Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Chase Brown & Samaje Perine Are GREAT Fits for Bengals Offense, But Depth UNCERTAINTY Lingers

Starting point is 00:00:00 Chase Brown and Samajapir, Ryan, form a really solid one-two punch for the Bengals of running back. But with no one else really on the roster, running back three and the future of the position are questions for the Cincinnati Bengals. You are Locked-on Bengals, your daily Cincinnati Bengals podcast. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. What up, Bengals fans, and welcome to another episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. He's Joe Goodberry. I'm Jake Liscoe. Locked on Bengals.

Starting point is 00:00:36 We've been covering the Cincinnati Bengals for many, many years between the two of us. Decades, you could say. And we're here for a review of the Bengals running back position today where we really like what Chase Brown brings to the table. I might be Somaget P. Ryan's biggest fan that doesn't know him personally. And I think those two guys form for the Bengals offense, especially, a really good one-two combo for an offense that's so pass-heavy, so shock. gun heavy so straightforward in terms of not getting under center, turning Joe Burroughs back to the

Starting point is 00:01:12 defense, all the dressing up that you see the Kyle Shanahan style offenses do. The Bengals don't do a whole lot of that. I think these running backs are really good fit for what they do, but we have questions beyond that. So as we review the Bengals running back room today, we're going to talk about that extension conversation for Chase Brown and how that might play out for the Bengals, what might make sense there. If there is any hope for Taj Brooks or any of these other running backs on the roster to emerge as a viable running back three or running back of the future on this team and what the future holds at the position after we get through where we're starting,

Starting point is 00:01:48 which is a discussion of what Chase Brown and Samagei Pryne do for this football team. Today's episode is brought to you by Fandwell, the biggest stage in world soccer is here and let there be goals on Fandwell.com is here as well. You can check it out at vandal.com to get started. Joe, let's start with Chase Brown, Samage, P. Ryan, really efficient running game last year. And when people hear that, a lot of the times they look at the counting stats instead of the rate stats, and they wonder what the heck you're talking about. But the Bengals really figured some things out in the run game last year, which they've done before.

Starting point is 00:02:22 And now we need to see if that'll continue into 2026, 2027 and beyond. But some reasons to be bullish on this running game as it fits into the Bengals off. and specifically going forward. Yeah, there is. And I think a lot of it is going to be placed on Scott Peters and the offensive line, getting these guys to play, maybe even at times above their previous level, like Dalton Reisner in the run game, right? But I do think James Casey, new run game coordinator.

Starting point is 00:02:49 Well, you're right. I keep crediting because I assume he has something to do with this last year if he now has that title this year. I agree, right? There's always more people in there. We lost the run game coordinator when Frank Pollack departed. So it was a question last year, who's going to take that on? Are they going to ignore the run game?

Starting point is 00:03:06 There was a part of me that thought they may. And they didn't. And some of it was when Burrell went down. I think they had to figure it out. They had to flesh it out. They had to buy in and complete this run game completely. And the rate didn't change as much as people may comment and say that they got on her center more with Joe Flacco.

Starting point is 00:03:24 They really didn't that much more. It was slightly more. And then when Burrell came back, the run game was still very efficient. and they were still able to run the ball down the stretch. And these are good things to look at. Number one, they have to figure out what they're going to do with Chase Brown, Smajapir, Ryan, the number three, these are all big conversations for the future of that position. What they have right now, I like the first thing you said was their great fits for this offense.

Starting point is 00:03:47 And I think that is true. Number one, this is a passing offense. If when in doubt, air it out, right? That should probably be their slogan because if they get into a jam, they're going to throw the ball and they're going to throw to Jamar Chase probably or T. Higgins. And if not, Chase Brown is that third guy. I mean, he's a really, really good receiving running back. He's a quality pass protector, too, for not being the biggest guy.

