Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - FOCUS ON TREY | Is Hendrickson next for a long-term Bengals deal? Plus, haters predictably hating after Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins megadeals

Episode Date: March 17, 2025

Trey Hendrickson should be a crucial piece of the Cincinnati Bengals' defense in 2025, and reporting is picking up that the sides are negotiating again. But there's work left to be done to get to a happy place, so Jake Liscow and James Rapien break down the latest on what's going on with the next priority for the Bengals' front office. Plus, we react to the loud haters that emerged after the Bengals got across the finish line with Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase, and reiterate the additions we'd like to see the team make to finish free agency, 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 LOCKEDONNBAfor $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNFL at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year.FanDuelRight now, new customers can get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA.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.

While the deals are done for T. Higgins and Jamar Chase, it is crucial, and it'll be complex to turn your attention if you're the Cincinnati Bengals to Trey Hendrickson. Let's get into it. 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 Locked-on Bengals podcast. I'm your host, Jake Liscoe. He's your host, James Rapine, and we are Locked-on Bengals on the Lockdown Podcast. You're on YouTube. We're everywhere you get your podcast. So if you are new to the program,

you can hit that subscribe button, hit the bell on YouTube and make sure you don't miss an episode of lockdown Bengals like all the everydayers out there that caught both episodes, including our first live event on YouTube late on Sunday night when the news broke that T. Higgins and Jamar Chase had agreed to terms with the Bengals. Today we're going to talk more about those deals. That will be coming up in a bit as the haters. are certainly hating on Monday. And that is out in full force on social media and in various mainstream media outlets as well.

But we're going to start with Trey Hendrickson in today's episode brought to you by Fandall where you can get $200 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins at fandul.com. And James, multiple reports both Sunday and into Monday, indicating that the Bengals have turned their attention to Trey Hendrickson now that they've gotten their wide receiver deals done. And we also acknowledge there's more to do

beyond just Trey Hendrickson, but with that trade request still unresolved, it certainly makes a lot of sense for attention to turn back in that direction with multiple reports. And I think we've had some messages out to our lockdown Bengals insiders at joint subtext. com slash lockdown Bengals with some information about Trey's agent and the Bengals being in touch over the last few days. Yeah, I think it's interesting because on one hand, all of the smoke, the national reports, they make sense.

the Bengals have a much clear cap picture now. We don't know exactly what that is, but they certainly do of where they're at cap space-wise. They free up cap-space. The report is with both deals, not just T, but T and Jemar. So can you take some of that and throw it at Trey? Naturally, you would have that discussion. Trey Hendrickson would have been the best available pass rusher in this free agency period. A lot of what we've talked about is what, the pass rush.

You don't want to lose Trey. And I don't know if the Bengals ever truly thought that they would get that first round pick for Trey Hendrickson or thought that they would get a reasonable in their mind offer that would be tempting enough to deal Trey Hendrickson. You let him test the market just to see. And I get that and understand that. And by the way, he still can. But clearly they haven't gotten an offer that has gotten them close to trading him. I think that's very clear. And so now that they have more cap space, and they know, and we know, they need pass rush.

Keeping the NFL sack leader in Cincinnati would certainly go a long way. So it's important to do from a, if they're going to win the Super Bowl in 2025 and be a legitimate contender, like I think they hope to be. That's what you do. You certainly hope to be. If you're signing Jamar and T, you probably need Trey Hendrickson as well. So the reporting around, yeah, the Bengals are going to try to make another rule. run or are making another run, I think is accurate. What I wonder is how far does that that bridge

need to be? How far is the gap right now? Are we talking a really long way where it's going to take some time? Because it could. And there are a bunch of factors, Jake, that go into this. Some ESPN's Jeremy Fowler had, and I wanted to give credit there. But the first things first, Trey Hendrickson said to make $16 million this year, that cash flow needs to go up. And if you're extending him as well, which I think the Bengals would like to do, that's where I think it starts, is cash flow year one extension that both sides are comfortable with. And guaranteed money is going to come up again now after that Jamar Chase deal and after that T. Higgins deal. And there other layers to it, but I think those are some big ones that are certainly going to be discussed

between both sides. Yeah, those are definitely some of the very big topics. And when you think about Jeremy Fowler's tweet on Monday as well, talking about where things are with Jay Hendrickson, when we think about cash flow and the numbers that we've heard in terms of offers, it's worth remembering that his 2025 money owed is just $16 million. So when you're talking about a two-year $60 million extension, as Jeremy Fowler wrote in his tweet, which is a suspiciously specific number, that makes it three years for $76 million. So that's not just $30 million over two years. That's $76 over three, which is $25 million per year.

