Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Cincinnati Bengals skill players ranked TOO LOW? | Ranking Szn Begins

Episode Date: July 8, 2025

As NFL training camps approach, ranking season is kicking off across media outlets, and the Cincinnati Bengals' skill group isn't quite at the top of the list. Jake and James break down Bill Barnwell's skill position rankings before diving into Chase Brown and the Bengals' DTs getting no votes in their respective top 10 rankings.Join the Locked On Bengals Insider Community! https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonbengalsFind and follow Locked On Bengals on your favorite podcast platforms:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/locked-on-bengals-daily-podcast-on-the-cincinnati-bengals/id1159723162Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7AObc0lh0WmQl5fJVgtajsGoogle Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vbG9ja2Vkb25iZW5nYWxz?sa=X&ved=0CAYQrrcFahcKEwio_sXtj8nuAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAgStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/locked-on-bengalsSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelRight now, new customers can get $150 in BONUS BETS when your first $5 BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started.Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNFL at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnfl for 50% off your first year.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.

The Cincinnati Bengals obviously have some of the best skill players in the NFL, but ESPN's Bill Barnwell thinks they're not at the top of the list. Let's break it down. You are locked on Bengals, your daily Cincinnati Bengals podcast. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. What up, Bengals fans, and welcome to another episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast on the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. I'm Jake, let's go. He's James Rapine, and we are your host. of the Lockdown Bengals podcast covering the Cincinnati Bengals on this platform since 2016.

If you're new to the show, you can subscribe on YouTube or anywhere you can get your podcast. And well, that makes it very easy to join the many Bengals fans out there that make Lockdown Bengals part of their daily routine. Shout out to all the everydayers out there and all of you who make Locked on Bengals your first listen. James is ranking season. And in today's episode brought to the people by Fan Duel where they can get $100, $150. $50, sorry, and bonus bets when their first $5 bet wins. We dive into several posts over on ESPN as we're in the NFL 100 season, ESPN's putting up their top tens, which are based on surveys of those around the NFL, and Bill Barnwell has his annual ranking of skill players in the NFL.

And many of you have probably started watching quarterback on Netflix. and, well, I looked last night at midnight Pacific time, actually, and it wasn't up yet. And so as of the time of recording, we haven't had a chance to watch it yet. We will be covering it in the future. We might even talk about it a little bit later in this episode, but we won't be diving into quarterback in full today. But, James, if I were to ask you,

where did the Cincinnati Bengals skill players rank among the skill groups in the NFL? Off the top of your head, what would be your index? intuitive answer. Well, I think you instantly start with number one. And then maybe you think about it a little bit, but they have the best receiver in football. That's what Jamar Chase is. And some are going to say, oh, well, no, that's just a Jefferson or no, it's this or that. No, it's Jamar. Jamar's the best receiver in football. Triple crown winner, offense rookie of the year a few years ago. When he's on the field, there's no one else like it. And so when you start there and then you throw in another guy who I, I, I don't think it's a top 10 receiver right now in league circles, but certainly could be this year as he enters his prime. I think a lot of people listening and watching would say number one. I don't think it's that simple. And I don't think it's that simple because there's a lot of good skill groups across the league. A lot of the high-end winning teams, one of which the Detroit Lions, you're going to see plenty of in quarterback when you watch it with Jared Gough.

they are as loaded as loaded can be from a skill talent standpoint. Now, Joe Burroughs way better than Jared Gough, but skill players-wise, they got a lot of dudes. And there are other teams like that too. So initially, I think a lot of people, including myself, say, all right, well, it's number one. And then you start to look. I think you look around and you're like, oh, well, maybe it's not number one. Because Joe Burrow is a big factor here. and it's probably the number one quarterback in the top five or top 10,

and we can break that down as we go through the rankings. But that does matter when it comes to evaluating the skill players on the Bengals as well. Yeah, to be clear, Bill Barmel's methodology here, just to break down what he's doing is this is just the wide receiver side ends running back. So quarterback to some might be considered a skill player. I don't know if people out there were considering that Joe Burrow should be fast. factored in. And he's factored in here, but more is the negative than anything because he elevates those players around him. And Bill Barmell talks about that in his methodology. First,

he says this is only about 2025 on-field performance. Then he says injury, history, and suspensions matter. He talks about T. Higgins and Christian McCaffrey in that article. And then he says that wide receivers are weighted more heavily than running backs or tight ends as a reflection of the NFL, although there might be a bit of an argument about a least. tight ends and their ability to be transformative in offenses. And he also talks about how, you know, playing with a guy like Joe Burrow makes everyone else's life easier. And you mentioned the top 10.

