Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Dalton Risner is the Bengals TOP PRIORITY Among Internal Free Agents

Episode Date: January 13, 2026

The Cincinnati Bengals have decisions to make on their internal free agents as Dalton Risner takes top priority. Can the Bengals keep their offensive line chemistry intact by retaining the guy Ted Kar...ras, Amarius Mims, and Orlando Brown Jr. all want back? Who else do the Bengals need to prioritize bringing back and how does Joe Flacco fit?James Rapien and Jake Liscow break down the Risner situation and dive into the other internal free agent decisions as the Bengals begin their off season plans.Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans.Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclubJoin the Locked On Bengals Insider Community! https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonbengalsFind and follow Locked On Bengals on your favorite podcast platforms:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/locked-on-bengals-daily-podcast-on-the-cincinnati-bengals/id1159723162Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7AObc0lh0WmQl5fJVgtajsGoogle Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vbG9ja2Vkb25iZW5nYWxz?sa=X&ved=0CAYQrrcFahcKEwio_sXtj8nuAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAgStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/locked-on-bengalsSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Ultimate QBUltimate QB is totally free to play, has no ads, and works 100% offline — perfect for when you want to sneak in a quick game or two on the go. Just head over to http://ULTIMATE-QB.COM.FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. FanDuel is officially in Playoff Mode. Every game day during the NFL playoffs, FanDuel is giving customers even more ways to get in on the action. Visit Fanduel.com to get started. PrizePicksDownload the PrizePicks app today and use code LOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFLGametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.RobinhoodTrade Every Play with Robinhood. Now available across the U.S. Download the Robinhood app now to begin.Futures and cleared swaps trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Event contracts are offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC., a registered futures commission merchant and swap firmQuoMake this the year where no opportunity — and no customer — slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go tohttp://Quo.com/lockedonnfl.GustoTry Gusto today at http://gusto.com/lockedonNFL and get three months free when you run your first payroll.Home ChefFor a limited time, Home Chef is offering my listeners 50% off your first box, free shipping, and free dessert for life. Just go to http://HomeChef.com/LOCKEDON.IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/lockedonnfl. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 The Cincinnati Bengals obviously have a lot of work to do this off season, and that work typically starts with your own guys, your internal free agents. Let's prioritize that list for the Bengals in 2026. You are Locked on Bengals, your daily Cincinnati Bengals podcast. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. What up Bengals fans and welcome to another episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, the number one sports podcast network. He's James Rapine.
Starting point is 00:00:37 I'm Jake Liskow. We've been locked on Bengals since 2016 here. And it's your best one-stop shop. I'm trying to do too many things in my brain at one time for all things, Bengals. We welcome back all the everydayers out there. Everyone who makes Lockdown Bengals there first listen in. Today we dive into the beginning of a series of off-season conversations that we've been teasing and now finally crack open the can on a.
Starting point is 00:01:06 a variety of topics and free agency for most teams starts with, okay, what do we have? Who are the guys that we're most familiar with who have been in the system, been in the building, and what direction do we want to go with our own guys? Those are the decisions that for the most part happen in the days before free agency. The decisions are discussed and then executed as free agency opens, typically after the combine.
Starting point is 00:01:31 I know a lot of people have asked James about Dalton Riser, for example, or the Bengals working on an extension with Dalton Riser. Typically those contracts don't happen until closer to the Combine, usually after the Combine. But the Bengals have a number of internal free agents beyond Dalton Riser, although I would say he is the top question that we've been asked so far in this young offseason. A lot of guys here that the Bengals have decisions to make after watching them play in the system for either the last year or many years for.
Starting point is 00:02:04 some of these guys. Yeah, a lot of decisions, some big decisions. There's going to be some new faces, some big names that likely end up elsewhere. But you're right about Dalton. Like, I think you and I both disagree. I don't want to speak for you. But like, there's going to be a team. Get Dalton done and the offense is set. And it's like, well, you always want to get better on offense. There's things you can do. but do you really want to disrupt what that offensive line had flowing? I mean, I'm not sure I've seen. You have Orlando Brown Jr. Ted cares, Amarius Mims all saying you better bring Dalton back.
