Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - BENGALS SQUAD SHOW: Plotting the PLAN and FUTURE for Dax Hill and Bengals SECONDARY

Episode Date: April 17, 2026

Dax Hill could potentially receive a contract extension with the Bengals this offseason, but should the Bengals proceed with extending him? What they do and don't do when it comes to Dax Hill's future goes hand-in-hand with what the Bengals could do with the No. 10 overall pick in the NFL Draft.  On the other side of the ball, the Bengals have the best wide receiver duo in the NFL. But behind them, the depth is an underrated question mark about this team. So, when could the Bengals draft a wide receiver next week? Should they draft a wide receiver on Day 2 or 3?  The Bengals signed Boye Mafe at edge rusher back in March. Mafe will team with Myles Murphy to help the Bengals counter the loss of All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. Alex Frank, Mike Santagana, and Coach Art Valero discuss the Bengals' group of edge rushers and if they are adequate to compete in the AFC North and for a Super Bowl.  Finally, the guys discuss the best and most impactful Bengals' draft classes in recent team history.  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.  FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game.  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.  Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men.  Rocket Money Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at http://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON  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.

I'm Alex Frank. It is time for the Bengals to plot the future with Dax Hill. And Mike's antagona, that may mean drafting a corner at number 10. I think it also means drafting a corner at 41, if one's available. But you can never have too many cornerbacks, right, coach? Oh, without question. You can never have enough good players anywhere they line up. That is so true. This is the Bengals Squad show. Today, it's the Bengals 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 Bengals Squad

Show starts now. It's a happy hour edition of the Bengals Squad Show. We are live on Lockdown Bengals and the Lockdown Podcast Network, the number one sports podcast network in America and the world, your team every day. Welcome to the Bengals Squad Show, the twice a week long-form conversational supplement to the Daily Lockdown Bengals podcast. I'm Alex Frank. He's Mike Santagina and he is coach Art Valero. We got so much to get to today. Dax Hill and whether or not that means the Bengals will draft potentially corner

a number 10, number 41. Maybe they'll take corners with all eight picks. I don't know when to draft a wide receiver if the Bengals are good at edge rusher right now. And we'll have some fun in the final segment talking about the best and most impactful draft classes in team history. But first, Mike Sentagana, you weren't with this on Tuesday, that's okay. I haven't had a chance to ask you this yet, so I'll ask you right now. Should the Bengals extend Dax Hill?

And if they don't, should they take a corner of number 10? I would, but I don't think you have to make that decision just yet. Because I am open to a corner at 10. It's not, to me, it is the piece of the defense that is the most figured out is the cornerback room where you've got two guys you feel good about. I don't know if there's, I think, I don't think there's another room. You've had two guys. You feel certainly good about the start, like starters or whatever's going on there. But I also understand the draft shakes out a certain way. And Delane or McCoy are your guy and the only guy left

in the tier that you have. Maybe it's both of them. They're the only guys left. You probably have to take the corner there rather than try to work your way. further down your own board and try to force a pick somewhere else. So I would extend him, but I would be after the draft. I would see, okay, did the draft shake out in a way that we took a corner at 10 or even 41? If it didn't work on that extension. If you did, probably moving on because it's just going to be too much, you know, resources spent in one area. That is very fair. And Dax Hill may be the player on this team that is sweating the most when the Bengals are on the clock Thursday and on the clock early on Friday.

And coach, I think where Mike is hitting here is, even if the Bengals do move forward with the Dax Hill extension, as you said, you can never have enough cornerbacks on your roster. Why is that true for every NFL team? Well, because, you know, so many people are spreading everybody out nowadays. And that's why the other key element to it is that there's so many plays and everything is now a vertical game. You need guys back there that can run and support the run as well. And most of the time, people are very rarely playing base defense that they're in a nickel or a dime situation as the down in a distance goes further. that you can move those pieces around all over the place. And they're also serve as quality special teams players

because their ability to run and to be able to come up and hit somebody. So you can never have enough good DBs on your football team. Now, the one thing that I'm thinking about, and I agree with Mike, is that if you looked at corner from the end of the season to today, that's the most stable of the defensive groups. You know, if you looked at it.

And if they're talking about a corner, I'm thinking, so what you're telling me is you're not willing to fix the other two vital spots. And I think a lot of it is smoke, but I think they really probably have put themselves in there if these guys are available. One thing that helps out a corner and or safety is a pass rush and a good one where you can play, you know,

middle of the field open defense and your pass rush will get to the, get to the quarterback, and you can play middle of the field, two safeties back and be able to stop the run because your linebackers are very, very acute players. And so I don't know how they're trying to build the team, you know, but it makes you start to think, okay, what are they thinking? And with them flashing these things out there to people possibly trying to trade up maybe to trying to get that corner from them, from them, I don't know.

See, I think also when you talk about corners and not only playing defensive back, but also on special teams, my thing is two things. Number one, because you talked about what helps a corner is a great, pass rush because then the corner doesn't have to hold up in coverage for that long. And along with that, you think about how the game of football has evolved to where if you have an elite quarterback and an elite wide receiver or in the Bengals case, too, wide receivers have enough ways to get open where they are going to get open against corners. They can't hold their coverage for that long.

So you have to help them out. I just think, and Mike, it's a great point you brought up because let's say the Bengals don't like the way the draft played out. Then they can say, okay, we're going to move forward and extend that. Hill. But I mean, what if they are playing the wait and sea game? Let's say they go corner corner with their first two picks, which I actually would be okay with. But I'm not sure if they have enough time between after the draft and by the time the regular season starts in mid-September, where they know what they have on their roster. And if you don't get a deal done with

Dax Hill, have you missed the boat on that window? So for me, while I agree with you and while I see what you're saying, I think at the same time, there's a case to be made, you've got and make that decision now with Tax Hill so you can plot out what your future looks like a corner. I think I go the opposite though, because I just like to be water. I like to be able to do whatever, you know, go with whatever flow happens in front of me. You can't control the nine picks in front of you.