The number one team, maybe we start from number 10. Let's start from number 10, shall we? Let's do that, yes. Miami Dolphins ranking 10th. And that's down from third in 2024 when everyone thought that their skill players were awesome and they were. They have more speed than any team in the NFL. Miami was a team that we talked about several times when we were talking about, well, if the Bengals could get one more speed piece to do some of what Miami does. Atlanta at number nine, that one's a little bit surprising

to me, but Bejohn Robinson doing a lot of work for Atlanta there, Baltimore, up from 15 all the way to eight on the heels of Derek Henry having an awesome season in that offense. I don't think D'Andre Hopkins should move the needle much, but the emergence of Isaiah likely perhaps is a more consistent threat in that offense. And Zay Flowers, obviously, that sort of makes sense to me. Tampa Bay at 7 with a great trio of wide receivers and an awesome rookie performance from Bucky Irving. Minnesota at 6, led by Justin Jefferson, obviously Los Angeles Rams all the way

up to 5. That went a little bit surprising to me, but I guess adding Devante Adams is a needle mover. San Francisco down to 4 from 1. and then we get to the top three but what do you think of 10 through 6 when we're thinking about this? We think any of those are competing directly with the Bengals?

No, I think the Jamar T tandem is better than anything that Miami, Atlanta, Baltimore, Tampa, or Minnesota is trotting out there. Now, if Tampa had a healthy Chris Godwin and he wasn't coming off of an ACL, that changes things. I mean, then they're probably right there, but you're talking about Mike Evans, who's still playing at a high level, but he's not Jamar at this stage. And then you're talking about Chris Godwin coming back and they have some nice steps behind him. But I can see why they would be where they are. That's the team, though, out of all of these that I look at and I'm like, well, they could certainly be up higher. And then Minnesota is the other one where they have an elite one-two punch, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. And then you have T.J. Hawkinson. who, if he regains his form this year coming back from the ACL,

that's as good of a trio of pass catchers is you're going to have two receivers in one tight end. Like it's just, it's going to be a really high-end group there. So a lot of good groups, I would still take the Bengals guys over everyone mentioned so far. Aaron Jones also. Aaron Jones. We're productive back for Minnesota last year.

I would say Miami is one that if they can stay healthy, there's a potential for Miami to jump back up this list just because they still have all that speed. And that includes the backfield there. They just don't really have a tight end. I mean, they signed Darren Waller. And so if Darren Waller can suddenly come back to the NFL and be good again, then you can see them jump back up.

The Bengals are third. And we're going to dive into that. But the Bengals are third, the Detroit Lions are second on this list, and the Philadelphia Eagles are first. and I think that that gets pretty darn interesting. The lions in particular, and I think it's harder to argue for me that the Bengals have a better skill group than the Eagles

because the Eagles go deep at all three spots. And sort of the lions, to be honest, but the Lions-Bengals comparison, the Big Cat comparison in this top three is a little bit interesting. Let's dive in a little bit more to the top three here that sees the Bengals coming in at third in Bill Barmore's skill position rankings coming up next. Today's show is brought to by Fandall. Fandall is America's number one sportsbook.

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I could certainly make the case that the Bengals are ahead of the Lions, but the Lions, they have that elite running back. on our last show, we talked a little bit about, I talked about Chase Brown and if he could get to that next level. Like, that's probably the path to the Bengals being one next year. Because Jamir Gibbs and David Montgomery are probably the best tandem in the league. Like, I would take them over maybe any one-two running back. And I'm just, I haven't done it.

I haven't looked at every tandem. But boy, oh, boy. Like, what would you rather have? Those two guys are Sequin Barkley? Saquan Barclay is coming off of a crazy season. But you can make that case. You'd rather have the one-two punch because they balance each other out well. And the Bengals, they don't have that.