Starting point is 00:02:45 I'm sure Dylan feels the same way. I just didn't ask Dylan. Dylan didn't happen to be there during these final minutes of the 2025 season post-game or during locker cleanout. where he was, I did see him, but where I was able to ask him. And I'm sure he would want Dalton back as well. Has there ever been, I mean, I guess Joe Flacco, if you want to do that, but someone so unanimously like, you got to bring him back, bring him back, bring him back,
Starting point is 00:03:16 especially at a spot that has caused the Bengals issues. So yeah, I get why fans are asking about it now. I also understand your point because the league, I don't want to say stops, but there's just, this is. the evaluation period. I think Dalton and his people are probably seeing where his market is. And on the other side, the Bengals are doing what every NFL team is doing right now and evaluating. You still legally can get something done now. I would love it. I just, I agree with you. I think it'll probably be around the combine. I would say at the earliest that something gets done,
Starting point is 00:03:52 most likely a little later than that. Typically, it's the days right before free agency opens that the Bengals like Daseki last year yeah yeah that's when the Bengals and most teams in the NFL tend to get deals done with our internal guys you can go look go look at transaction logs for like January and February there's a handful that there will be some deals there will be some veterans that get deals this month next month but it won't be a long list and the Bengals I think I went back like 10 years through their transaction logs and couldn't find a single a single like significant veteran move like maybe some very small deal an exclusive rights-free agent or restrictive-free, you know, that kind of thing where they're just like, we're going to get this out ahead of time. For an unrestricted free agent, especially like Reisner, who's going to be figuring out his market and is somewhat incentivized to hit free agency after the way he finished the season to see if he can't actually get a deal from a team, especially if the Bengals don't show up. And that's why it's so important for the Bengals to show up and treat this with a priority.
Starting point is 00:04:55 Dalton Reisner has not really cashed in that way in his career and might see this as his best opportunity to do so. But to your point, why would you want to disrupt that and the reason that we're starting with Reisner and I'm sure we'll have a bigger conversation about all these guys. When he entered the starting lineup for the Cincinnati Bengals, re-entered the starting lineup in Week 12 against New England Patriots, the Bengals then rattled off like seven straight
Starting point is 00:05:21 of their best blocking performances of the season. And Dalton Ryster was a big part of that. lot of games to the point where you know we're talking about risers a run blocker which when they signed riser was like well he's not going to give you anything as a run blocker and then he had some awesome run blocking grades it's the opposite yeah he was also good as a pass blocker for sure and that if he can do those things and it's working with scott peters and the techniques they're teaching and our guy our film analyst vengal sands mike santaggit wrote a great piece on the way mike the way Scott Peters is implementing wide zone in Cincinnati a little bit differently than
Starting point is 00:05:56 its traditional. But like if that stuff is working, yeah, why would you want to introduce an element of chaos into that when, yeah, you don't know exactly how guys are going to be year over year, but at worst, Dalton Ryster looks like a guy that should be plug and play. Your offensive line is now set. Maybe you want to bring in some competition. Great. You know, you get an awesome tackle prospect.
Starting point is 00:06:20 or awesome interior line prospect and the second pull the trigger. It's not stopping you. But if you can get those guys where you feel like you don't need suddenly to replace a position desperately. And Dalton Riser sure does that. You're in a good spot. Amarheus Mims called him the best right guard in the league. Right? Say whatever.
Starting point is 00:06:44 You know, I'm not here to say, oh, he's the best right guard in the league. but if you have that belief like you know when i was sold on joe flacco that it was going to work when ted karris said that's a hall of famer and it was the day flacco got in the building like that's hall of famer joe flacco it's like oh well these guys just believe in him and that element of it especially when you're in the thick of it like that matters a ton i also want to point out the the fact that these guys are pointing all this out and saying all these things and praising dalton he got benched this year. He got benched two games in.