If it ends up and you've got the two corners left over and then the next best player on your board is Keldrick Fock or something and you go, well, we got to take the runstop and defensive end, even though I do think the Bengals have run-stopping defensive ends. We got to take him. He's the next-plus player on our board. We've extended both our corners. Like we can't take Mansour Delane or Germant McCoy. So that's where I push back a little bit where I would do the extension after, just because

if the draft falls a certain way, I don't want to be forced to pick something that I don't have to. That's fair. Now, Mike, let me ask you this. When you think of Jamon McCoy and when you think of the fact he didn't, in play last year due to a torn ACL. Does that concern you? Does that dissuade you from potentially drafting him at number 10? Or are you like, I've seen what I've seen on tape. I like it. If he's there, I'm going to take him in number 10. Yeah, I really liked what I watched in

2024. I thought arguably, I would say Delane probably had the better year in 2025, but I like the traits of McCoy more that he showed in 2024. I don't know how concerned to be. to be honest i'm just i'm not in the i'm not in the room with the doctor that you hear some guys say you might have a degenerative knee i'll be honest i barely know what that means i just know it's bad but i don't i don't 100% know what a doctor means when he would say that and whether or not that's a smoke screen i don't know maybe somebody wants him to fall further because they also really like what they saw so based off of the tape and based off of that injury was quite a while ago i would feel comfortable taking him at 10.

But I think that is something where if there's something long-term wrong with the knee, obviously, no, I'm not going to take him and try to just like, we'll squeeze out whatever we've got out of that knee before it falls apart. Coach, when you were in a, when you were in pre-draft process, when you were in the war room, how serious would you take into consideration a player that's had a major injury like Jermont McCoy? You know what? you would really, he would go under, he'd be scrutinized very, very harsh, because that's an investment

that the team is ready to make. So you had better been cleared by not only the NFL doctors, your own doctors. And then there's always a specialist, like a knee specialist, like Dr. Andrews, that they would send him up for, you know, testing and they'd want to see it to invest that kind of money with guys with injuries. You know, regardless of what they did. If there was a question mark, if he ended up with a lack of a better, what most teams use is a degrade physically, they're going to do their homework because of the investment that they're going to put into that person. And this is what I ask you. Maybe you guys can, I was just thinking about it when Mike was talking.

What happens if all of a sudden one of those corners is available at 10? They can perceive it. They can start shopping Dax around to gain other draft capital. And all of a sudden, now you can take the guy, you trade him during the draft, and now you get somebody else's. Yeah. third, second, whatever. And now that's a brilliant move.

I'll take the wheel here on that. I think that's a great question, Coach, because I think if you draft a corner that could potentially be Dex Hills replacement, then let's say you shop them during draft week, you're going to be able to find a willing trade partner, I think easily because that team is going to say, hey, we're going to get an ascending corner. Now, preferably a contending team with a great defense than maybe is one piece away.

That's a team that's going to be willing to trade with you. They're going to get that ascending corner and they won't mind giving up, let's say, a second round pick, a third round pick where you need to fill out your rosters you talk about all the time, Coach. I think you're hitting on something really interesting here. Mike, what do you think? The only reason I'm, like, terrified is the last time I remember this happening was the Titans trading away AJ Brown to select Traylon Burks. And I know that actually is not AJ Brown. And hopefully these corners are better than Traylon Burks. but I just remember that's the only time I can think of that happened so quickly, right? I can't in my head think of another time that was they traded a guy and immediately took his replacement right after.

It's fair. And I understand why you would be terrified. But if you're, to me, this is a draft where, yes, you have eight picks and that's really good. And we talked about that on Tuesday show, coach you, you, me and Jake. But if you can get more picks, you're going to have a better chance at hitting. on picks and which you need to. And I think both of you are going to agree with me on this next question. But this draft to me that whatever they do with Dax Hill, whatever the Bengals do with Dax Hill, you have to say, this is what we're going to do with him. This is what our secondary,

particularly our defensive backroom, our cornerback room, is going to look like. That's what this draft has to be for the Bengals. Do you both agree with that? Yeah, they should have a solid plan. He shouldn't be switching a position mid-year. Exactly. I feel like they haven't had a solid plan coach with Dex Hill since day one. And they drafted to him to replace Jesse Bates right after they went to the Super Bowl. That tells you how they just have not gotten it right at a very, very vital position group within the football team. Well, you know, it makes you scratch your head all the time.

Okay, your first round draft choice is up for an extension. they're going to hold off on him. They're kind of sold on him. They think the nest back, you know, the one thing is about when you either change jobs or you're looking at other players in a trade or a draft, draft more than a trade, is the grass isn't always greener because you don't know those issues. You know your issues.

And if all of a sudden, Dax is on the team, and they design, decide to be a primarily a zone coverage team with being able to play zone coverage and fire zone or fire blitz, some of those things, then then Dax is your guy. If you're looking to play more man and all of a sudden there's a lockdown corner out there, then you best go get it. So the plan is unbeknownst to us, but I'm sure they have. one in the in the in the building they better they need to i they can't keep spinning their wheels

on what they're going to do because it's cost them three straight years and it goes back to the the whole adage that football is the ultimate team game and if one side of the ball isn't pulling their weight i was watching a a a video on the nfl throwback channel this week it was a an old game back in 2000 i shouldn't say old it was a game in 2016 the falcons beat the packers 33, 32. And Tom Brennam, who was calling the game on Fox with Troy Aikman said this. If you're scoring 33 and giving up 32, it's a okay for the defense. But if you're scoring 31 and you're giving up 32, things aren't great on defense.