So the big edge when you're looking at it and comparing these, well, Jamar is better than A.J. Brown's better than Amon Rae St. Brown. But Chase Brown isn't better than David Montgomery or Jamir Gibbs. Chase Brown obviously isn't Saquan Barkley. And so that's where I think the edge is when you're looking at. breaking the tie in some of these spots. So not shocked at all, especially with the Lions. I think Jared Goff, and maybe you'll see this on quarterback, like I said, he's elevated by the skill guys around him some. And honestly, the same thing goes for Jalen Hertz. I think Jalen Hertz is really good.

I don't think he's Joe Burrow. I don't think he's some of these other guys. And that's, that matters when you're splitting hairs and trying to decide, all right, top skill group, second best and third best. I think for Detroit, the coordinator will be fascinating to reflect on as well. With his departure, Ben Johnson, leaving Detroit, going to Chicago to be the head coach, how much was Ben Johnson playing up that skill group? I mean, not to say they're not really good players. Amloras St. Brown, obviously really good.

James and getting his stuff together in Detroit and being a productive player for a wide receiver too, that's a pretty good starting point. And then when you have that backfield and Sam, not Sam. Sam La Porta. Sam La Porta, yes. Who is a significantly better tight end than the Bengals have because you can actually do tight end things, not to take anything away from Mike Gaseki, but Gaseki is a receiver. The Bengals essentially don't have a tight end that you would consider for these rankings.

They have four guys at Receiver that you're talking about with T. Jamar at the top, Keseki and Andre Yosevash in the conversation at receiver. That's how they use those guys on their roster. And Mike Gaseki is kind of nominally a tight end. in reality when you're comparing to Dallas Goddard and Sam Loporta they play different positions

although both of those guys very prolific as as wide receivers and would you it's it's the the weird this gets interesting sorry it's just that Barmel is wading wide receivers heavier right and so Tia and Jemar

you'd obviously rather have that Amman Ross St. Brown and James Homoys but maybe that's closer to some than than to us, because I'm on Ross St. Brown is really, really good, and he doesn't have Joe Burrow throwing him the ball. I think a lot of the offensive production in Detroit was a result of Ben Johnson's ingenuity and his play calling. So, again, I think that is going to be really interesting.

But, yeah, I think this is one of those where the tight end and running back combination in Detroit was just too much. And Barlow does respect what Chase Brown did. I thought this was really interesting. Over his eight-game stretch is a primary back for Cincinnati after Zach Moss got hurt. Chase Brown's numbers would extrapolate to a full season of 321 carries, 81 receptions, and just south of 2,000 yards from scrimmage, 12 touchdowns, which is pretty close to what Bijon Robinson did in 2024.

And now, we're not projecting. Chase Brown to get that kind of workload. But those numbers, his pace in those eight games when he was the guy and he was on the field nonstop for the Bengals, those are some pretty impressive numbers, nearly 2,000 yards from scrimmage. Would you, it is. Would you, do you think the Bengals are number one of San Laporta is in stripes? Let's just say they take San Laporta 28th overall.

Like, does that change it? Because it may change it. Like if, or if they had signed Sequin last year, last offseason, which was never a thing. Like, does that change? Because that's what Bill's saying, essentially. I think it gets them to two. I still don't think it would get them ahead of the Eagles, because the Eagles have it all. Like, they have the comparable wide receivers.

AJ Brown is awesome. I'd still rather have the Bengals top two guys and the Eagles top two guys at receiver. But it's closer than anyone else in the NFL, I think. And then just like Sequin and God are still really good. Yeah. Yeah, they are. And that's where it is. That's how tough it is.

And by the way, so draft season, I get it every single year where I talk about a skill guy. And I'm like, man, if you get that guy, can you imagine? And this is just a fun wild nugget where if the Bengals let me draft, maybe it would have happened, even though we weren't focused on a. ton of receivers after they picked Jamar Chase. Can you imagine if they had just taken Amon Rae St. Brown instead of Jackson Carmen?

Everyone talks about the other alignment, including me, like Creed Humphrey was there, all these guys. Can you imagine? People would have rioted. And then they would have trotted out there, Amon Ross St. Brown, Jamar Chase, T. Higgins, and who knows how long Tyler Wood would have been in town in that scenario.