Starting point is 00:04:09 Smyjic Perman is one of the better past protectors in the league. You can do a lot with him. You can put him on an island at times on the edge, and he'll hold up and do his thing. And I think Joe Burr really trusts him. But more than that, I think you could, I think there's still more for Chase Brown in the receiving game. If they could ever figure out the screen portion of it, you may get more explosive plays out of it. They really haven't been able to do that. But as a receiver and as blockers, these two fit this offense very, very well.

Starting point is 00:04:33 And plus, I don't think, and I, maybe I wonder, maybe I'm more concerned. Maybe that's the best way to put it, that Chase Brown is a lead every down back, right? And the way you think of a 220 plus pounder, why the Bengals have normally looked at their number one, you know, even before Joe Mixing, most of these guys, even when Giovanni Bernard was a good player, they're like, we need Jeremy Hill, right? They wanted the bigger guy to lead that room. Chase Brown isn't that. But he's been pretty efficient at what he's done.

Starting point is 00:05:00 And he's had a ton of touches and carries over the last two years that make you suggest that he probably is on the cusp of being a leadback. I mean, he's been a bell cow for the Bengals for what a season and a half or two full seasons now. Like he's getting the full share of yards and was fifth in the NFL among running backs in targets in 2025. Over the last two years, 584 touches, that's ninth out of all running backs. just for targets and catches, 153 targets, that's fourth catches, 123, that is also fourth. And he's not the most productive players or receiver, which isn't an indictment, I think, of Chase Brown.

Starting point is 00:05:38 And by that, I mean like the yards per carry average. And I don't mean that as an indictment of Chase Brown. I think it's a product of the type of targets he's getting, like a Christian McCaffrey getting 9.1 yards per catch versus Chase Brown getting 6.3 yards per catch. One, there's a caliber of player there. But two, there's more designer stuff. for Jeffrey in the San Francisco offense.

Starting point is 00:05:59 Same true for Bijan Robinson in Atlanta. Same is true for Jemir Gibbs in Detroit, where there's a little bit of designer. Like we're really going to draw this up for Chase Brown in the Bengals offense, but the rate at which he's getting designer, you know, primary or secondary option plays versus checkdown kind of plays is a pretty different rate.

Starting point is 00:06:22 So you see him more in the checkdown world of, you know, Kenneth Gamewell last year, 6.6 yards per catch. I think everybody would also agree that Kenneth Gamow was pretty good as a receiving back last year. But it's a different role that's being asked of those guys and is being asked of the Gibbs and the McAfraries and those different styles of offenses in particular that are doing so much more to help their quarterbacks and trying to manufacture yards the quote unquote easy way that the Bengals tend to shy away from because they prefer to let Joe Burrow and their playmakers just win on their own merit, which is its own conversation. I think for another day, Joe, that's a big can of worms itself. And why aren't the Bengals running play action crossers? And why can't the Bengals figure out the screen game?

Starting point is 00:07:05 Probably its own conversation, but I just wanted to give context to why I think Chase Brack, you know, rate stats as a receiver in terms of yards per catch. And that sort of thing is a little bit lower than some of his peers when you look at the other guys getting that many targets in a season. Yeah, all the guys above him in terms of rushing attempts and yards or receiving yards production, things like that. that yards per catch production.

Starting point is 00:07:28 You're right. They're guys that are higher on the totem pole in that offense. If the Bengals are going to manufacture something, it's going to Jabar Chase, right? They will manufacture a screen or a touch or get them in the back field and try and free them up. Or maybe it's a shot play to Tehagans. Maybe it's a, oh, we know how to get him one on one. We're going to take that back shoulder throw or create a dig route down 15 yards down

Starting point is 00:07:48 the field, right? For T. Higgins. It rarely gets to the Mike Gasekis, to the Andreosuvaj, to the Chase Brown level, where they're creating for them. But if you did place a third guy, to me, it is clearly Chase Brown. And I think that's a good number three in your offense. I think he's a good player that can be more explosive.