Starting point is 00:07:21 I think in a way blamed himself for the Joe Burrow injury, comes back, plays a little bit better when he's back, and Dylan Fairchild takes over when he's healthy again. And we were like, all right, well, is Dalton going to get reps and going to get run? And he did on the right side, and boom, he took off. So, like, you've seen him in adverse situations. You've seen him when it got, I can't imagine signing, Jake, and a big reason why you sign and you take the deal you take is because Joe Burroughs in town and you have a shot at a Super Bowl, all of those things. And what, two weeks later, Joe's hurt could be out for the season. You're benched and it just feels awful.
Starting point is 00:08:09 So to respond that way, it's just good to know, like when you evaluate these free agents, you never. know how they're going to necessarily respond in those type of situations. You know how Dalton's going to respond because you've seen it firsthand. I do think that's an advantage, like knowing how they handle things, how they respond, how flexible he was going from left guard to right guard and really doing whatever was asked of him and keeping a good attitude. I didn't hear any bickering or any complaining from Dalton Reisner. And considering three weeks after siding, he was benched for Jalen Rivers.
Starting point is 00:08:42 he could have whined and bickered and asked out and done all those things and he didn't. And he didn't do those things behind the scenes either. He kept a good attitude, kept working. And it paid off and it should pay off with a new contract. Who do you think have more fun in the last several weeks of the season, last half of the season? Mike Pennell or Dalton Reisner? Speaking of asking out. Dalton Reisner.
Starting point is 00:09:06 No doubt. For the PFF fans out there over the last seven weeks of the season. season, Dalton Riser was the 13th ranked guard in the NFL coming in ahead of Quentin Nelson, Damian Lewis, Tevin Jenkins, Tate Ratledge or some of the others on the list. Tyler Booker, who some people think is really good, Gray's Abel down on this list. So he was really good is a point we're trying to make here down the stretch in the same realm as Sam Cosmy and Dominic Pune and Isaac Sayamalu, some of those guys on playoff. teams, obviously. But that's a lot of conversation about Dalton Riser as we get started here, James,
Starting point is 00:09:46 and there are a number of other free agents to talk about. Some of these are going to be entire shows on other days or at least segments on other days that we're not going to dive into as much today's like Trey Hendrickson. That decision, we're going to talk about it today, but there's a bigger conversation than perhaps we'll fit into this episode. So let's keep talking about the Bengals' internal free agent priorities here coming up next. Today's show is brought to you by Gusto. Let's be real. No one starts a business for the joy of calculating tax withholdings. Managing payroll spreadsheets, that's where Gusto comes in. It's going to make your life easier. It's going to take the stress out of everything from payroll to benefits in HR. So you can focus on running your business, supporting your team. Gusto is the all-in-one remote-friendly payroll and HR platform that makes managing your team simple, transparent, and fast.
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Starting point is 00:11:04 That's gusto.com slash locked on NFL for three months free. three months free payroll right now with gusto gusto.gusto.com slash locked on NFL one more time Jake gusto.gusto.com slash locked on NFL. Hey, it's Matt Derry from the Lockdown Lions podcast. The people I love depend on me. If I'm gone, the financial responsibilities don't disappear. I didn't want my family figuring things out during the hardest moment of their lives. That's why I knew only one place to go. I chose life insurance through my friends at ethos. ethos makes getting life insurance fast and easy 100% online you can get a quote in seconds apply in minutes and get same day covered so there's no medical exam you just answer a few simple
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Starting point is 00:12:37 that Dalton Reiser is back. Somebody told me, and I haven't heard this myself, so apologies that I am speaking a little bit out of pocket here that Reisor did an interview. I think it was Bengals Booth podcast where he called it a 50-50 chance, but has been very outspoken about his desire to return, obviously, in addition to his teammates' desire for him to return. Yeah, I think he just said 50-50 because he doesn't know.
Starting point is 00:12:58 He doesn't have any knowledge. The good news is that... He either happens or it doesn't. That's right, right? Because he did say that on Bengals Booth with Dan Horde. and I didn't take that as, oh, he just doesn't know if they're interested or not. And it's very, I think that's all he was saying. I do think they're interested.