So when we hear, James, that the offer is $25 million per year, potentially, does that mean from the players' perspective that it's $25 million over the three years, including the $16 million? in 2025. Very, very possible that anything we've heard about potential offers the Bengals have made from the players perspective are including that $16 million number as an average. And Trey would like to see perhaps the number be closer to $30 million over the three years, including 2025. So maybe more pot sweetening required from the Bengals to get closer to that number, including the 2025 number. And beyond the guarantees and the number of years and the future assurances and the security that trade has talked about that first year and resolving that first year deficiency compared to the market i.e. 2025 when I say first year, that could be a big

issue that they've had to come back to the table and discuss further as well. Yeah, it's, oh, there's, there's levels and layers to, and we just, we don't know, we don't know what Trey's asking for. What we do know is at Radio Row, he mentioned security a couple of times, like family, security. And I think that that aligns with years and guaranteed money. And so how does, how can the Bengals, because it's one of two ways. Either they get him the upfront money so he feels secure, right? Or they go the guaranteed route. Maybe it's a mixture of both. I don't think the Bengals are going to keep breaking precedent here for every player. That is a curious thing, though, right?

Because now they've done it, not just for Jamar, where that was almost a sure thing, but also doing it for T. I wonder if they're now feeling that can of worms being open. Like they've opened Pandora's box. I wonder if that's something that they're worried about right now with this negotiation too. And if so, then I think they go the other and they say upfront money. Right. Let's get Trey upfront money and let's use that to get it done. Yeah, here's $20 million in signing bonus.

to get you going. And I think what, yeah, and he's going to be like, hell yeah, right? It's 20 million bucks. And so the reason why I think this could be drawn out is if you're Trey and you want guaranteed money, then the Bengals are going to have to sweeten it in other ways if they're not willing to go that route. And I would be shocked if they just suddenly open up the guaranteed Pandora's box money route and just everyone gets guaranteed.

Like, that's just not going to happen. And it shouldn't, by the way. With Trey, I get why they. would, of course, from a player perspective, I also think he's 30 years old and I would be surprised if they didn't just go up front and try to go that route. But I think that will take some time. I think this idea that, and maybe they do. Maybe we have an emergency show tonight, Jake, and that happens. I just think that this one is going to take more time because the Bengals have leverage. They have him under contract. They probably can get to a reasonable extension number, whether

it's 28 or 30 or 32 million. And what they would say is, Tray, you're the one who agreed to that extension. Like, you're already making that. And we already paid you part of that. And so what we'll do is we'll give you upfront money to make up for it. Like, I just think that there's going to be a lot of give and take here to find common ground. Maybe not. Maybe it gets done quickly. Maybe all of the optimism that we've seen from national reports are there. I'm not as optimistic that it's going to get done right away. Again, it can change. really quickly. These things can come together fast. The Bengals may be as motivated as ever to get it done now. Trey wants to stay in Cincinnati. So maybe it comes together very, very fast. I also could see

this dragging out a little bit. And if it does, fine, as long as it doesn't get in the way of the other moves that you need to make and you're hoping to make, then that's fine. I'm comfortable with that. They've got two big deals done. And it's March 17th. I'm fine with you adding to the roster. now, which I think a lot of people are concerned about, you just don't want Trey to get too disgruntled. So keep that bridge there, slowly build it. If it comes together fast, great. But I'm just trying to prepare everyone. I'm not sure that it's just going to be an overnight thing where suddenly Trey's done as well. The glass shatters, he comes out and he signs his contract, like some we're talking about on Austin 316 Day.

Yeah, we don't have, baby. We don't have anything for you today. that is saying, Tray is done. We're not saying that by any means. But it does sound like they're back to the table, which is what we ask for. Get back to the table at this point. You have to. You don't have another great choice.

So find a way to work that out. We'll see what they can accomplish there. But I want to talk about the haters, James, at least a little bit. Oh, man. Because it is on another level. Let's get them. Let's get them. It's on another level.