Couldn't not have said it any better. And that's been the Bengals for the last three years. Why? Because they have not figured out post-Jessie Bates. It's taking them three years. You have the opportunity to do that. this year. Is it going to be with Dax Hill or is it not going to be with Dax Hill? That question needs to be answered. And Mike, I totally get where you're coming from.

If you want to wait to laugh at the draft and I see a war where that can happen. To me, though, I think you've got to make that decision either before the draft or during the draft. And it could be after the first two picks, Mike. I see what you're saying. If you don't like what you've gotten in the first two picks or if you do like what you've gotten, hey, maybe we got a replacement. Maybe shift Dax Hill, try to ship them off somewhere. If you don't, you try to work out an extension while understanding you have bodies in the room in case it doesn't work out. Yeah. I think it's the first two picks that really matter for it, where those are the guys that you expect to probably start year one,

or at least push to start year one. So if you grab one of those, you could probably figure out a corner room with Dax, Turner, and this early pick, whoever it is. but would it be better to pick up some draft capital and try to go somewhere else with that? Because you just know you're not going to pay Daxil that money. At least I don't like the other idea where they cheap out on Turner and keep Dax in the pick. That's the outcome I really don't want. Well, your priority of coroner is DJ Turner.

He's your CB1. But if you can have another guy like Daxor or somebody in the draft, that's where you have to go. Up next, wide receiver. A position of need? Never would have thought I'd say that, but I am. And we'll see if Mike and coach agree with me on why it is a need in the NFL draft. We'll get into that conversation next right here on the Bengals Squad show. All right, the NFL draft is here where preparation meets opportunity and every decision matters.

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And for more information on the Everdair Club, visit lockdown podcasts. com slash every dayer. With Mike Santagana and Kojar Filaro, I'm Alex Frank. This is the Bengalsquash, the twice a week long-form conversational supplement to the daily lockdown Bengals podcast that Jake and James host Monday through Friday.

So wide receiver. I'm asking you guys straight up, Do you view it as a need going into the NFL draft? Needs hard. I don't know about, yeah, I could see it. But probably not for the first, we're going to talk about that one to draft. For me, probably not the first two rounds. Yeah, I agree with you.

I wholeheartedly agree with you on that, Mike. But, but, coach, if you acquire some draft picks via a trade, let's say you do make a splash and get a steal of a wide receipt. in the second round. Not saying that's bad. That actually might be good. Oh, it'd be outstanding for the offense. Now, I don't think it would be, I think, still beating the dead horse. I think that those first two picks have to be splash players, not sit and watch somebody else play type players. They have to come out. Now, do they need a slot player? Yes, they do. If they can get some draft capital and move themselves up the board. I can see them picking a very good one at three or four.

But I think there are so many needs that they have to address and they haven't addressed in free agency that have to have to are paramount in their in their selection process. And if they really felt like they needed a white out, a slot receiver, Because you're not looking at a wide receiver. You're looking at a guy more in the slot. Then they should have addressed that during free agency and picked up that player. I thought when everybody was mentioning, who was it, Hopkins? Yeah.

It was floating around. He would have been a great slot and a great contributor to the offense. To go out there and I don't want to say the word waste, but invest in that when you have so many other needs. that would be hard for me to swallow. Yeah, and I agree with you there because, I mean, the defense was so bad last year. It bottomed out so hard that you have to nail defense in your first pick,

your second pick, maybe even your third pick, or if you do get another second round pig via a trade, or if you trade down, acquire more picks, something like that. I agree with you. But let me ask you about this, and coach, I'll start with you because you hit on something very interesting that was actually going to ask anyway. Let's say you do draft a wide receiver because you, You've got more picks in the second round, but he's a possession wide receiver.

Jamar Chase and T. Higgins are both tremendous wide receivers. They're the best wide receiver doing in the NFL. They're big play guys, and that's great. You need that in the NFL. But what if you have a possession receiver that can allow Chase and Higgins to do more than what they're already doing in this offense? And that possession wide receiver, you keep the ball for longer per game, and that keeps your defense off the field, it keeps them fresh, we may be on to something here.

You know what? I think that's a great thought because that's who the West Welkers were, you know, those types of players, and it allowed Randy Moss and those guys to become that much more potent in the passing game, because now the coverage has to sink towards them. The great thing about it is a possession receiver, will be allowed to go later in the draft than at the top of the draft. At the top of the draft, they're looking for the Jamar Chases.

They're looking for those splash players that can light up a scoreboard. Excuse me. And I think that, you know, absolutely. That kind of player, awesome. I think it would be great for the offensive side of the ball. It almost feels like wanting to. a tight end though right yeah yeah i mean i think both of those the inside the number two receivers inside

if you had a balance formation those guys are they can they can they could both use an upgrade because what i was thinking is is kind of applies to both is i would love a guy that could play in the slot that also blocks really well because i don't think they get great blocking from the wide receivers all the time so that would be something that'd be nice to be able to get a guy to that can just be a dirty work type of guy in the slot. And then I was thinking about that too. I was like, do I just want a tight end? Do I just want like a tight end that can flex to the slot and block well?

Maybe. Yeah. And Jake Liscoe has said on this show before that that's who Mike Kisicki is. Now, I understand that. I prefer Kisiki to stay a tight end. So you have a presence at that position that you really have not had since Tyler Iper. And then you can draft or maybe still sign a wide receiver like that in free agency. but you hit on something really interesting there, both of you did,

because I think about the great wide receiver duos that Chasing Higgins remind me of. Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, well, they also had their wide receiver threes and Brandon Stokely and Brian Fletcher and Marcus Poller plus their tight end, coach I'm sure tight ends coach, you know this, this name Dallas Clark. I mean, that's why those guys were able to do what they did. And then you think about Isaac Bruce and Tori Holt. They had their other wide receiver threes. Ricky Prol. And then Azahir, I forget how pronounced his name.

