in cap space. Crosby doesn't want to play for them. And they have to try to figure out another trade. It's just when you think that, I mean, the Raiders have another layer of drama. And then this is obviously not anything they wanted to have or created themselves.

And I think that's where I personally do feel bad for them. I agree with you, Mike. And if anybody, if any member of the Baltimore Ravens organization, whether it be Eric DeCosta, their GM or Jesse Minter their first year head coach, if they say, we didn't know, yeah, you did. You had to have known. How did you not know? We all knew Max Crosby had an injury coming into this offseason.

And yes, he didn't pass his physical. But you had to have known there was that risk. So you decided to go through with it and then you back out of it. Make it make sense. I mean, that's, when I saw Ari Maherov's tweet, I thought he was hacked. I thought this was like Luca Dantzsche being traded to the Lakers all over again. That's how crazy this. I've never seen a team back out of a trade for an all pro edge rusher,

an all pro at any position because of a failed physical. And they're just like, yeah, go back to Vegas. We'll take our draft pick back. They should be required to forfeit that pick if you ask me. They should be. You know what? And I guarantee you, you know what? They've got a first year head coach and they've got a, I don't know how long

the Ozzy's been out. But I don't, I think if John Harbar was there, Vazi Newsom was there. this Shabakle doesn't happen. It doesn't. You know, because they were a definitive, very definitive on who they wanted, who fit the system, how they were going to go by doing it. And they were very methodical every year about how and whom they drafted.

So, and that's where this is a complete 180 degree flip when it comes to how the Raven should be perceived. because they screwed everybody over. I get it you're trying to win. But there's a right way to do it, and this is not it. You went through with the trade. What's the worst? He gets healthy this offseason, and you have an all-pro edge rusher.

And in which case, you say, you know what, tip your cap. Now, I don't even care that he's not there. You screwed a bunch of teams over. Exactly. You know what? And a bunch of teams did get messed with quite. a bit. But I tell you what, for playing Trey Hendrickson twice a year is going to be, I mean, you talk about so many that doesn't not need any motivation to play the Cincinnati Bengals,

who they have to be. He's used to the offensive tackles in the, in the AFC North. You know, he's, he's blending in. All he's got to do is show up healthy, and he's got to, because he basically took a half a year off from playing. He's got fresh legs all over again and a rebirth in terms of where he's at. That's a good point. And I think that does matter here. Mike, how do you feel about Trey Hendrickson staying in the AFC North signing with the Ravens? That one is what it is to me.

I don't think he should have had such a barren market. I think to me, I was surprised that Jalen Phillips was able to, get $30 million a year after two major lower body body injuries with the Achilles and ACL and never putting together a season that Hendrickson had in his last healthy year 17 and a half sacks but nobody was willing to fork over that level of money to Trey Hendrickson who in 2024. I know 2025 injured still managed a few sacks into seven games used on and off in those games

being on the field. I mean 17 and a half sacks is a defensive player of the year conversations and in was a finalist for that. award so that to me was always surprising i can't be that frustrated with train because he's just taken the best offer i'm frustrated with the ravens being able being allowed to do that when i think it's legal but frowned upon more than anything because technically you can say he failed the physical etc there's no way that they can prove that he passed a physical and then they marked it failed or something but with hendrickson i'm more frustrated at more teams weren't in on that more teams didn't want to pay that. Like I said, the bills, I think the Eagles were in that market. It's just like one of

these contending teams. Yes, he's older. That is some funny money at the end for Hendrickson to, you know, get a four-year deal. I cannot imagine much of that is guaranteed into year three and four, but year one and two. Yeah, but that is a gamble worth making to me. And if I'm, again, if I'm the bills and I look at this free agency that they've had, that feels like a missing piece. It feels like They just, if I'm a Bill's fan, I'm frustrated. Bradley Chubb is no different from the guys that they keep bringing in, whether that's an old Joey Bosa, Gregory Rousseau on the other side. These are okay players.

And they'll give you some solid performances in the regular season, but where are they falling apart as in the playoffs? If they had Trey Hendrickson, I think that would change their defense, where they would finally have a guy on that defense who's not as old. And it's hard to say that. He's going to be 32. But their best pass rush for the past, like, three years has been like 36-year-old Joey Bosa, 38-year-old Vaughn Miller. You're finally going to get a guy that still has that juice who just came off 17 and a half sacks his last healthy season.