We'll get into some more thoughts here on T and Jemar. as the rest of the world reacted on Monday coming up next. Today's show is brought to you by Fandall. March Madness is here. The madness is here, and Fandle is giving you the chance to get in on the action like never before. Because right now, new customers can get $200 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins.

That's $200 to use on everything from buzzer-beaters to Cinderella stories and even who's cutting down the nets. Maybe you think it's Duke. Maybe you think that Rick Petino, St. John's Red Storm, are just going to roll. as the two seed. Maybe you think Louisville's going to shock the world as an eight seed. They should have been higher. They somehow get the eight. My bearcats on the, the outside looking in, playing in something called the crown. There's going to be odds for that

as well at Fandall. That's the beauty of it. As Fandall has it all. And whether it's one of the favorites like Duke or whether you're looking at odds for the crown, Fandul is going to have you covered. So visit fandul.com today. Get started and get $200 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins at fandul.com. That's fandle.com. James, the haters were out in full force on social media, even on some of the programs out there. People have strong opinions.

And we told you this would happen. This is not surprising whatsoever. I mean, you all knew this was happening, too. I mean, the amount of people that were like, all right, ready for the national media to flip and go from they can't afford it to they shouldn't have done it and they're overpaying. And there's certainly some of that. But James, I want to ask you what stood out the most? to you because when I woke up out here on the West Coast,

about 7.30 a.m. or so on the West Coast, 10.30 Eastern time. I felt like Troy and community coming back with all the pizzas, like everything was cool. We got to Higgins and Jamar Chase. Everything was fine. I logged on, open Twitter and was like, oh, wow, y'all been fighting for like three hours already, and I just woke up. And it was a lot for me to take in.

And you probably saw it happening more in real time. What's it out the most of you? on monday as the haters came out the idea that the bengals defense was going to give up 3 000 points and be so awful because the bengals paid t and ramar and and like this idea that it wasn't the path to winning for this bengal's team it's just people just don't understand they have no concept of what these two mean to the bengals what the bengals defense was last like there's no one to to pay. There's no one on defense where you're like, oh, well, they should go pay this guy. And we, yeah, are there free agents that we want them to go after? For sure. But that was never

part of the, all right, well, pay this guy not T. Or go this route and delay Jamar. Like the Bengals' quickest path to winning, an AFC North title, let alone an AFC title or a Super Bowl, was keeping Joe Jamar Now, there are other pieces they need to add on defense. Obviously, they need to draft well. Spoiler, they need to draft well regardless. Like all of these things that people will say need to happen regardless. They need to draft well. They need to be good at scouting defense. They need to find good value there. They need to get more out of their young players on defense. They need to get more out of the young players in general. And at the same time, I think that people went this route without realizing like, yeah, Joe looked around and if he thought that it made

sense to go another, another route, it's not like they paid tea and let Jesse Bates walk or paid tea and let Trey Hendrickson walk. Like, that's not what it is. And if they did, there's an age gap there. But it's not like they're letting 25 year old Trey Hendrickson go and they still don't have to. And so that's what I think is most annoying is it's like, oh, well, the defense is going to suck. Actually, paying T didn't impact the defense at all. What it did do is they kept their fourth best player on the roster. And it kept the strength of strength. And it didn't hope a huge void on their roster.

So that was the narrative that's just wild to me. It's like, oh, well, now their defense is going to really suck. It's like, yeah, well, they sucked last year. And they need to add to it and they need to get it right, which were all things regardless of whether or not they paid T and Jamar. And it's not like they had some fantastic, offer for trade compensation, as far as we know, there's nothing that blew them away. Maybe they would have been open to that.

If it really blew them away, it doesn't really sound like that was terribly possible now that we know what we know. But from a cap perspective, from a what they can't afford perspective, T. Higgins, agreeing to the extension, gives the Bengals more cap space. Now, like you said, we don't know exactly how much. When we do know exactly how much or have a good idea of how much, we will talk about what the Bengals cap and cash situation now looks like. This will be a big cash expenditure.