Anzakim. Thank you. Yes. Azakima. What a player he was. So all three, all those wide receiver duos had their wide receiver threes, their possession receivers, their tight ends. And I just feel like right now with the Bengals, Jason Higgins are otherworldly. That's great. They have those guys locked up for the foreseeable future. But I'm concerned about the depth behind him. Gisiki I like, but Andre Yosevash, and we talked about this last week, Coach, you and me and Joe Danim and Fox 19, every single year, particularly the last two of his career, we've heard, oh, watch Andre Yosevosh, he's going to have that breakout here, and then he doesn't. So it's like, if you're going to move on from him, I think it'll be a smart move. You got to be prepared, and you got to have a plan to do so.

You got to have players and playmakers in the room. And that's where a drafting receiver comes in very heavily in this draft. I think, yeah, it points to what they kind of did wrong to me a little bit. And maybe they were thinking they move on from T. Higgins, but drafting Jermaine Burton just felt like a little bit more of the same of what they had. A guy that wins deep down the field, he's not going to block for you. He, I don't think he played, you don't think he played much slot in college from what I remember watching. So that feels like, how are you going to get him on the field unless you moved on from T. Higgins in that scenario? know, and then obviously it went poorly for off the field stuff too.

But I think on the field, it was always a little bit mismatched in my head of what, what is this guy really going to bring you? Because defense aren't, to me, adding a speed guy like that, defenses aren't playing single high against the Bengals because they already have Jamar Chase. They're going to play everything too high, middle field open, and now you need a guy that's going to be able to take advantage of that. So if you put two safeties deep, there's more room underneath. So getting a guy that can both block stuff to run the ball underneath, but also to catch the ball and be a smart zone receiver and just pick up six, seven yards at a time, I think that's what they need more than anything.

The sexy plays are fun, but they are, I think Higgins does it a bit. He can be a grinder underneath, but he also makes a lot of plays down the field. Having a guy that just run blocks, plays in the slot, does the nasty stuff, catches six yards on third and five, that's the type of. guy I'd want. Coach? Absolutely. Well, you know, you look at, just look at last year's offense. The, you know, you've got those two great players outside. But when you're running back catches 60-some balls, where's your third whiteout? Where's your tight end? Are they clearing it out for the back, he's usually the last person in the concept progression. And he caught 60 balls. How many did the tight ends catch total? How many did that slot receiver catch total? Now you've got to be

able to spread the ball around to where now you can't bracket either to outside guys because or roll up on them. And you better commit a safety and a corner on those guys because of the fact that they are such big play people. And that means if they're sinking off, you've got all kinds of stuff underneath, you know, linebacker depth under. And I think that that is a valuable tool that you would have. You know, the very first episode of the Bengals Squad show was on November 13th of last year. Today's April 17th. And in that time frame, I haven't brought him up. Mike, I feel like you haven't brought him up. Coach, you haven't brought him up, and that's okay. Neither is Jake, neither is anybody that's been on this show.

But I can't tell you, even with how great the offense has been at times the last two seasons, how many times I watched the Bengals and go, man, I still wish Tyler Boyd was still here. I can't tell you how many times. And Mike, you brought up with Jermaine Burton. The Bengals made that pick because they were preparing to move on from T. Higgins. Now, is it okay to realize that because of how, you know, poor, that pick was with Jermaine Burton and the value of T. Higgins and what it became at the end of 24 is it okay to realize, hey, we've lived on this traffic, but now we know what we have in T. Higgins?

I mean, yes, but it's still a premium pick that you spent on Jermaine Burton and it was wasted. Excuse me, but the other thing, too, is they have not moved on, I think, from Tyler Boyd, and what he did for this offense. Because, coach, you mentioned T. Higgins being able to be a grinder, underneath, and I agree with you. I think he can be. But Tyler Boyd was that. Tyler Boyd could go across the middle and pick up 10 yards on third and nine. Tyler Boyd could pick up five yards on second and four and then turn that into a 15-yard gain. That's what he could do. And if you have that, that allows your two horses on the outside to be able to streak down the field and do other things like run a deep post or something like that. They have not had that. They thought it was

going to be with Andre Yosey Vash. It hasn't. And that's where because you saw what Tyler Boyd did with your three-way wide receiver with Chase Higgins and Boyd, there's a reason they were so good together. And when Tyler Boyd has left, it has looked hard for the Bengals of times to move the ball. I can't stress that enough because I feel like if you find a wide receiver like him in this year's draft class, you could get back to the offense that you were running and you were, excuse me, succeeding at level-wise in 21, 22, and 23 before Burrow got hurt. I mean, yeah, I agree. Tyler Boyd kind of was that dirty slot receiver that would run me and dig out

safeties. So, and then get open over the middle of the field. So are they missing something in the receiver room? I think it's that. And to me, I think that's still a position that, I don't know if it's undervalued, but since there's not a size speed requirement, not like an athleticism or size requirement, you can find them a little bit later in the draft. Obviously, you hope to find them.

Or if you, there are some of them are going to go round one, round two. Seems like Mikea Lemon is kind of like one of these slot receivers that can block. I haven't watched because I just don't think the Bengals are going to take them. But will if they do. Yeah. But yeah, you hope to find one of these guys that can do all that. I think when you, it's similar to slot corner. It's a valued position, I think, on a team.