But they didn't do that. You know what? I think that if the previous coaching regime was in Buffalo, they make a push. They make a push for Trey Hedonridge. That's a good point, coach. You know, because I think that there were certain guys, and they were. went out and, you know, you hear about it all the time now that, you know, the Bengals are probably going to go out and sign like a Joey Bosa. Wow, what a drop. Because Joy Bosa is getting older,

not younger. And here you got a guy like Trey Henderson. I'm sure Sean McDermott would have loved to have had him coming up. Absolutely. You know, I mean, that was the hidden piece that they have not had and to push them over the edge defensively. You know, they've got a great inside, you know, their inside tackles got hurt. So they weren't there full speed all the time. When he comes back, he gets hurt again. Well, you need that presence. And I think, you know, it was just with all the drama that went on last year,

I think it was very, very important for Trey to move on, start anew. He's still fresh. And now he's even that much more hungry. You two sound like you're on the side of Trey Hendrickson is still going to. to be a high-impact player in 2026, which maybe. And I think, I think so. And I'm with Mike. Okay. Where are these other teams that are in dire need of an edge rusher? Did the tag and sign trade deal not go through, I mean, did not work for the Bengals? Did they, were they asking too much to in return for Trey Hendrickson and now you turned around and you got pie on your face

because you let him go for free and you let him go to a divisional opponent. That's the worst thing you want to have happened. Yeah. I think the dangles just didn't do their due diligence here. Like I don't think that they went through the process because I looked at what the Packers, well, Sean Gary posted that he got cut and then deleted it and then they were able to get what, like a fourth round pick for him from the Calibank? boys? Yeah. I think the Bengals certainly could have gotten a fourth round pick from the cowboys in this scenario then. No doubt. I mean, you think about that they could have made the trade for OCO Diggizua. And again, they have made some good signings, but at the same time, you just wonder, is there more there

could be doing? And I think what's interesting when it comes to Trey Hendrickson is he is 32. I think he is slowing down. I think the injury last year is going to stay with him, although maybe because we never actually really knew what was wrong with Trey Hendrickson. Maybe he was not that injured. Maybe he just didn't want to play here. So then your move is to let him walk to a division rival and get nothing for it? I mean, that's where, that's where I run into issues. And to make matters worse, the Baltimore Ravens were able to tamper with two of the highest free agents and trade targets this year. Absolutely. Shouldn't be. Yeah, they kind of played everybody's cards.

And you know what? Did they come out on top? We're going to find out. But the way that they played them, it's either really smart or really dumb. And you're going to have to face Trey Hendrickson twice a year. And those Bengals Ravens games, as we know, they are heavyweight matchups. The Bengals, though, made a counter move to Trey Hendrickson. We'll get into that conversation next on the Bengals Squad show.

You know, it's not like the Bengals haven't been. been active in free agency since Monday. They have extended their lander Brown Jr. two years. Good move, bad move. Where do you two stand on this? I'm on the okay move. I'm not against it. I think at the money he's going to cost you,

it's about where his level of play has been, I think. He's a starting level left tackle. I think last year was a little bit worse than we saw from him the previous couple of seasons in Cincinnati. And typically guys don't get worse as they get older and then suddenly get better. So that's where I have a little bit of hesitation of just this. He could be nearing kind of the cliff of his career where he's going to kind of lose some athleticism, lose a little bit of the ability to play it. And father time is undefeated.

It was tested with Tom Brady. I think that was the closest we came to seeing whether or not father time could be beaten, but still undefeated. I think he's kind of moving towards the back. He's definitely in the back nine of his career. So that's where my hesitation is. But being able to keep this offensive line where it is, I think that works for me. I think he was important for Dylan Fairchild in the same way Ted Karras was, in the same with Dalton Reisner was for Amarius Mims. So I like keeping him around. I am also not opposed to

starting to make the effort of having a contingency plan if things do go south, whether that's a third round pick or something, just like a later day two, day three, even a second rounder. I'm more opposed to it now because of the extension, but I think you have to start kind of building that contingency plan, but I don't hate the move because you do need to have a startable left tackle on your team. These guys are the most expensive players outside of quarterback to me. That guys like, when you watch it free agency, I feel like a lot of the times you see, oh, man, that guy got a huge contract. I'm thinking Zion Johnson this year from the Browns. It's offensive linemen because there's just, there's not a level of talent that you can pool from,

oh, they've got so many offensive linemen over there. They didn't know what to do with them. That doesn't happen. That happens with defensive linemen, kind of what happens all across the defensive line because that's a big rotation. Offensive lineman, it's pretty barren in the talent department. So if you lose Orlando Brown, you could end up with Cody Ford or somebody else starting left tackle for you. And I don't think you want to be in that situation. So having a guy there that can start is important.