Don't get me wrong, but the Bengals should still have cash to spend if they see fit, and they'll have more cap space. And they're sitting somewhere around 27, $28 million in offseason, top 51 cap space before these deals. That number will go up. In terms of final practice squad included, rookies included, everything included, it was closer to $12.5 million, but that number also goes up. So they should have enough cap space.

to do Trey Hendrickson and add additional players. So the constraints, I think, are overblown in terms of what the haters are saying, in terms of roster building. Now, in the future, does it get harder? Do they have to draft a lot of defense? Yeah, sure. But you can say the same about all these other teams that also have, you know, 40% of their, the top end of their roster locked into four players or 35 plus percent. And that won't be true for the Bengals from a cap perspective until at least next year.

year. So the cap financial constraints, I don't buy unless it is truly the Bengals just stop spending money, which is possible. Like that's where the criticisms could have a kernel of truth is like, oh, the Bengals are just going to stop spending money. They spent all the money in the budget for the offseason. Maybe. But from a cap perspective, and that's why I keep hammering on, we'll see what this does to cap space. That should give us an indication of what they plan to do with the rest of their cap space this off season, where they could. still add pieces to defense and certainly a guard where we're going to talk about what we want to see them do. But I agree with you, James. This was given where they were at the start of the

2025 offseason, the fastest path they had back to contention in 2025, keeping that offensive identity together, keeping the identity of the team together, and then building from there. Because if it's not T. Higgins, from a cash and cap perspective, whatever that number ends up being, say $35 million in cash. give or take, say the cap it ends up being somewhere in the $18 million range. Are they going to go give guarantee money that they gave to T. Higgins to a top end free agent, external free agent? And who was it?

Milton Williams? Like, is that the one that? Like, I don't even know who it was. Like, these are, would have loved to have Milton Williams are the Bengals. But does he make you better than T. Higgins? I think that there's a pretty big argument to be had there. and something that we obviously can't prove either way. But I think when you have a player, you know fits in your system, you know what you get from him.

That is a big tiebreaker in T's favor. Especially because this isn't, it's context all over. Part of it is this isn't last year's wide receiver class where you could get Brian Thomas Jr. at 17. Like that changes it. If you're like, oh, well, it's weak on the defensive line, but it's really strong at wide receiver in this year's draft class. No, it's flipped. It's the other way. And Milton Williams is less proven than T.

And certainly in your system, got more money from a guaranteed perspective. It's like, there's just a lot that I believe he did, right? I'm 99.9% sure. I don't remember the Milton Williams deal. Anyways, it doesn't matter. If they didn't keep T, I would have ripped them. just to be very clear of how it, because we've seen this time and time and time again throughout Bengals history. Jesse Bates is the most recent example.

You could use DJ Reader. He was a little older, so I don't use him. But Jesse Bates is the most recent example. Let a guy walk in his prime. Now using all these resources to replace him. Jonathan Joseph, another example. They drafted a first round corner in three or four years trying to make up for it. John Ross, another example, trying to make up for losing Marvin Jones.

Like it's just happened time and time and time again. And that hurts when you're trying to win right now. So they got it right. Don't listen to the haters when it comes to Jamar and T. I'd be mad too if I had to deal with Joe Jamar and T. It would really suck. And it sucks for 31 other teams. It's why there were teams lining up to pay T 30 plus million dollars per year.

There would have been 10 teams willing to do that in free agency. I have no doubt about it that it would have been in that range. The Steelers would have much rather paid T in free agency than trade for D.K. Matt Calf. Yep. I had that thought just now too and I'm glad that we don't have to deal with that. The other thing is it sends that message

to the players that we've been talking about for what, a couple of years now that when you do things the right way the Bengals will pay you. Turns out they got there with T and Jemar and they didn't get there with Jesse they should have gotten there with Jesse. This doesn't absolve that sin

but hopefully it is a step in the right direction. James, there's more to do in free agency for the Bengals. And maybe there's something else that we have to say to the haters in terms of anything left on the bone there. We'll see. We're going to finish the show

with those topics coming up next. The NCAA tournament is here and so is the bracket breakdown. Locked-on Podcast Network and Amazon Fire TV channels are teaming up to deliver NCAA tournament coverage like never before.

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Jam's anything else. Breakdown. No, I was just really excited for bracket breakdown. That's all. The haters, last thing, last thing. And this isn't really haters. This is just like a PSA to all the everydayers. I promise you we will not put out info like it is done if it's not done. I promise you.