Starting point is 00:13:17 I believe they want Dalton Reisner back. And that's the element here that Dalton might not know. It's my job to know. And I think there's definitely mutual interest. And whether or not it gets done, a whole other thing. But I would be surprised as of now if it didn't get done. and you'll leave like 20% for him to hit the market and then someone just to throw a bunch of money at him or 20% for the Bengals to overthink the guard spot because history says they might.
Starting point is 00:13:48 But I would say like 80% because Joe Burrow said it's the best offensive line he's ever had. I know Zach Taylor believes in Dalton. Obviously we've heard the offensive line talk about him. He wants to be here. And so as long as they offer him a reasonable deal, why would he not? not seriously considerate and then the two sides not be able to find common ground. I just think it's going to more than likely happen. I would put it at 80%.
Starting point is 00:14:15 I wonder what kind of contract it would take for him to just be like, yeah, okay, I don't need to go test free agency because he this year made pretty close to the league minimum, 13 or 1.3 million is, which is less than the Bengals paid Lucas Patrick, who got $2.1 million from the Bengals to back up. the interior of the offensive line it turned out and it's less than Cody Ford by a pretty big margin, especially when you look at Cody Ford's number for 2026. And that'll be the topic on another day when we look at cap casualties and the lack thereof, not very many candidates for cap casualties for the Bengals in 26.
Starting point is 00:14:56 What do you think, what do you think money wise? Well, that's what I was talking about. No, I know. So Dalton is going to be, I wanted to look at his age. because I don't remember. 31. It will be 31. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:15:08 So 31 means that he is younger than the Kevin Zitler's of the world and not as good. So Zytler got $9 million from the Titans last year. So the combination of being younger and not as good would put me in that ballpark. As I say, I'm Boller from the Steelers. And this is a while ago now, got $8 million. And it's coming off about $8 million deal. He signed around age 30 with the Steelers. I think it was a three-year deal.
Starting point is 00:15:33 So a little bit of inflation there. So yeah, somewhere around 10. two years, 10 million would probably be where the Bengals would start, and Dalton Riser might come back and ask for a third year and some sort of assurances that he would see that third year. Yeah, and that's where it gets scary, man. I'm not saying guarantee's in year three. I'm saying a structure of the contract that is such that the Bengals
Starting point is 00:15:54 are better off keeping him for that third year unless he's a disaster than releasing him. Yeah, I totally get that. I'm just saying, you know the Bengals. Oh, yeah, guarantees are going to be an issue again. Well, that's where it gets scary, too. But like two for 10, five million per, a chance at a home. Like, you know, at putting some roots down.
Starting point is 00:16:18 Oh, you're talking $5 million per year? I talked to someone, yeah, I talked to someone that thought that was too high. So the $5 million per year range is like fringe starter money. maybe that's still the NFL season. I think if the Bengals offer him a two year, five million per year contract, he will test for the agency. Maybe he ends up coming back.
Starting point is 00:16:46 That number intuitively feels too low to me the way he finished the season. Now, it was only seven games, so there's that argument that he didn't get through the whole season. But it wouldn't surprise me if he tries to parlay that into some needy team going out and paying. But the other thing is this year, there are more starter level guards than normal, I would say, on the free agent market.
Starting point is 00:17:10 Like that is a relatively deep market compared to recent years, I would say this year. Yeah. So at least right now. We'll see. We'll see. I wonder what you're saying. They will not offer him 10 million per year. So.
Starting point is 00:17:27 But just looking at like thinking about inflation, right? And thinking about like where some guys. guys have been lately looking at the Kevin Zitler deal like 8 million a year maybe seven seven between seven and eight million a year I mean over the cap for example and and these aren't perfect predictors or anything but their valuation on Dalton riser 7.6 million based on this year and in some of the games he played like he was playing like a high level starter it's just he didn't do it for the whole year if he did high level starter for the whole year we're probably having a much different conversation sure and and that's part of it and we'll see
Starting point is 00:18:04 See, but that's why I left that 20% because I think that both sides wanted to happen. But maybe because of the way he played down the stretch, he pushes it and goes out there. But he doesn't want to be on the market. Like I think he wants to be home. And so I, it's tough. It's, it's why he put it at 50, 50, put it that way. I think that it will very much depend on, because these guys, there's tampering. NFL tamper's shocker.