But I do think we need to be thinking a little bit about the future with him, too, where if things start falling off and not even just things falling off, but if he gets injured, because he has been injured a couple of times in Cincinnati. Who is going to step into that spot? Do you want it to beat Cody Ford or do you want to have a higher level of play behind that at the swing tackle position? Yeah, I think it was a great move. The reason why you don't have anybody else. Yeah.

They obviously they didn't like anybody in free agency. They didn't want to pay the price in free agency because they would demand quite a bit. You really didn't have anybody to trade because people have obviously showed that, you know what, what you're willing to trade as far as personnel you already have on your team, we're going to back off of that. So I think you have to pay him to make Joe Burrow more comfortable. Not that he's totally, and I think exactly like when Mike was talking about, hey, if you have a senior in high school or a senior in college and a freshman coming in, oh, you want to go senior sophomore relationship,

so when he leaves, he steps up, and they don't have that the way this group of five are built. I like this signing because it rewards what he's done for you since he came here on a four-year $64 million free agency contract. I just don't know if two years is the right move. He's only 29, which I actually, I mean, the way people talk about or later, End up Brown Jr. makes me think he's 34. He's only 29. So he's in the prime of his career.

Has he been the offensive lineman? We thought he was going to be when the Vangel signed him? Maybe not quite, but he's certainly been good. And I think it's going to be interesting to see coach how he benefits from having all four starters alongside him back on the offensive line. Yeah. There's a lot to that. They've got to be able to, they've got that group together and they're solidified and, hey, let's let it go. But as you know, if you're getting, you're in 65 different street fights every day, it's a little different in terms of longevity than it is if you're a quarterback trying not to get hit. Mike, I just think this move is, okay, we know Hendrickson's going to Baltimore. We know he likes to line up on Orlando Brown side of the defense. Why not make sure

we have our stalwarted left tackle? But this also is them, you know, I think being continuity, maybe to have a higher degree than they should be. Yeah, I kind of point to the continuity of it, where Fairchild probably benefits more from having Orlando Brown next to him than a rookie. He can continue to grow, and he worked well with him in the past. I do have a little bit of worry about the Orlando Brown-Trey Hendricksson matchup, because when that happened against Kansas City, I did always feel like Trey-Henerson got the upper hand.

Trey-Henrickson was able to win that he's not a great matchup for Orlando Brown. Some people view Trey Hendricks as like non-athletic, just has these good moves, edge rusher. You look at his combine data. You look at the tracking data. He's got one of the fastest getoffs in the entire NFL. He showed that at the combine. I think when you get a guy wears these long sleeves, no gloves, you know, he just doesn't look like what you expect to be a great edge rusher to be. Some people kind of just see that and think, yeah, he's probably.

That guy, he's not an athlete. He's not a high-end athlete. He wins in other ways. He's a high-hand athlete, and that's what gives Brown trouble at times. There's a guy that can fire off of the ball like Hendrickson and be able to win the corner and be able to turn that corner. So being a guy that can use his speed and get off, and then still have the ability to win inside and through a guy as well.

It's hard to win through Orlando Brown. But I do have a little bit worried about that. But on the other hand of this, I think the Bengals are going to treat Friger-Hendrickon with respect. They're not going to let him just go one-on-on- one with Orlando Brown. I think you get a lot of chip help there. I also think they're probably going to run at him because while I think it gets a little bit overstated at times, he's not a good run defender. He's an okay run defender. So let's line up our best tight end right next to Orlando

Brown. And that'll help you both in the past and run game, where if I know if Dr. Anderson's going to be on that side, we can either double team them with those two or we can get a little chip help in the past game and not let him fire off of the ball and try to make him play in a confined space. against a 360 pound dude. So I think there's a way to handle this, but I do have a little bit of worry for when you do get in that scenario where it's going to be Orlando Brown versus a wide nine,

Trey Hendrickson, one-on-one on third and 11. I don't detest this move by the Bengals. I think it's a smart move. I think you realize that you have to be solid at the left tackle position, which they were not for several years after Andrew Whitworth left. They had a guy in the building coach. you talk about all the time, not letting players or coaches leave the building.

Well, they didn't let Orlando Brown Jr. leave the building and now they're rewarding him with a two-year extension on top of the big free agent contract that they gave him in 2023. In terms of his matchup with Trey Hendrickson, I'm excited to see how that plays out. I think Orlando Brown Jr. still has more in him than Hendrickson does. I know you two think Hendrickson is still going to go to Baltimore and make a high impact. Maybe that's the case. And maybe he wrecks Orlando Brown Jr.