And I don't care about what national people say, Jake doesn't care. Like we're not waiting on that if we know it's done. And I just to be clear. So that's one of those things. If we go that route, we're not doing it to get attention. We're not doing it for all of the, honestly, in this day and age, it's like an hour. And then it passes. And then there's a new thing.

And it's what's next. Not doing it for that. So just to make that part very, very clear. Because, yeah, it's part of our job and responsibility to not be that way. and we're not going to be that way. Yeah. There is a difference when we run with something than just shouting it into the void

because, you know, somebody told us something that might or might not have accurate information. There's a higher standard. There's more to do in free agency. There's a higher standard for the Bengals as well, James. Yep. There is some very obvious work left to do

and this might be repetitive to the everyday but it bears repeating that something that we talked about last week, honestly, James, if the reason that they haven't moved in free agency on other things is because they've had to focus all their attention on T and Jamar, fine, if that's what it turns out to be. I'll reiterate my point, hire someone else so you can do these other things at the same time, make sure you have enough resources in the building that you can trust so you can work on the offensive guard position where we're talking about Brandon and Sheriff Will Hernandez coming off an ACL, Dalton Reisner, and maybe moving Jeddrick Wills or maybe giving a promotion to another

player further down our free agency tier list, a shot of the job. But like, that's the, the biggest thing that the Bengals have to do is find the guard that fits you best out of the options remaining, where many have signed and many signed to crazy deals that are possibly going to be regrettable for the teams that gave those deals out. But that certainly needs to be the first priority that they're working on while they're working on Trey hendricks and just to reiterate the point you cannot go into the draft with Cody Ford and cordell voulson penciled into the starting lineup at guard that would be no yeah i mean the the the visceral reaction is all you need to really

it's the biggest weakness on the team right now biggest weakness on the team even with trey by the way even with tray limbo i'm much more worried about the guard spot and it's because they're they're flying off right Like by the time a lot of you hear this or view it, Tevin Jenkins could be gone. They were interested in him last week. I think that that has come to pass fine. Well, then to pivot, go to Brennan Shurf. I like the idea.

What would you rather have, Jake? Because we've talked about a lot of these guys, you're right, but we haven't done this. I know you're not as high on the Jedrick-Will's idea as some, which I get. We all agree they should sign a right guard. I think the Bengals are eyeing a right guard. At left guard, would you rather it be voiled? Wilson a draft pick in Cody Ford or Jedrick Wills, a draft pick in Cody Ford? I mean, those are neck and neck to me.

I think that for the sake of something different, the Wills option is interesting. I just, I mean, yeah, Wills could be better than Cody Ford. It's not like it's been great for Wills in Cleveland in the first place. You're talking about him playing a different position. I just think that there's a gamble there. But for the sake of doing something different, because I think we know who Vols is. is. I think there's potentially some technical improvement that you could get with Scott Peters, right? If Scott Peters clicks as a coach for this team, you can project a little bit of technical

improvement for Volsen and Pass Protection, because that is the specialty for the new offensive line coach for the Bengals. But, yeah, for the sake of bringing in a player that had a higher pedigree in Jedrick Wills, where there maybe is something to unlock going back to his draft status, that that would be the quote-unquote tie breaker if it were a tie. I don't think it's quite a tie. But I do think it's like closer than it ought to be for where Judgeick Willes was drafted, certainly. Sure. The reason why I would go that route, one, you saw it with Mackay Beckton, like sometimes a position switch will help with a premium talent. Two, I think Beckton had shown more to be fair, but continue. But two, and I think this part matters,

is if he failed and didn't win the job, and say the draft pick just crushes it and wins the job, he could be your swing tackle. You could have him be your sixth or seventh, like because of that versatility, he could be, instead of putting Cody Ford at tackle, which is still in the running here. Like, let's be honest.

It's very much in the running, you have another option there. And so that's, or instead of going to Trent Brown path, which I haven't completely ruled out, I think that would happen after the draft if that happened. But that's why the Will's thing is interesting to me. But we agree. They need to add another guard.