Starting point is 00:08:08 I just don't think this offense functions in a very explosive rate. I think Joe Burrow talked about that as last press conference, that they need to find that they need to get to those more often. I think you can in a number of ways, one being the screen game, one being fleshing out the run game completely, continuing to be efficient so you can get that safety down. and break that first level and then let Chase Brown be the athlete in speed running back that he is.

Starting point is 00:08:31 I would like to give Joe Burrow truth serum and find out what his answer is for how the Bengals and his mind become more explosive again in the passing game in particular. Like what in his mind is the approach? Because they're never going to tell us. They're not going to reveal their secrets of how they're going to try to be more explosive in 2026. Maybe we can get a retrospective after the season from someone with the team. But we're not going to get the preview.

Starting point is 00:08:54 Here's a quick question for you, Joe, before we move on and talk a little bit about Somaget P. Ryan and the complimentary role he plays to Chase Brown. In 2024, Mike Gaseki had 82 targets in 17 games. Chase Brown has 63 targets, and they both played relatively full seasons. Last year, obviously Gaseki missed some time, but Chase Brown up to 86 targets, Mike Gosecchi down to 42 targets in just 13 games. They obviously had the quarterback changes as well last year with Joe Burroughs injury. which of those do you think is more likely to play out in 26? Kasekie at the 85 targets and Chase Brown in the 60s or vice versa. This goes into some fantasy question.

Starting point is 00:09:33 And, you know, I think we'll talk fantasy at some point in the summer here as drafts start to spark up and give our take on some of these players. But Chase Brown has been pretty durable and leading that pack as an RB1. 1424 snaps over the last two years. That is fifth most of any running back. I've seen some takes online where people are like, you know, P. Ryan is starting get as many snaps as Chase Brown or was outpacing him in efficiency and other things. There are some data points to point to that for sure.

Starting point is 00:09:58 But when the Bengals needed it and when the Bengals got down and needed to win games the last two years, it was Chase Brown heavy. They would go to him to the level where, you know, I'm wondering if this guy's going to wear down at some point. But, you know, when I look at it, I think if I were to bet between Gaseki and Chase Brown, like who's that third target for 2026? I'm going to bet Chase Brown just because I think he's been more durable and been a very heavy focus of this offense when they needed it.

Starting point is 00:10:24 I wonder how much of that is an injury hedge. We'll discuss the complimentary roles at Chase Brown and Somaget, Perman, play with one another. As we continue the conversation about the Bengals running back room and is Chase Brown due an extension? Another big topic. We continue the running back talk coming up next. Support for today's episode of Lockdown Bengals comes from Square, the business platform that helps sellers become neighborhood favorites, whether you're gearing up for busy season or just

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Starting point is 00:11:21 And I've been able to build relationships that way. And my loyalty points, just keep on ticking up because Square keeps track of it all for me. And Square will help you run your business more smoothly, bringing payments, operations, and insights together in one place, so you're ready for whatever's next. Right now, our listeners can get $200 off of Square hardware. When you sign up at square.com slash go slash locked on NFL, that's SQUA-R-E.com slash go slash locked on NFL. Get started with Square and build a setup that works the way you do. Jake, Somajip Ryan and Chase Brown create a pretty good one-two punch, a little bit of thunder and lightning. But I think some of the efficiency numbers that say Somajapirine is a little bit better, maybe under center,

Starting point is 00:12:09 maybe sometimes a little bit better, just straight ahead, just putting his head down, getting the short yardage. One of the surprising stats of this offseason very early when 2025 ended was that the Bengals were number one in short yardage. And a lot of that is Somajapirine, but also, Chase Brown converting at a short yardage high rate, number one in the league. That was the most shocking thing to me because it didn't feel that way. It felt like at times when they wanted to line up and run the ball, they were still missing that big power back the way you watch the Ravens do it with Derek Henry. But the Bengals found something last year with both guys.