Starting point is 00:18:34 His agent is going to, this is why it takes to the combine, typically, too. His agent will be at the combine and his agent will be talking to teams and getting an idea of what Dalton's market is. And that's typically where the deals either get them with the team that the player is an unrestrictive free agent for or the player decides I'm going to actually go test free agency. Because I think that there's a market out there based on my agent's conversations. That's the job of the agent, right? It's to provide that advice as to like, yeah, we can take the deal. that you have on the table. Or no, we can get significantly more money
Starting point is 00:19:09 if we go to the open market. And that's why these things typically take until after the combine to get done. Yeah, they do. And it just made me nervous. The gap, the gap between, and I don't wanna say who the conversation was with, there's someone that knows things,
Starting point is 00:19:29 but not with the Bengals organization, just speculating, but I don't know if he would want me to say, or not, but like the gap between that conversation where he was like, really, you'd offer in that versus what you just did initially. Oh, you mean per year? Ooh. I mean, there's obviously a lot of room in the middle there. And that's probably where it is.
Starting point is 00:19:50 Probably. You're probably right. There we go. Probably right. All right. Two segments on Dalton Reisner. I didn't have this being the Reisner show, but it is. Wasn't the plan.
Starting point is 00:19:59 Let's get to the rest of these bagels and internal free agents coming up next. Locked up. The first time is brought to you by Quo. It's a new year. There are new systems, and this is a time when a lot of us look at the messier parts of how we run our business, and we think there has to be a better way. And there is. Streamlining your communications is one of the simplest upgrades you can make,
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Starting point is 00:22:03 Must be an active subscriber to receive the free dessert. Again, homechef.com slash locked on. A lot more guys to talk about here, James. Joe Flacco, Ray Hendrickson, Joseph O'Sai, those guys probably the top of the list. I think if you were trying to figure out the next one, like Lucas Patrick, Cordell Volson, Tyson Anderson, Jalen Davis, I think Jalen Davis maybe emerges out of that list as I say it out loud. And even there, I mean, that's the guy that was on the practice squad all year and then got an opportunity.
Starting point is 00:22:38 And he's shown in that opportunity. He shined. But 30 years old. What stands out to you as you consider the rest of this list? And obviously, like Joe Flacco, the importance of having a backup quarterback is a whole conversation unto itself. What the Bengals ought to do with Trey Hendrickson, a big conversation as well. So those caveats aside, as you consider this list, what comes to mind? Well, the Trey one is such a unique one because I think we all know.
Starting point is 00:23:10 Yeah. But how do they? What do you? Like, yeah, what do you think? You think Trey's back? No. Right. No.
Starting point is 00:23:18 I think everybody kind of knows. Trey, the Bengals, it just feels like it's time. Well, how in the world do you get better and add leadership and get sacks and playmaking? and do all of the things that you need to do and let trade just walk out the door. I mean, it's painful, obviously, if 10 months ago, the Bengals had known 11 months ago at this point,
Starting point is 00:23:45 this season was going to go the way it did and things were going to go the way they did, maybe they do just trade him. But there's a lesson there. And it's have a plan and be able to pivot. And when the trade talks were going awry initially because the market changed, maybe they should have just moved on.
Starting point is 00:24:05 And if they weren't going to move on, then give him the contract that would have made him happy and be in because then he'd be in that deal right now and we wouldn't be having this discussion. But yeah, I just, how do they get better without Trey?
Starting point is 00:24:21 And, by the way, I'm not saying Joseph Osai is gone. I don't know that he's a 50% chance of being back, considering his agent, David Moligetta, considering he's had back-to-back five sack seasons, considering the free agency pool, will a team offer him three for 35 or three for 40 or something like that and convince themselves that he's going to have his best seasons during his next contract? Like, I think that could certainly happen.