But you're now going up against Orlando Brown Jr. in a game. You've only been going up against him and practice the last three years. Now, Mike, I know you talk about the one-on-one matchups that they had when Orlando Brown Jr. is with the Chiefs. And Hendrickson obviously was just beginning his tenure with the Bengals. But for me, I look at this move. I look at Trey going to Baltimore. And I just think, if you didn't think the Bengals Ravens, rivalry was real.

before, it definitely is now, coach. It is. Hey, you know the cards you're holding. You either up the ante or you fold. And I think that right now that it's going to be a good one. Last piece of business as it relates to the Bengals on today's show, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens restructured his contract. Still weighing down the Bengals and Joe Borough to potentially do it on their end.

Look at these teams. They're doing everything they can to clear cap space, to build a championship caliber team. The Bengals aren't doing it. Not saying the Bengals aren't all in, but I'm not saying they are either. Show me. It's a show me game.

And right now, you're still flipping coins. You don't know. You have no idea. They better themselves. They're better than we were last year, but last year wasn't good enough. You know, so that's great that you made strides. Have you made the kind of strides that you need?

And we won't know until- My final thoughts. Oh, sorry, Coach. Oh, we won't know until then. I think that part is frustrating where the Bengals just don't make that restructure move. It's not a borough needs to take less money. It is a Bengals need to move the money of his contract into a signing bonus, pay him out, and it lowers the cap hit so they can go do other things.

But that requires them spending actual cash in-hand money that they have not shown a willingness to do. I think that's frustrating. I think they, like coach, they're a better team than last year, and last year wasn't good enough. I think we're heading towards the draft right now with glaring needs that they just haven't filled. I think they can see that and we can see that.

I hope they can see that. I hope they're not planning on just like, yeah, we'll just run these two linebackers back. It feels like they're almost hoping that they just, sunny styles, make it to 10, please. Like, because that feels like the one guy that if you're looking across, you know, they kind of filled a little bit of this defensive. tackle thing and the Peter Woods and Caleb Banks broke his foot in the combine, I guess.

Peter Woods isn't testing extremely well. Then you look at safety, they signed Brian Cook. Are they still in on Caleb Downs? I can tell you who if he's there. It's a pretty easy pick for them is the linebacker. If Sonny Stiles makes it to 10, that feels pretty obvious. My issue, I don't see that happening. I think somebody else is going to take him.

So then where do you pivot after that is a big question? and then are you going to make sure you have to draft one in round two or round three? Because that feels like kind of what they did with guard last year, right? And it worked. But I don't know if that's a winning business model to go in and say, now we got no guard, we'll figure it out in the draft. And it worked with Dylan Fairchild. It just feels like, I don't know if I want to play with fire.

Like that feels like holding a burning, a burning stick. Eventually, that's going to hurt you. It's not going to work and work out for you. You only got to be burnt one. You know what? I mean, they've done it before. You've got to remember the famous words. We've done it before. Show us that you can do it again.

Indeed. Well, you can see Golden Hour is setting in here in Nashville, Tennessee, and hopefully it's not as blinding for the Bengals in their draft plan as it is for me right now here in the Music City. That's going to do it for us here on the Bengals Squad Show on this Friday, March the 13th, 2026 for Coach Art Filaro, 45-year coaching veteran, and now the running backs coach of the UFL's Orlando Storm. Mike Santagin at Bengals underscore Sands. You can follow his work on Twitter at bangles underscore sands and on Cincinnati bangles

talk.com is tremendous film breakdowns. I'm Alex Frank and Frankie underscore Natty on Twitter. Don't forget to learn how to become a member of the Everydayer Club. Visit lockdown podcast.com slash every day or. Lockdown Bengals. Bengals Squad show is the twice a week long form conversational supplement to the daily lockdown Bengals podcast hosted by James. James Rapine and Jake Liskos. Jake will be back with coach and yours truly next Tuesday,

where we are going to discuss more free agency and are there sunny days ahead of linebacker? No pun intended. Once again for Coach Art Fularo and Mike Santagin at Bangal 1. Bengals underscore Sands. I'm Alex Frank and Frankie underscore Natty. This has been the Bengals Squad show on the lockdown Bengals YouTube channel and the lockdown podcast, the number of the number one sports podcast number in America and the world, your team every day.