It's just because you don't have. that same only the genetic freaks are playing outside only type of corner and receiver you know you look at t higgins jemar chase and it's like those guys are out there for a reason you get a guy that runs a four five 40 instead and maybe he's 511 that guy's going inside and there's a lot of guys that are good players that can do that yeah i mean yeah you know you know what you're looking for um not that game breaker but you're looking for the guy that gets you're looking for the guy that gets It's in a position where he's quicker than fast and he's to the point where you can move him different spots and still isolate him that allows. He draws so much attention that all of a sudden if he's sitting in a zone hole, you can bring the other guys in behind him where there's huge voids.

and it adds more to those wide receivers, those true wideouts, to be able to run other than streaks, comebacks, you know, curls, you know, that, I mean, that, to them, it allows them to make bigger plays. And you've got a guy, you're also going to get a guy, and if they can gain ground

and after the catch, get some vital yards. And that keeps the chains moving. I go back to what Mike you said in the top of this segment where you said that it's hard to say wide receiver is in need. And I agree with you because you already have two game breakers at that position in Jason Higgins. But in terms of depth behind them and allowing them to do more than what they're already doing, you got to also factor in T. Higgins's injury history. It is enough for me to believe that that is a factor. That's where I think wide receiver, while it may not be a pressing need, it may not be a need that stands out.

it is an underlying need that if not addressed adequately this draft, this offseason, may come back to bite this team, unfortunately, long term next year, 28. Because if you're not prepared when you move on inevitably from Andre Yosevash, unless he breaks out finally this year and then you extend him and all is fine. But if you're not prepared to move on from him and you have to have a wide receiver three, and again, I don't think it can be a tight end. I understand the tight ends today can be more of a hybrid of a tight end wide receiver. Coach, am I right on that because you coached tight ends back 20 years ago.

Are tight ends today, can they be more of that hybrid tight end wide receiver type? You know what? They are. And it goes back to a number of years ago. You know, when I was coaching tight ends, you always had a true why, a true hand on the dirt. why tight end who was adequate in the passing game but was very good in the running game. Your other tight end who came in in 11 personnel or one tight end and one back, he was more against nickel and could run and could really take the top half of the defense off and clear it up

to where now people can no longer bring a safety down in the box. They better play too high. And then now your white outs can go to work. You know what? Most teams have a true why, and they have a, call them an H or an F or whatever you're going to call them, that other tight end who is usually your move guy and he can flat out go. We had, when I was coaching tight ends, we had Ken Wilger, who was the true why, and Ricky Dudley was, what we named him is he was the U.

And he could, Ricky could really run. And that was, you know, his, he was more than adequate in the run game. But boy, he really allowed Joey Galloway, Kishon Johnson, those guys to really make a difference in the passing game. Not to mention Keith, not to mention Keating McArdell. Yeah. It feels like the Bengals kind of have that. It's just how good do you feel about Drew Sample as your Y and Mikeosaki as your F, you, whatever, you want to call him? So that feels like they kind of have that split already where I don't know if it's that potent, though.

Is it could you use an upgrade at the Y to a guy that can catch the ball and run after the catch a little bit? Because I think Sample's a fine block or hand in the dirt. he's willing to do it. And the other end, could you get a guy from Gaseki? And I don't think you move on entirely from either one of these guys, but I especially don't think you move on from Gaseki entirely because he got that extension. A guy maybe who blocks a little bit better, or maybe Gisiki, he can dunk on guys, but a little more after the catch juice like you've been talking about.

So I think those are some openings that are available too, where you kind of split the position. They call it tight end, but there really are two guys. You've got your guy that's going to be an extra offensive lineman, and you've got your guy that's really an extra wide receiver. And then sometimes you find a unicorn that can do both. Yeah, you know what? They're too big to be a whiteout, and they're too small to be an offensive lineman. So, hey, there's that guy. And they're out there.

You just, you know, the Waller kid from the radio. Yeah, Darren Waller. He was that guy. Yes. And, you know, I don't think he's in the league anymore, but he was that guy. He was a big. He just caught like six touchdowns last year. He came back to the Dolphins.

He did. Kyle Pitts, I think, is like, is that kind of guy coaching against your former division rival in Atlanta. So there are guys who are like that. But again, it goes back to the point that we've made on this show is that the draft is where you can upgrade a talent at a position where you already may have it. Great conversation. Truly, truly, really great conversation. on wide receiver. And then that tells you how valuable the position is. The Bengals have it,

but can they be even better? And that's the thing. The Bengals kind of, you know, they were cutting edge when they got both Chase and Higgins in 2021. You saw teams completely changed the way they play defense when they played the Bengals. They started that. Now the Bengals have an opportunity to punch back and say, all right, cover Chase Higgins and this guy. See if you can do it. Coming up next, are the Bengals adequate at edge rusher? You can never have too much pass rush. We'll get into that conversation next on the Bengals Squad show. This edition of the Bengals Squad show is brought to you by Rocket Money.

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and it was that the Houston Texans and Will Anderson have agreed to a contract extension. And this is a monster deal. Three years up to $150 million, $134 million, guaranteed. Coach, Will Anderson. What stands out to you when you watch him? very good player worth that much i mean wow they they must hit that ceiling he just blew it off you know what he's a great player great player and he services them very well he fits their scheme um wow that's that's an awful lot of money bangles and texas this year he's gotten better every year I wonder if that's a little bit of projection, too, to think, like, he's going to keep on improving. Well, here's a, yeah, here's a guy who was second overall pick in 2023 by the Texans.

I mean, you want to talk about the career he had Alabama. I remember him destroying the UC Bearcats in the college football playoff. Will Anderson, seven sacks is rookie season, but Mike, you're right, 11th his next season in 24. And then this past season, he had 12, 12 sacks, 20 tackles for lost, first team all pro, second, defensive player of the Yervone behind some guy named Miles Gare, who set the sack record this year. So that tells you how good of a player he is. You're both right. He reset the edge rush your market. And it made me think two things. One, the Bengals were right to not resigns Trey Hendrickson or extend Trey Hendrickson because, yeah, you might have gotten a steel, but you also

would have had to, I think, overpay because of what his asking price was. And with declining production, it would not have been good. But it also begs this question. Are the Bengals adequate right now. They sign boy, Mafei and a standing edge rusher, and that's fine. Are they adequate enough at edge rusher to compete this year in the AFC North and the NFL? To compete? Maybe. I think they could use one more, though. Yeah. Yeah. Just like, if Shamar Stewart's your third and he doesn't improve from last year, I don't know if you're in a good spot. Problem. Yeah. If he improves and Miles Murphy continues his ascension, you're in a pretty good spot. But I always get worried about a little bit of stagnation where I would love for a guy to keep getting better.