Starting point is 00:12:43 And sometimes being compact and a little bit smaller, helps you get to the line a little bit quicker, harder to see, whatever it may be. But they were very efficient last year. If they could figure that out again in 2026, I think that'll be a big boot. to this offense number one, but number two, I think it really keeps Samajapiryan as a, one of the focal point role players in this offense that you could lean on if you have to. I think the interesting thing to me when you look at some of the stats about this is like conventional wisdom says that Chase Brown is more explosive than Somaget P. Ryan, and he is,

Starting point is 00:13:15 like that's true. There's no question about that. But how does that play out on the football field? Well, in 2025, Chase Brown's longest carry just went for a few more yards than Somaget P. as long as carry. Neither guy was taking the top off of the defense or breaking away at a consistent clip. And Chase Brown might have done it a little bit more. I don't know, Joe, if you have the breakaway numbers in front of you or not, I might be able to get to them at some point here. But the long run for these guys last year was 37 yards for Chase Brown, 32 for Simajai P. Ryan. We've seen Sima JPM find ways to produce as a receiver. Not as much last year, but the screen against the chiefs, or was it a flat? I can't remember. I think it was a screen.

Starting point is 00:13:55 was the screen. That was many years ago now before he went and played elsewhere, but that play was Somaget P rank creating. And last year, the long catch for Chase Brown was just about 23 yards. And Samadji P.ran, 16 yards. So neither of these guys is chunking off a 50-yard play. And they're getting into the 30s, but Samajie is doing that as well. And when you look at that, the success rate number. That's also fascinating to me. Obviously, Somagia Pyrion is doing this on many fewer touches. He had 84 carries, Chase Brown's 3, 232.

Starting point is 00:14:35 Last year, 232. But Somaget Piron's success rate on those plays over 56%, which is crazy. Like, that's incredible. His EPA per play positive on rushing plays. Also incredible and pretty impressive. At least I think, that might be overall EPA per play for Somagio Pyrine touches. Point is, is when he gets the ball on those. limited touches. He's producing, and that's one of the reasons in addition to his

Starting point is 00:15:00 passing, sorry, pass blocking prowess and the trust that this Bengals offense has in him as a pass blocker, and I think deservedly so, that I'm so bullish on Samage as a RB2, even though he doesn't have the huge upside that we've seen RB2 have in the past, like where Geo Bernard used to be an RB2, quote unquote, he'd be the third downback, of course. He'd be out there on many he had to have it plays, but was in the RB2 role in terms of the traditional running back roles. Like there's a little bit more flash to his game than his running mates, right? Somagia Piran very much the opposite, but very effective in the role that he has and has aged

Starting point is 00:15:39 just incredibly well for a running back that has now been around for some years in the NFL. Yeah, I'm glad you got to give Samadjapirang his flowers there. I know you're a big fan of his. I'd like to do a little bit more on Chase Brown. I've got some stats and then we, you know, we can come back around. But the last two years now, 2024, 2025, games played for Chase Brown, 33. That's eighth most games played at running back out of 36, the guys with at least 250 carries over the last two years. Snaps was fifth most, attempts, rushing attempts, 12th most, rush yards, 13th most, touchdowns, 16 most.

Starting point is 00:16:14 Rush success rate, 10th best over the last two years. So that gives you a range of where he is as a running back, right? just running the football. Surprising one to me, broken tackles based on pro football reference, 39 broken tackles of the last two years. That is sixth most. So a decent amount of, I think that's including making guys miss,

Starting point is 00:16:32 not just running through tacklers. So I'll give you a visual picture there. The receiving part, targets fourth, catches fourth, receiving yards, sixth, receiving touchdowns, second, bumbles, only four. That's 21st on a positive end out of 36. And then you've got total touches, total yards, total touchdowns, all are 10th, and fantasy points is 10th.

Starting point is 00:16:53 To go along with last year's success rate and EPA and success rate of the Bengals running game, it's going to bring us to the question and we're going to get there of the future of this team and do they have enough? What's it look like? But I think Chase Brown, as he is right now, before we get to that conversation, is a good player and I'm happy that he's on the team. Yeah, I mean, if you're just talking about 2026, you're very pleased that, like I said at the start of the show, with what the Bengals have at 1 and 2.