Starting point is 00:24:51 And wouldn't shock me at all. We're talking about Trey Hendrickson in another uniform and Joseph Osai in another uniform. Yeah, it wouldn't surprise me either. That's why we've already, I don't know about you. I've spent some of my preliminary time looking at external free agents, looking at edge rushers, and trying to find the guy. Because if the Bengals are going to make a splash, and this is, again, a topic for another show. If the Bengals are going to make a splash in free agency, the way Duke Tobin's talking, and given their recent history in free agency, I would think it would be at edge. Right?
Starting point is 00:25:23 If they're going to sign a big external free agent to a contract, given what's available this year, given Duke's emphasis on, we got to rush to pastor, I'm for pass rush, blah, blah, blah. And knowing what's not available on the interior defensive line, that's where my mind goes. Like if they are going to make a splash, they would hypothetically spend the most money on an external free agent at Edge, given the market there too, right? Like Edge is going to cost more than safety. It's going to cost more than lineback.
Starting point is 00:25:50 And they've got their internal guys at Corner. So I don't know where else they would go big splash. We'll see. Long way to go. Preliminary thoughts there. and assuming Joseph O'Sye's out, Trey Hendricksson's out. Camp Sample, also a free agent,
Starting point is 00:26:08 played a good amount down the stretch. I wouldn't be surprised to see him back in camp on a minimum deal and kind of be like the fifth, six guy, but it also wouldn't be surprised to see them move on there. The other big one here, Joe Flacco, I think, sounds like the Bengals are huge fans of Joe Flacco,
Starting point is 00:26:27 listening to Zach Taylor, Duke Tobin. Does Flacco, opt to return in a situation where he will not be an odds on starter or even be competing to start if everything goes according to plan does he want to play football next year those are the questions for 41 year old joe flacco but a great deal of admiration from bengal's leadership for joe for joe flacco and really throughout the season but especially listening to duke talk about it in his postseason presser i thought interesting all right i'm going to put you on the spot here because I agree with you. Joe Flacco. It's one of those where it's like, all right,
Starting point is 00:27:06 well, does he get a clear-cut opportunity to start? Because if it's like a backup role, I think, why wouldn't you stay in Cincinnati? Yeah. Where you could throw to Jamar and T and you have Joe Burroughs injury history and you've had fun. And I do think he had fun and enjoyed the city and enjoyed the locker room. If you could just pick one, you roll the dice at edge and let Osai walk to retain Joe Flacco or you secure Osai, but that means no flacco. And this isn't a real thing. This is my made-up hypothetical. It's not a bridge the Bengals would actually have to cross.
Starting point is 00:27:41 Which one would you value more? I go flaco because I want them to do something different at edge anyway. Like if Osai and Murphy are your starting edge players, like you can live with that, but it's not very exciting to me. Like, I don't know, maybe those guys go out there and prove me wrong. They're both still relatively young. and different degrees of youth. But yeah, Flacco, I mean, looking at the backup market,
Starting point is 00:28:03 because I'm looking at the list of quarterback free agents right now, it's pretty rough for veteran backups outside of Flacco, who's proven that if you need a guy for a couple of games, he can be a guy for a couple of games for you. Like you're talking about like Mitch Trubisky, Marcus Marriota, you know, Brandon Allen, like Carson Wentz, because Malik Willis is going to get paid. That's the only free agent here.
Starting point is 00:28:28 that's going to get paid. Gardner Minchew got hurt. Like, it's a, it's a tough list. Yeah, it's, yeah, Gardner Minchew with the ACL. Like, you can't. Here's the problem with the Flacco thing. Minnesota, and this is where the Bengals may have the edge because they want to start McCarthy,
Starting point is 00:28:48 but like Minnesota is going to be looking for a quarterback. Miami might be looking for a quarterback. Indie with Daniel Jones. Yeah, there will be teams where he can compete to start for sure. Yeah. Pittsburgh, like, Are we sure? Are we sure Aaron Rogers is better than Joe Flacco? And Aaron Rogers might retire. Who knows?