But I'm not going to put all my eggs in that basket of that guy improving. I think it's like if you improve and I'm not in one more edge rusher, I think does nothing in terms of Shamar Stewart isn't going to see the field anymore. You need four in my head. And because you need very simply, I think you would need a backup for Boy Mape and a backup for Miles Murphy. So one on each side, and I think Murphy maybe, I think both those guys are big enough that they can both be a strong side end. Maybe you're more Murphy strong side end. They kind of split side by side. I think in Cincinnati, I don't know if those are Trey Hendrickson thing or not, where they're left, right.

But you split them, you got those two. They should have one guy behind them that is getting plenty of snaps because I think a rotation is key here. But I think you need four. And right now they've really got three. I guess Cedric Johnson is in there as well. but I just don't feel good about the depth behind the top two. So I would personally at least try to get one more, whether that's in this draft or after free agency.

I know they keep getting linked to like Joey Bosa because he's an Ohio state guy from Ohio. So it is possible as mercenary type of signing after the draft. But I don't know what coach thinks, but I think you need four. Adequate? Yes. Good enough to win the division? No. I think just like Mike, they need to add.

some more pieces because you have to keep those guys fresh in order for them. And I don't think that they really had that last year, you know, with Hendrickson being out with, you know, they, they were, guys were playing both rundowns and pass downs. They didn't have that designated pass rusher who came in and put any fear in anybody's mind. So, yeah, I think they need to go out and get it. Find somebody, find another good player that fits the system and can play. I don't know the last time they had a true like DPR designated pass rusher type.

Like Trey Hendrickson's almost the closest thing, but he's on the field all the time. Yeah. Well, I mean, guys that I can think of that are close to it at least, Carlos Dunlap, Michael Johnson. They were big. They were playing the run. I mean, Dunlap was like 280. Yeah. He's out there.

They're making it. a true athletic edge rusher. But again, by the time it came time to extend Trey Hendrickson, he was already over 30. And this team, for better or for worse, has their, what's the word I'm looking for? They have their reservations when it comes to extending guys, regardless of position, over 30.

Now, that may change with part of Jason Higgins, and it should. And that's a conversation for way in the future. But coach, I think it goes to a point that we've made. and I'm sure you agree with me on this, having coached with great defensive coaches like Mike Tomlin, like Ron Marinelli, Joe Barry, Monty Kiffin. If you have pass rush coming in waves,

if you have so many different guys coming at you, that is going to create so much havoc for opposing offensive linemen. Questionable. That is when they just keep coming. And, you know, because those five stay on the field, every snap. And when you have a defensive line and it's rotation, It's like shuffling cards.

Where do I put my ace? You know, you can move them all over the place. It's having fresh guys coming in and out puts a tremendous strain on the office. You think about, hey, in the third and fourth quarter, they're not tired like the line guys are. And that's when they can really pick it up. And now you really win the game in the fourth quarter. Yeah, I think of the New York Giants, the NASCAR package they have where they had JPP and Yuma and Justin Tuck. And it's just so many guys that it makes it difficult to defend.

I think one thing that helps them too is I'm hoping there's still going to be some life in Jonathan Allen where I thought it was still there a bit in Minnesota. he is at that age where it could completely fall off and that it wouldn't be shocking. But I think that's one where they haven't had a guy that can truly rush from the interior like that. I think BJ Hill has been here, so I'm not including him. Larry Ogon Joby, they let him go after the Super Bowl. And it feels like they never got a guy like him again where he could just shoot into the backfield, make a big play against the run or the pass. but specifically, I think a pass rusher like Ogun Joby, if Jonathan Allen can bring that,

that's something they haven't had for a while. That's a great point there because I, Larry Ogun Jobie was so good in the interior and he could stop the run. He could even get after the quarterback. He had a fumble recovery in the playoffs against the Raiders. And it felt like even in that playoff run, when he got injured and missed the entire rest of the postseason, the Bengals defense just never felt they didn't have that enforcer next to DJ Reader. With DJ Reader, they were good. But when they didn't have him and Larry Oganjobie,

you felt that it could have been even better if they did. By the way, real quick, Will Anderson, going back to him, in 2021, I didn't think it was this good. He had 17 and a half sacks, 34 and a half tackles for loss. That is insane production. Brocko Nogerski Award winner two times. He won the Chuck Bednarik Award in 2022. Oh, by the way, he was a two-time All-American. But with the Bengals, it just made me think because you still have to have an edge rusher in this league.

The Houston Texans essentially are an AFC North team playing in the AFC South. Why? Because they have a ferocious pass rush. Their secondaries locked down. They have solid players of linebacker and Toa Toa and Aziz Al Shire. They're also very good

on offense. They can run the football. And I think they're going to be a very good running team this year. They have game breaking wide receivers and Nico Collins. They also have a good quarterback, a really good quarterback, I think still in CJ's drought. They are essentially an AFC North team. And so when I think at the Bengals, coaches you said, they have adequate pass rushes. Boy, my face is sending. Miles Murphy, the light bulb came on for him last year.

If Shamar Stewart can improve this year, then all of a sudden you have something and that's good. But at the same time, and this is a common poll, Dana Jr. made back at the combine. I don't want opposing offensive forehanders every week to be, you know, drooling and salivating over what they can do with their offense against this Bengals defense. Because if you have that pass rush coach, you can silence everything else that that offense wants to do against the Bengals. Oh, well, you know, that is one thing that was really lacking last year. so it put every other position behind them in a position, a very vulnerable and an indignant position. And I think that that really hurt the defensive coaches is there was no pass rush.