Starting point is 00:17:17 and then beyond that, Taj Brooks, who is a flyer that I love. Like take a running back in the fifth, sixth round every year. Sure, sign me up. Ideally, you have extra picks, and that's part of what's allowing you to do that. They didn't do it this year. It was a really bad running back class, so sometimes you don't do it. But in an average running back class, taking a late round flyer and a running back, if you have those extra picks, a lot of running backs come out of that territory.

Starting point is 00:17:41 A lot of the really good ones in the NFL right now were early picks, Bison Robinson, Kenneth Walker, Jonathan Taylor, James Cook, Jamir Gibbs, and Gentie all among the leaders in Miss Tackles Force last year, according to Pro Football Focus. But then Jaylon Warren's there at 7th. So you can get these guys. Very similar player. Sequan Berkeley also in that conversation, 56,

Starting point is 00:18:00 but Javante Williams, Kyrim Williams, Christian McCaffrey, you start to get an idea of, yeah, a lot of these guys were pretty high draft picks, but every now and then you can hit in the later rounds, which is why I love those flyers. She's round is 15th, by the way, according to Pro Football Focus. It missed tackles forced in 2020. So a little bit of a different stat perhaps than pro football reference in that category, but a couple of different data points there.

Starting point is 00:18:24 Chase Brown agreed. Very good running back, very good fit for what the Bengals are doing. But is that enough for you to think that given the questions about the future at running back, that the Bengals should be considering an extension for Chase Brown? And what would that extension look like? We've had this conversation on this podcast before, but with this coming into a little bit more focus now that the offseason is completely, in terms of player acquisitions, there's no more help coming, most likely, I should say,

Starting point is 00:18:52 never say never, at the running back position. Does that indicate that the right move for the Bengals is a spend somewhere between $10 and $12 million per year on a Chase Brown contract? Does that make sense for any running back in a Joe Burrow offense as we know it? Or what changes might need to happen to make that investment worth the money for the Bengals? We'll get into that conversation a little bit as we continue the conversation. about Bengals running backs of future, whether there's hope for Taj Brooks.

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Starting point is 00:20:48 Joe, before we talk about Tage Brooks and what you saw from him, his rookie year, whether you think there's much of a future for Taj Brooks on this team and taking over a bigger role in the future. Let's talk about the Chase Brown extension because maybe this is wrong order to do things. I don't see the answer coming on the team right now. And there's two running backs, the two guys we've spent the whole show talking about in contract years. And given the way this team has done business in the past, you would think that that would mean that they're talking to Chase Brown. about an extension. But since Zach Taylor has been the head coach of the Bengals and Dan Pitcher is

Starting point is 00:21:29 taking over his offensive coordinator, this is a team that has not really valued the running back position very highly in terms of draft investments, financial investments. Their approach has been one of running backs are fungible. We can find replacement level play from different guys. When you look at the comparison between the rates like the yards per carry for Somaget Piron, the success rate for Somagetip around versus Chase Brown, I think that that bears itself out a little bit. You think about the style of this offense,

Starting point is 00:21:58 even though Chase Brown's a great fit, does that mean that he's worth that level of money and that opportunity cost of locking up $12 million or $11 million or whatever it will be per year for that kind of player? And this brings up the question we have discussed for many years, Jake. You and I, we started this together in 2019, right? If I remember correctly, we're talking about at that point, that should have been year three for Joe Mix.

Starting point is 00:22:23 We're probably saying the same exact things. Like, do you extend Joe Mixon? Does it matter? Does running back matter? Which has been a conversation for a long time for sports nerds that look at it analytically because you very often can plug guys in. You brought it up in the last segment, though. I think teams have really figured out where the starting and star running backs come from.