But it was there. Like, it could have, they'd be number one in that scenario. Had they done that, they'd be number one. Well, in that scenario, Amon Ross St. Well, one of those guys isn't a Bengal anymore. now. They're not paying all three, but last year. But they, but they have a couple of rings on their finger too, probably. Maybe. Yeah. I mean, it's a pretty good shot at that. Burrow would need to say healthy. They would need to keep some offensive linemen healthy because, well, they win

the Super Bowl. Tyler Boyd st. Brown would have probably been better even as a rookie. And then the year after, Tyler Boyd gets hurt. Maybe Omanorov, St. Brown doesn't get hurt. And just like that. Deep in the hypotheticals. But how about that? I'm just saying. But that's it, is getting the, getting a good player matters, even if it seems like it's at a position of depth. I also think that when looking at this, like, who would you consider the Eagles wide receiver three? Because I think Andresolved, and now we're, now we're deep, like you said. But I think Andre Yosevash might have the edge there. And without looking, I haven't looked at the Eagles wide receiver three.

I'm about to right now. I've got it here. It's John Dawson. Yeah. Give me, give me Andre. Give me Andre. I didn't know if they had replaced Jahan Dotson.

They got Terrace Marshall this year. No chance. Trying to revive that career. Johnny Wilson. Oh, yeah. Enya Smith. So the Bengals have the edge there, like a big edge. Like the Eagles would love Andre.

To your point, though, they have the tight ends and the running back. Yeah. Yeah. AJ Dylan Will Shipley, running backs two and three. And we'll see how those shake out. Great offensive line. obviously in Philly. Grant Calcutera,

tight end two, would be a starter for the Bengals. You know, a different position than Mike Keseki again to make that clear. But I think... Better than your example is what you're saying. Maybe I'm wrong.

He's only 240. Maybe he's not big enough to do those things. I guess I need to go watch him before I make those kinds of bold claims. Bold claims. I do think there's an argument here with the lions.

and how much you think those running backs matter, how much you're buying Samuel Porta's bounce back, and this was all based on 2024, I think, right? That's what the methodology was based on, based on last year's on-field performance. And I think it's harder to make an argument with the Eagles. I think the Eagles showed that those skill guys are pretty, pretty tough to make that argument.

Yeah. Well, because to your point, the receiver part of it, They're close. A.J. Brown isn't Jamar. You can argue that Devante Smith is T in a different way and can be as effective and as productive. I don't necessarily think that because 6-4-225, the strength, the high point, you saw it against Denver. Like T, when he's healthy, is a top 10 receiver in my mind. I really believe that now.

But health is a part of this, right? No doubt. One of the sentences that he writes about the Bengals is the only things holding the Bengals back are the handstrings of T. Higgins. It's a line in the article. And if he does stay healthy this year, there's a path for them to be number one. Because having two, what if they have two top eight receivers? What if Jamar goes for 2000 and T goes for 1,300? And if they stay healthy, that's not crazy. Like, if this, it sounds crazy, but it's not because they're going to throw it all

over the field if that's the case and those guys are healthy. It is ranking season, James. Yeah, baby. We got through the skill guys there, the Bill Barnwell skill group rankings. ESPN has started their annual list of top tens by position group. They've got two of them out so far for us to catch up on running back and defensive tackle. We'll dive into those coming up next. Ranking season continues.

And not only was Chase Brown, not a top 10 running back. he didn't receive any votes. Did that surprise you, given the way he finished last year and was as productive over 13 plus yards, 1,300 plus yards from scrimmage, 11 touchdowns combined for receiving 54 catches? I mean, showed you the receiving ability, the running ability,

easily gets to 1,000 yards rushing, had he not gotten hurt against the Broncos on that weird ending? What do you feel, or how do you feel about Chase Brown, not even getting a vote for the top 10. And this pass protection took such a huge thing. That's true. Good point. And the Bengals offense, that's crazy important. And maybe it's just not valued as highly among those who voted.

So this is a survey of executives, coaches, and scouts that Jeremy Fowler and ESPN put together every year. Matt Bowen is part of this as well. And I was a little surprised he didn't get a single vote. but most of the guys that did get votes make a lot of sense to me. Most of the guys that were ranked ahead of him, I can at least see where people are coming from. There's a little bit more longevity for some of these guys or they managed to do it for a full season.