There was no tackling in the secondary. So what do you know you can work those young guys underneath? you weren't going to slow them down because you couldn't create a pass rush. And they were in situations. Then you started to move them back and where that was safe, you had to come down to cover a slot

or somebody else. And now it was really difficult. No question about that. No question about that. So some of the best fangles pass rushers have come in the draft. Some of them have come in free agency and Troy Hendrickson.

Coming up, fun topic to round out this Friday show. We're going to take a look back at some of the best and most impactful draft classes in recent Bengals history. We'll do that next right here on the Bengals Squad Show. NFL draft is one week away, less than one week away, actually, Thursday night in Pittsburgh on ESPN. 8 Eastern Coach, you and I will be doing a draft show live, live edition of the Bengals Squad show that night. Mike, we hope to have you with this as well. We're also welcoming in guests, fans. This is a show for the fans.

So if you want to come on, voice your opinions on the Bengals, on the draft, on their draft pick, the outlook for the 2026 season, we are welcoming you to our show, the Bengals Squad Show, the twice a week, law and form conversational supplement to the daily lockdown Bengals podcast. And of course, James Rapids and Jake Liska will have you covered every step of the way through draft week. Coach, I'm going to turn to you first. So what makes a draft class memorable five, six, five to ten years after the fact? What makes it memorable five, ten years down the road? Well, I think what it does is that each of those players you draft get second contracts on the same team. I think that your percentage of winning and winning big playoff, right?

or you're always in the playoffs. They're very, very comfortable in their skin, so to speak. You've got some veteran players on your team. Unfortunately, that 10 years down the road may not happen because of either they get their fifth year option, some of those players, or they move on. And I think that's the key is that those guys are coming in and within the first. three years of their rookie contracts, that they're all starters, that they're all players and contributing heavily to the success of the team. And I think when you start to make it, you don't even allow them to get to that point, then you've made some mistakes. And

instead of just coming out and saying it, you're just keeping the same thing again. Why? Because you've done it before. And that's the thing that's scary. It is. But when it comes to the Bengals, for as many, you know, misses as they've had in recent seasons, I think about the 2020 draft class, Mike. I think of Joe Burrow and T. Higgins. They're both still here. They're both on their second contracts. That's good. Heck, Logan Wilson even signed a contract extension back in 2023. That's a memorable draft class. I think about, I think about 2011. Andy Dalton and AJ Green, both got second contracts, both rebooted the franchise at a really dark point in the Bengals history coming

off the tumultuous 2010 season. They both rebooted the franchise, got to the playoffs five straight years. And even 2010, Dunlap and Gino Atkins. So, Mike, is there another draft class in recent memory for you that stands out as one of the best in team history, one of the most impactful in team history? A couple here. I think you'd mentioned 2011. And I think that almost works in conjunction with 2012, where you got starting corner in Drake, Kirkpatrick, Kevin Sightler, at Guard, Mohammed Sanoo, and Marvin Jones, and George Iloca in the fifth round to be a starting safety. I think that's a big one that kind of helped them make the playoffs in a year and a row in terms of the most impactful. I think 2015 kind of does the opposite there.

Cedric Ogwayie, Jake Fisher, Tyler Croft, Paul Dawson, Josh Shaw, Marcus Hardison. Thankfully, C.J. Usoma was there because I'm not sure anybody else. else there. Did they get second contract? I think maybe Tyler Croft. I can't think of any of these other guys getting second contracts in the NFL, not just on the team. So that's how you close a window. I think 2011, 2012 is how you open it. And it was looking in the past, I think 06. I don't know, that's not that recent 20 years ago. Jonathan Joseph, Andrew Whitworth, back to back. And then Ross and Rucker and Domota Pecco. I love, Rossi and Pecco. Yeah. Yeah. Rucker and Pecco after that the latest guys didn't uh guys after that weren't anything too crazy and then the only other

one because i went through looking after you pose this question was 2001 which i would have been pretty young for that but justin smith chad johnson first two rounds rudy johnson in the fourth and of course j hushmanzata in the seven i think a big thing is when you can get one of those good players in on day three a good starter the only class i can think of recently that the bengals might have that would be 2023, but we're still kind of seeing how that pans out, right? Miles Murphy, round one, DJ Turner, round two. I think the arrow's been pointing up for both those guys, especially Turner.

Jordan Battles started. Charlie Jones is a good returner. Chase Browns are starting running back. Andre Yosevas, he's been a starting wide receiver for them. So I think that's an impactful draft class too, where they got a lot of starters there. Now, I think those guys there that might want to improve on, but it's not the same as some of these other draft classes they've had recently

where everything after the first pick or so is lit on fire. If I remember 2012 and all those players you mentioned, but coach goes back to the point that you've made in this segment is that if you don't keep the guys in the building, what does that draft class ultimately become? I think about all those guys from 2012, Kevin Seidler left the building. George Iloca eventually was gone.

The new and Jones same year. Yeah, I mean, you think about Marvin Jones gone after 2015. So you let guys out of the building. You don't let the draft class ultimately become what you thought it was going to be for your first four years. You let guys out of the building. Yeah, I mean, when you let them go, that tells you, at least to me, that you didn't do a very good job in terms of evaluating not only the talent, the character, how they fit into the system long enough.

You either were impatient or you were too patient with some of your draft choices, and they're all questionable. You know, and then you bring up this year, and all of a sudden they're thinking about getting, you know, maybe cut loose one of their ones. Okay, it was later until Miles Murphy started to play more, and he started to ascend, or there could have been another catastrophe number one.

Then you got last year's number one who you really haven't seen. So you're saying, wow, who's running the show? You know, what kind of players are you looking for? And build this roster. And do you have the input in the collaborative effort of the coaches, scouts, front office, head coach to build the final 53. And I think that's what you need to have. Think back to 2007 in that draft class in the first round.