Starting point is 00:22:44 And they're typically drafted in the top 50 or so picks. They've done a really good job of identifying them. So the pendulum may be swinging in the other direction, a little bit, where the replacement cost has gone up a little bit. It was at one point, paying these guys was dumb. You were giving them way too much money, too big of a percentage of the cap. You can't do it. And teams really started to bulk at it and just draft guys in the third, fourth, fifth round, plug them in and let them go, especially if you have a system that works. I don't know if Bengals do. I hope they do. That'd be great because then I would be completely

Starting point is 00:23:18 against paying Chase Brown or some JPM ride. And I would say, just keep plugging them in. but on the other hand, I will say that I think the value could be met at a certain number because I don't believe they have that guy. You know, Somajip Ryan isn't some young guy coming to take that job. Todd Brooks, what we saw last year, I'll give you the Todd Brooks take right now. He didn't look good last year.

Starting point is 00:23:39 He looked slow. He looked hesitant. Now I thought he looked good on tape coming out of college. He looked like a bowling ball of knives coming at you and just very hard to tackle, bouncing off great. It looked like he could probably be Somagetepirine in the future. If he becomes that, that's great. But is that running back number one material?

Starting point is 00:23:56 I don't know that it is. And I don't know that you have to have one in this offense either. So I'm kind of with the Dan pitcher, Zach Taylor, idea that we can have a committee and piece it together. So I think this is a much more difficult conversation than just should they do it? I would kind of need the numbers or get an idea. If it's $8, $10, $12 million, I probably feel different on those sides of the spectrum. At eight, I probably would be fine with it. I think that at that point, you're not costing yourself too much when you start to get to 12,

Starting point is 00:24:26 which is where I think it's going, especially if it's after this season. Maybe if it's this season, it's more like 11. The Kyron Williams comp is out there, but more running backs of signed deals since then, indicating a little bit of a sea level rise for the position. That could lead you toward that 12 number, maybe even higher. I think the comparison is also there if you want to make it. And I'm sure that his agents are to Kenneth Walker in terms of the traditional. for Kenneth Walker and the breakout that he had really last year,

Starting point is 00:24:55 some of the numbers are really comparable for Chase Brown and Kenneth Walker going into their fourth seasons through their first three in the NFL. But at the same time, while the NFL, you're right, has gotten to the point where they're really good for the most part at identifying who's going to be a good running back. They're selecting those guys in the first two rounds of the draft. Guys that averaged more yards per carry than Chase Brown last year include, like I said, Jalem Warren, Kylan Monong guy, Bill Kroski, Merritt.

Starting point is 00:25:21 in Washington and a bunch of seventh round picks in there. Kyron Williams, who got paid, was a fifth round pick. And so I wonder how the Bengals, given the uniqueness of their offense, and how little they rely on running backs creating, and how little they rely on misdirection, even in the play action part of the game, and we'll see if that changes. We're always keeping our eyes out for that. the Bengals always seem to rep a lot of under center this time of year,

Starting point is 00:25:53 and then that never seems to translate to the regular season. But a bunch of guys ahead of Chase Brown on this list that you can't find later. And what makes it complicated is that there's no one else. They've had succession plans in the past. They've always had a little bit more depth. They've always had something. And right now they don't. And when they haven't had that in the past,

Starting point is 00:26:14 that's where they've gone and spent a second round pick. Because you can't get a second round pick at running back to step in and play right away. And maybe that means Tamajai P. Rines back on another one-year deal to be the RB2 and take up that pass-blocking roll, that third down roll again while the rookie running back is learning that part of the job. That is something Chase Run has done a great job of. And you have to give him credit for that. He can be a three-down back for you. But the amount of money that you're talking about investing there versus I'm going to take $12 million per year and invest that plus $6 million more at another spot. Instead of just spending $6 million, say, on cornerback, Now I can spend 18.

Starting point is 00:26:49 And that's part of what you're giving up. And it's really tough because there's no answer that's coming on the team right now. So if they don't go with the extension for Chase Brown, you are kind of starting from scratch at running back. Yeah. And, you know, maybe they want to see Tage Brooks in the summer. Maybe they want to see if he looks quicker. If he, you know, has that second year leap in him, if they can evaluate that without pads, right? how much do you can you really know.