I do think that the like half season of being the full-time guy holds Chase Brown back a little bit and maybe finishing with an injury and being on the Bengals in a year where they were a letdown doesn't help. But like Chuba Hubbard got a vote from the Carolina Panthers. He was good. He was good. But like if Chuba Hubbard is getting a vote, Chase Brown can get a vote, right?

Agreed. I agree. I agree. I think he will get serious consideration for the top 10. And if I was forecasting, this is based on last year, if I was forecasting, this is based on last year. If I was forecasting this, I really believe that there's a a realistic path that Chase Brown has a better 20-25 season than Alvin Camara, who is 10th, and Joe Mixon, who was ninth, and maybe more, maybe more, maybe he completely passes Christian

McCaffrey, McCaffrey has another injury or two. He's all three of those guys are in the same class. Like, that isn't going to last for all three. I'm not sure exactly who, but if Chase Brown takes another step, I would expect to see him. Like, let's say he goes for 1,500 plus yards from scrimmage this year. If that happens, which is only a couple hundred yards more than he did last year under that, he's going to be in the top 10 next year, or at least he should be. Yeah, Camara has some of that respect from doing it for a while now. And he should.

He's been awesome. Yeah, he should. And Joe Mixing, going from honorable mention back to the top 10 this year, previously his highest ranking was fifth, James Cook. in the top 10 as well as he's waiting for a contract there. I do think it might be tough for Chase Brown to crack the top 10. I think he should get votes if he puts together a healthy season and plays the way he did last year.

I think that that will be too hard to ignore. But the audible mentions here all had good seasons. Well, for the most part, had good seasons anyway. Bucky Irving and Aaron Jones, both very productive. James Connor underrated in Arizona, very productive last year. Brees Hall played for the Jets last year. that's the team that employs him. I don't know what the Jets did last year.

I'm going to be real with you on that one. I think Brees is good. I think he's good too, but I have no idea what he did last year. And Devin, Ashan, a Shane. I'm trying to remember how. A, Chan. A Chan.

I thought it was like a soft. Anyway. I'm surprised that one's in there. A lot of people say A chain and it's A Chan. I thought it was a soft C.H. Anyway, it doesn't matter. Had a ton of production through, through the air last year,

nearly 600 yards receiving on 78 receptions and 900 yards on the ground. He fell off a little bit in terms of yards per carry from that 7.8 as a rookie to 4.5 in his second season with nearly double

the carries. Really good. Was healthy for the full year. But again, if he's getting votes, I feel like Chase Brown can get a vote because they're both similar in terms of total production. He was more productive last year. Don't get me wrong.

But I do think that if you get a season of healthy Chase Brown, he's getting a vote. I don't know if he's in the top 10, but I think he's getting a vote. We'll see. It would be great if he, for the Bengals, like I said, if he got to the top 10, you know, what would be even better? You know what would be even better, Jake? Yeah. If they had a defensive tackle that got real votes.

because they didn't. And when I opened it, and I'm sure when you opened it, you knew there was going to be none, and I knew they weren't going to be in the top 10. And I, it wasn't expecting BJ Hill or T.J. Slayton, or obviously Chris Jenkins, McKinley Jackson, to be in the top 10.

But next year, can one of these guys get a vote? Can they be good enough to get a vote, Jake? That's the bar for me. If one of those guys gets a vote, you're going to feel really darn good. I think about at least part of the Bengals defensive tackle room. And that's what they,

need. You want to talk about where they were during that Super Bowl run, and I mentioned some of that earlier in the show. DJ Reader, even if he didn't get top 10 real top 10 looks, and I can't remember if he did or not at all during his, he was a top 10 defensive tackle when he was out there because he mattered that much. Not that they needed to be DJ Reader, it would be nice if there was some pressure that came with it, but it would be really nice if one of these guys played well enough to get a vote next year. Yeah. I, I, would love that. I have a pretty tough time projecting it.