Leon Hall, big fan of his, played a long time with the Bengals, played 12 years in the NFL. Shimonidu Ndukeway was a solid player. But I think about 2010, where they not only drafted Dunlap and Gino, but they also got Jermaine Gresham in the first round. They got Jordan Shipley in the third round. He was okay for, I mean, at least the first couple years of his career. 2013 is another one that stands out to me.

Tyler Eifert, Giovanni Bernard, Sean Williams, Rex Burkett even had some moments with this team. You can go to 2018, Jesse Bates, Sam Hubbard, Billy Price, who then was used Mike as a chip to trade for BJ Hill. Look how that turned out. But when I'm looking at that, when I see the Billy Price, I don't think of BJ Hill. I think of, oh, man. To be fair, I actually did think through his first two games,

he was going to be pretty good. I remember thinking he was progressing nicely before he got injured in week two against the Ravens on Thursday night football. Another reason why I did not play the Ravens on Thursday night football, especially on the road. There are some memorable draft classes recently, obviously 2020, 2021 for Jamar Chase.

Other than that, well, I should say Evan McPherson in that draft class, but other than that, what a watch that was. 2023, you like what you're seeing, I think, right now. Even this past season, Dylan Fairchild looks like he's a hit. Demetrius and Barraccar, I think we're still waiting to see. But it is interesting that even with a lot of your whips, you can find some silver linings. They have found some good players.

There's 2024. I mean, Coach, look at Amarius Mims. Look how good he's become as this team starting right tackle. And then you think about what Eric Gold Jr. could be this year when he comes back. So look, we talk about it. The draft is risk management. Some are going to pan out.

Some are not. The more picks you have, the better you have to hit on a majority of your draft. Especially in the premium rounds. Mike, real quick. And it's okay if you don't know. do you know who you want the Bengals to draft at number 10? Like who is the one guy you want the Bengals to draft? Caleb Downs.

Caleb Downs. I think he's the best player in the draft. Yeah, you have been very vocal about that on Twitter. I am not shocked that you say that. And I like that. Coach on Tuesday, you and I, along with Jake Liska, are going to reveal the players that we want the Bengals to pick at number 10. I have mine.

Why do you always tease me like that? I was ready when Jake hit, I mean, when Mike hit his, and all of a sudden now, I'm like, oh, okay, hurry up and wait. It's called a tease in the business to be continued. Coach, you and I are back on Tuesday with Jake Lisco, and then coach, you and I are going to be hammering out content on draft night. So we are going to be locked in, ready to go before we go. You guys coach, or the Orlando Storm, a big game tomorrow afternoon and afternoon game at the Birmingham Stallions. what are you guys expecting tomorrow?

As you guys look to go four and oh on the season. Well, you know what? We're excited to, I mean, these things are now flowing really fast. And if we can just get three hours better than we were last week. And I think this team is still growing. We still have a lot of unanswered questions. We want some other guys to be able. Well, all of a sudden, hey, we're in the middle of it.

We're out of camp. We've been out of camp. You should be arrested and just go out and execute. If we can go run our stuff, both offensively and defensively, will be okay. The second thing is understanding the rules. And the way we won last week has been discontinued. And now you play it until it's over. How about that?

Yeah. I mean, that's still crazy to me how if you have two pass interferences on the same drive, that the other team wins. And if you're on the right side of it, it's a good day. And that's what happened to you guys last Saturday. Mike, your Cavs tomorrow, 1 o'clock prime video against the Toronto Raptors game one of the first round. Your series prediction for Cavs Raptors. Probably Cavs and six.

I think they can handle the Raptors. I think they lost most of the regular season games against them. But that was before the Harden trade. We'll see. I don't have the most confidence in them against the pistons in the next round. I don't have much confidence against the Knicks against Boston if they get to that point in the conference. I do think the Knicks take care of the Hawks in six as well. NBA playoffs start tomorrow, prime video, ABC, and then continuing Sunday on ABC and NBC.

Plenty of content coming your way on lockdown Bengals with Jake Lusco and James Rupin, your daily lockdown Bengals host. And of course, here on the Bengals' Guards show, the twice a week long form conversational supplement. the Daily Lockdown Bengals podcast. I'm Alex Franket, Frankie underscore Natty, Mike Santagina, Bengals underscore Sands, coach Ruffel Arfellar, 45-year coaching veteran, current running backs coach of the Orlando Storm and the UFL

and Super Bowl 37 champion with the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tomorrow is the Cincinnati Bearcats spring game at Nippert Stadium. Coach, have you ever coached a game at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati? Yes, I have when I was at the University of Louisville. I coached a game. And once upon a time, when a good friend of mine was coaching at Cincinnati with the guy that came from Long Beach State, Curry, I went there and that was when it was still, whoa. You guys play here? And then ultimately cleaned it up and dressed it up.

It's a nice place. Very loud. Well, good thing I look this. I don't know if this is true. but the UC football spring game tomorrow. Good thing I just looked this up has been canceled due to the weather forecast. That is not a good sign. So I was going to say you were going to have that.

And then check out Jeff Carr with Locked on Bearcats. But you can check him out with his co-host, Stephen Offenbaker on Locked on Reds. The Reds 11 and 8 taking on the Minnesota Twins this weekend. But, of course, the big story in Cincinnati is the NFL draft. And we are back next Tuesday, coach you, me and Jake Lisco, giving our picks of who we want the Bengals to pick a number 10. And then Thursday, it is the show. It is the NFL draft coach.

You and I, Mike, you will be talking with fans and hopefully talking about a big swing for the Bengals at number 10. For Mike Sandsagga, Bengals, underscore Sands, and Coach Arifilera. I'm Alex Frank. This has been the Bengals show right here on lockdown Bengals and the lockdown podcast network, the number one sports podcast network in America and the world, your team every day. Have a great weekend and we'll talk to you on Tuesday afternoon right here on the Bengals Squad show. Thank you.