Starting point is 00:27:17 But an evaluation has to be made given the situation. And he talked about going and learning how to run routes better and focus on the receiving game and this quickness and route running with Chase Brown, working with him, I believe, and the same coach, if he can show some shades of that, maybe can change our mind really quick, right? We could go from, because when he was drafted, I thought, man, if you can find your one-two punch being Chase Brown and Todd Brooks, I'm in on that. And then P. Ryan really had a, you know, a reminder of that he's a.

Starting point is 00:27:46 a solid player for us. But to mention the rest of the depth, Gary Brightwell, Kendall Milton, I think it's their third year with the team. They really haven't gotten a shot to do much. And when they have in preseason, it has not looked good, both guys suffering from the same thing. Bigger guys, but not without great vision or acceleration. I don't think they're great fits for a starting role or anything above that or anything close to that. And then two undrafted guys this year, Jamal Haynes and Kentrell Bullock. Both guys on the smaller side, Haynes, more of a receiver in his past. Bullock's the other, you know, I think he's a 5-8, 205 type guy. So it's similar mold to Chase Brown and we'll see what they look like in camp.

Starting point is 00:28:23 But again, undrafted guys that didn't get big signing bonuses at all. Bullock listed 510, 204, sorry, 59 and 7-8, so about 510. Thanks. 204. I like to be accurate on that. Yeah, Jamal Haynes is about 5, 6.5, just a bit over 5,6 and a half, 195. A couple of relatively smaller guys. Georgia Tech for Haynes, South Alabama for Bullock.

Starting point is 00:28:51 I was going to ask if he had any aspirations for these guys from drafts or free agents. Are there skill sets there that could come on? Yeah, Haynes does have some explosiveness and wiggle to him. Obviously small. That's going to affect him in a lot of ways. But he bounces off guys pretty well, very low center of gravity. He runs upright, but at 5'6, it really doesn't matter because he is so low to the

Starting point is 00:29:13 ground. I do like him. And I wonder if he can be a return man, maybe even a Chris Evans type role. He shows a lot of flashes of that. I do believe he played receiver early in his years in college. And then Bullock is just more of the very good preline of scrimmage, vision, patience, tracking to the hole, but really can't do much when making guys miss just doesn't have the explosiveness, the agility or big power to him. So he kind of struggles at that level. It's surprising when he does break off a run. Let me pose a quick question to you then as we wrap up. Are you extending Chase Brown for, say, three years, 11 and a half per year

Starting point is 00:29:50 or using a second round pick in 2026 on a running back? That second round is expensive, but it is the cost, right? If you're looking for a guy to replace your RB1, it's going to be in the first or second round. Hopefully, hey, if we're picking 32nd and 64th, I don't mind that. That's not a problem, right? If it's pick 50, I don't know. It has to be a really good prospect.

Starting point is 00:30:11 Can I get a good player? Can I get the Joe Mixing, Elvin Kamara, Delvin Cook, second round? I mean, then I'm in, but it doesn't always work that way. If it's Zach Sharbon, a good player, but, you know, it doesn't have everything for you, I would find that acceptable. And I think I'd prefer to go a second round route. There you go. We'll wrap up the conversation there.

Starting point is 00:30:30 We will, I'm sure, revisit if there's any news around potential Chase Brown Extension talks. Haven't heard that question yet. Maybe it'll come up over the next couple of weeks as, We have a couple of more touch points for the players and the media. OTA's open practice this week. We've got mandatory minicamp next week that's going to have multiple days of open practices. And we'll have some coverage for you from. And until then, that's going to do it for this episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast.

Starting point is 00:31:00 Thanks for listening. Hootay. Have a good.

Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Chase Brown & Samaje Perine Are GREAT Fits for Bengals Offense, But Depth UNCERTAINTY Lingers

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