At least one, I'd be open to two. I'd pushing for two. I hope they're open to two. I think that probably involves a Cordell-Volson move where he's set to make over $3 million and have a caput of $3 million because of all that performance-based pay. That's based on playing time for those wondering. But obviously pass rush as well. And the scenario I just

It is a really good point on Will's The potential to play is tackle That is not something that I was factoring into the calculus As well as I should have They really need a better tackle off the bench Than they have right now as well That's something that we haven't talked about very much It is still a need

If Cody Ford is meant to be the first lineman off the bench At guard or tackle That's not where I want to be Maybe is where the Bengals want to be Not where I want to be I don't want to see Cody Ford playing tackle If it can be avoided at all costs And so if Jedrick Willis is an idea to see if he can be a starting guard or see if he can be a backup tackle where in the NFL, to be fair, he's played actually exclusively left tackle in the NFL.

But if he can be a swing tackle for you, you could definitely do worse than a guy like Will is at 26 years old with potentially some meat on the bone there if that's where he ended up. And he has the Scott Peters connection, which we'll reiterate. as far as pass rush goes, I can't get the scenario out of my head. They will not do it. And I'm saying this right. I would be stunned if they did this. But if you just got Zadarius Smith and Clayus Campbell

and you got Trey done, I feel pretty good about the defensive front. And how many precedents would that break for the Bengals in one off season? All of them. Shatter them all. They sign a 38-year-old defensive tackle who's still playing awesome and is good against.

But he's still, it's not like he just, like brings a little juice like he's good against the run and he's got a fc north experience and he'll probably end up in baltimore who tried to trade for him at the deadline and i don't want that uh and then zedaria smith he's going to give you some juice on the edge and give you like those two guys would round it out pretty well yeah and and i think there's like a one percent chance that they do both i think that they would focus on an edge piece before they'd focus on a defensive tackle this feels like, you know how we talked, we joked yesterday, the Bengals like to go into the draft with one glaring need that they're definitely going to take in the first two rounds.

That's going to be one of these two positions, I think. And maybe they get it to a point where it's defensive tackle instead of edge rusher, just because maybe they feel like they've got four guys on the defensive interior that they think are for sure making the team and they want to feel good about drafting one with the premium pick. That's the roster gymnastics and musical chairs thing that we talked about last week, where it could get a little bit awkward to sign a DT and then draft a DT. So say they focus on an edge piece.

Well, there could be an option that can kick inside for you, too. And that's part of this, is can you get a guy that can be an edge piece that can also pass rush from the interior. But even if it's not Sedaria Smith, the number of other names out there, and most of these are older guys that can be designated pass rusher type of players for you. I've mentioned Dennis Gardek a few times. I think we've talked about Carl Lawson, at least you've mentioned the name, but Charles Menehu to Marcus Walker and how about Bob Miller,

Julian Okwara for a younger player? I mean, none of these are the most exciting names, but there are guys out there that if you put them in a specific role, much like Joey Bosa is going to end up playing in Buffalo, right? You could get productive snaps out of those players. Yeah. Yeah.

I, there are guys to be had. Yeah. And I hope that they continue to push forward. Like find a spot and just dedicate a little bit more there, right? whether it's Eddrush or defensive tackle, linebacker, safety, certainly guard. Like, guard's not really an option.

But, like, find another spot on the defense to bolster. And that would be great. I mean, Asante Samuel Jr. is just hanging out there. He's 25. Like, I don't know what he wants, but, like, he went on a visit. He's still there. Julian Blackman, if they're interested in him, those are the two names. I saw that, I think, USA Today mentioned Stefan Gilmore, would be shocked.

Wouldn't hate it because I do think. he could potentially help. I know Chittobail Wuzier is going to be someone people mentioned. Man, talk about getting the band back together. Mike Hilton's still hanging out there. I'm kind of surprised that he's just out there. But the point is, is there are a lot of good players still out there. And a lot of them that'll fit the Bengals needs.

And they didn't miss the boat completely in free agency if they get these deals done now and start to add to their roster. Hopefully they get it done. Kendall Fuller, Jordan Fuller, Jerome Baker, a linebacker. I mean, there's some guys out there that could give you valuable depth, if nothing else. And those are the kinds of moves that we need to see the Bengals make more of. And this is kind of the part of free agency where if you can identify some depth feces, instead of low-end starters, which is what the Bengals have done in this part of free agency the last few years,

that could help you out and help you get to the draft without these crazy burning needs. But we'll see where the Bengals go in those directions. We will have you covered here on Lockdown Bengals for whatever happened. with Trey Hendricks and the next move the Bengals make in free agency. Until next time, thanks for listening to this episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast, Ho day, and have a good one.