I'm making a face for those listening. I don't know how you could predict such a massive leap. I mean, the guys that are up there for defensive tackles are all like cream of the crop kind of players. And I'm just looking to see if DJ Reader, DJ Reader did get votes as recently as 2023. So at least there's that. But, I mean, we're talking about comparing to Dexter Lawrence, Chris Jones, Jalen Carter, Jeffrey Simmons, Quinnon Williams, Leonard Williams, Namdi Matabeeke, DeForest Buckner, Vita Veaa, Cam Hayward, Christian Wilkins, Derek Brown, Zach Allen, Kenny Clark, Olean McNeil. I mean, those guys are in a different class than anything that the Bengals have right now.

I think you're talking about a two-year project. You're hoping that one of these guys can develop and in two years get votes like Osa Deguizua got a vote or two, got some votes. He's listed in the also receiving votes section, Collijah Cancy, getting some votes, Deron Payne, getting some votes. If one of the Bengals young guys can turn into one of those guys. Yeah. That would be exceeding expectations right now. I don't think there's a player on this roster right now that's going to crack the top 15. defensive tackles in the NFL.

And that's why we were talking about a Walter Nolan pre-draft, right? Is like that that could be the guy that realistically, oh, well, you look up and he is Kalajicancy. And is that guy that's young, starting the blossom, starting to give you something. Johnny Newton two years ago, we talked about him. Like, you could kind of see that. I agree with you. I don't necessarily see that for Chris Jenkins Jr.

McKinley Jackson. I don't think T.J. Slatner, B.J. Hill, are that at this. stage should we know what they are? And so you're hoping that the the sum of that quartet is greater together than it is separately because it doesn't feel like they'll have one of those guys that is a top 15 defensive tackle or gets a vote or gets consideration. And that stinks. That just, it stinks. I'm not blaming anyone. I guess you could blame the powers that be. But yeah, that's a rough place to be just because you know it was such a weakness and has been such a weakness over the past year plus.

Something that they really haven't valued very highly until it became obvious and they were desperate and then they used the second round pick. And Chris Jenkins should be better this year. I'm not trying to say that Chris Jenkins can't be a good player. That's not what I'm getting at here. But when you think about some of the names on this list, I mean, these are difference makers that offensive coordinators are game planning for. And you have to have, you know, protection.

rules for these guys or you have to deal with them in some way, shape, or form. Maybe not all of them, but the guys in the top 10 are game wreckers. And it's been way too long since the Bengals had a game wrecker there. And I will put DJ Reader in that category at his peak when he was playing well for Cincinnati. He's in that category. I will put him up there with a lot of these guys for what he did for this defense. But there's nothing approximating that on the Cincinnati Bengals roster right now.

No, there's not. And I think they were hoping that Sheldon Rankins would be that last year when they signed them, is be kind of a game-wrecking pass rusher. Obviously, that didn't work out. And he's back to Houston on a value deal. So step up. Someone, please step up, get a few votes next year. If Chris Jacobs, Jr. and McKinley Jackson, if they get a few votes next year,

you're feeling really good, much better in the offseason, I would say, about that defensive tackle room because that means one of those guys showed up and played at high level. And who knows, maybe T.J. Slayton being here can help unlock one of those guys, but I think that's wishful thinking.

The only defensive position that I think will see any votes for the Bengals would be Logan Wilson at linebacker. The safeties aren't getting votes. The ends aren't. Well, Trey Hendrickson is definitely getting a vote. I forgot about Trey.

Trey Hendrickson is probably at the worst eight. Yeah, Trey is definitely in there. My bet. I forgot about that one. And we will get edge rushers maybe by the time you're listening to this episode. But corners aren't getting a vote. The rest of the ends aren't getting a vote. Logan Wilson might get some votes. Yeah.

Yeah. I don't think he does. I don't think he was that good last year. And so maybe he gets a vote because of name recognition. You're right like that. But I don't think he was a top 15 linebacker in the league. Yeah. And maybe he will be, but I don't think he was last year.

Got to see some guys step up on defense. That's a consistent theme of these off-season episodes of Lockdown Bengals. An inconsistent theme of these off-season episodes of Lockdown Bengals has been Joe Burroughs appearance on a TV show. We have not spent a lot of time talking about that, but quarterback is out there, and we're going to try to get some quarterback viewing in and barring unforeseen developments between now and Thursday. That may be the topic of our next show here. Until then, thanks for looking. listening to this episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast, Ho day, and have a good.