Starting point is 00:29:09 But that's what I mean. Like, could they convince them? You know, I just, there are multiple. Maybe Lamar gets traded. Lamar gets traded and Joe Flacco goes home and starts for the rave. Like, you know, I just, when he, with his mindset and his attitude and in the ability, like, that fits in a lot of places, man. It just does. Yeah, getting to know that first hand makes you understand the attractiveness of Joe Flacco
Starting point is 00:29:38 to have him on your roster playing quarterback in some capacity. You understand why he's so well like some of the other free agents here as we wrap up the introduction to Bengals internal free agents, much more to talk about here, obviously. Tanner Hudson, I think it's a guy that Bengals and Joe Burrow will want back in some capacity. He didn't play a whole lot for them this year. another league minimum type deal. He's 32 now, which is crazy. Is he really?
Starting point is 00:30:06 Yeah, going to be 32 according to over the cap for 2026. Yeah. 2030 November, 32 November. A guy they continue to like in very specific spots. I don't know if there's a ton of value to having him on the roster, depending on what happens outside of
Starting point is 00:30:22 his role a tight end, but like as a direct backup to Mike Keseki, that's certainly the thought there. I mentioned Lucas Patrick. I think that will be an interesting one because we'll see what the Bengals think about Matt Lee. Hard to think there's a ton of faith in the way that's gone. Seth McLaughlin no longer on the practice squad.
Starting point is 00:30:45 Didn't sign a futures deal with the Bengals either. He's off to Detroit. Noah Fant, don't think he'll be back, but is one of the Bengals free agents? Geno Stone, obviously we don't think he's going to be back. Cordell Volson, wouldn't surprise me to see the Bengals have Cordell Volson back. in camping some capacity either yeah why not you know he's played a lot of games made a lot of starts maybe he works with Scott Peters and improves a little bit had that shoulder good locker room guy maybe he's your first guard off the bench next year like that that's not crazy
Starting point is 00:31:19 I'm in favor of adding a swing tackle I'll just get ahead of that that that's the one that uh sticks out like you talk about Lucas Patrick and Cordell and it's like where's the the next Trent Brown, not the current Trent Brown, the next Trent Brown. Who is that guy? I think Trent Brown just start. Oh, yeah. Last week. For sure. And maybe it is just Trent Brown. Maybe that's who it is. But, uh, yeah. I think that's about it for running down the list of guys. Marco Wilson is the name we haven't mentioned. Marco Wilson haven't mentioned. I think Jalen Davis and Tyson Anderson are two guys, the Bengals will want back as well in some capacity, at least for camp. I mean, Tyson, Tyson, and standout special teamer, right? So.
Starting point is 00:32:02 Yeah. And the scary thing is with him, if you let him get to free agency, what if a team views him as a safety? Like, that's another one where like, if you're the Bengals, I would have looked into it last year. You just kind of give him a little special teams extension
Starting point is 00:32:16 and just never let him test it because he's valuable. But there's a certain value on being a primarily special teamer, and that's how they view them. Yeah. So if a team use them as a safety, they're going to get outbidden free agency. Yeah. More to come.
Starting point is 00:32:30 on the Bengals Internal Free Agent, specifically a larger conversation around Joe Flacco, a larger conversation around what direction they need to take with Trey Hendrickson. The obvious priorities, though, to wrap up the overall gist here, I think very clearly Lucas Patrick, I think the next big decision, Joe Flacco, and then after that, there's not a whole lot of a terrible degree. Very clearly, Dalton Reisner. What did I say? Lucas Patrick.
Starting point is 00:33:00 I meant to say Dalton Reisner. I'm looking. I know you did. I was like, wait, what? Good correction. Very clearly, Dalton Reisner. Down on the list somewhere, Lucas Patrick, if you like him for depth and you like what he brings there. I shouldn't have corrected you and then taken the clip.
Starting point is 00:33:15 People would have been so confused. It would have been so mad. What's wrong with you, Dalton? We'll wrap up there. More to come on the Bengals off season, including the extension candidates. The things that we'd like to see the Bengals front office, do to modernize and do differently and show us that they can change, even though Duke Tobin doesn't seem to think that many changes need to happen.
Starting point is 00:33:40 Those are some shows that we'll have for you as the offseason rolls on here on lockdown Bengals. Until next time, thanks for listening to this episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Hootay and have a good one.

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