Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - GAMBLE: Bengals Go HIGH-RISK, High-Reward | Will Shamar Stewart Boom or Bust?

Episode Date: April 25, 2025

Can the Cincinnati Bengals' gamble on Shamar Stewart redefine their defensive line? With the NFL draft spotlight on Stewart, a player boasting explosive athleticism yet needing development, the Bengal...s are betting on potential over past performance. This episode unpacks Stewart's selection, his athletic prowess, and the risk the Bengals took with selecting him at #17. 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!Amazon Fire TV Stick 4kDid you know your Fire TV is also an Xbox? Turn any TV into your gaming and entertainment hub with Fire TV Stick 4K devices — no console required. Head to Amazon.com/firetvlockedon to get started. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription and compatible controller required.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $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 AND FIFTY 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.

Transcript
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Starting point is 00:00:00 The Cincinnati Bengals are betting on traits. Shamar Stewart joins the defensive line room. 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. Part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day. I'm Jake Liskow. He's James Rapine and we've been covering the Cincinnati Bengals since.
Starting point is 00:00:36 2016 here on lockdown Bengals. Welcome back to the everydayers. Welcome in to everyone who makes us your first listen as we are coming to you shortly after the Bengals have selected. Shamar Stewart with the 17th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. We'll talk about the pick itself, the risk the Bengals are taking and the work left for the Bengals to do in the early parts of this NFL draft. As we'll think about day two,
Starting point is 00:01:06 a little bit here, James. But we're going to start with the newest Bengal, a bet on traits to the highest degree, a freaky straight line athlete. We don't know about the agility. He didn't put those numbers on tape at the NFL combine. No three cone, no shuttle. But Samar Seward can jump out of the gym,
Starting point is 00:01:25 and he sure does run real fast for 280 plus. Look at you. Look at you. Just getting into it. Like he's just, look, this is, it's a roll of the dice. There's no doubt about it. And what the Bengals are saying is that
Starting point is 00:01:43 Shamar Stewart might not have had the sacks that they or every other team is looking for out of a college prospect. But what they would probably say is if he did, then he would have been a top eight pick. And what they've seen is he checks every box, but the sack box for them. Even the tackling thing.
Starting point is 00:02:04 I don't think there is worried about it is a lot of people are making it out to be. And I do think that that it's an interesting point. But they're banking on the size, speed, athleticism, character, all of those things to translate. And they think he already is disruptive. They think he already will be able to hold up against the run. There's no real questions there, I think, for them.
Starting point is 00:02:27 They like his versatility as well. So I don't think it's all bad. And I'm going to be the opposite here, I think, for most of this pod, because literally there was a dude in the elevator after we talked to AJ Green a few hours ago a J. Green was part of the Bengals draft party we talked to him at like 710 the draft started at eight we get on the elevator after a j talk so it's probably 722 and he's like hey james and it's like me jay morrison paul dainer junior ben baby bunch of riders and we get on the elevator and the elevator shutting and he's like draft anyone but charmar stewart and so i think that it's gone
Starting point is 00:03:04 a bit too far because I think the Bengals, yeah, it's a risk, but it's also the type of gamble that a lot of teams would take at 17 overall. I don't think Shramar Stewart was going to last much longer than he did had they not taken him at 17. And so it's something we knew that they were interested in him. It's not really a surprise. I get why it's disappointing and concerning for some, but the Bengals might have also just landed an awesome player. I'm going to try to not be incredibly negative here, right? I'm going to talk about the risk. There's no way around that.
Starting point is 00:03:47 And I'm not breaking anything here. The risk is simply in the production profile guys that are roughly average producers from a market share perspective. And that's what I'm talking about here. It takes his percentage of production, tackles for loss, and sacks. In the A&M defense, it wasn't largely productive. in the SAC category because people have pointed out, Nick Skirton's sack total decreased when he went to Texas A&M
Starting point is 00:04:09 and they changed the way he plays. The defense maybe doesn't necessarily ask players to pass Russian away that is conducive to sacks. I've heard those excuses when you look at the production for Shmar Stewart as well. I don't have a strong take there, but the take that I do have is that guys that have this production profile are risky. They often don't work out in the NFL. The other side of that is,
Starting point is 00:04:34 you're pointing out, when they do work out in the NFL, it's because they're 1% of 1% of 1% athletes. Yep. When they are the 9.5 plus RAS guys and Chamar Stewart's a 10, he didn't do his agility. Even if his agility was really bad, he'd probably still be pretty close to a 9.5 plus. I don't know that he would bomb his agility completely. He looks a little bit stiff at times on tape, but it's not like he looks like the stiffest player on the planet out there when you watch him play football on the field.
Starting point is 00:05:06 So we don't know what his agility was. We don't have a great idea of what his RAS would have been. But players at that size with that athletic number from an RES perspective do tend to work out in the NFL. And that's like the sunny side picture here, the copium as the kids say. Like that's the side of it. The other side of it is the Bengals just did this. They just took Miles Murphy.
Starting point is 00:05:29 two years ago. It's a very similar pick where you've got a guy with getoff, you've got a guy with great physical traits, and Samars are better. Don't get me wrong. Samars who has their physical traits. He's much better, yeah.
Starting point is 00:05:43 He's a more explosive athlete. But players that need development, in Samar Stewart's case, like the questions are, well, the game slowed down for him. He has the tools to be a good run defender. Can he deploy those tools more consistently and have an understanding
Starting point is 00:05:57 of what defenses are trying to do to him? So he's in the right place more often and not just reacting to what he sees. Can that part of his game come along, right? So a lot of traits, a long way to go, I think, in a lot of categories. And the risk is just, does he follow the Miles Murphy path where you don't get a whole lot in the first two years? And maybe it takes time for it to come together. Sir. And that's why Louaed Arummo is in Indianapolis.
Starting point is 00:06:26 that's why Marion Hobby last I checked and I saw Mary and I like him last time I saw him wasn't in an NFL building it was at the gym I ran into him at the gym they made those changes because they needed to get more out of their draft picks they needed to get more out of their young players and so they're banking on
Starting point is 00:06:45 what Shamar does have which just talking now golden is a hell of a lot like in his mind and getting the most out of it maximizing it and we'll see if they can do that. But that's what a lot of these picks, like everyone wanted defense,
Starting point is 00:07:03 most of the picks outside of, I guess you could say Mike Green, right? And as of now, the 28th pick, Tileak Williams, your boy, just off the board to the Lions. Wow.
Starting point is 00:07:14 That's an interesting one. That's a fun one. But to the Lions. And so, Mike Green is off of some team's boards because of the character stuff. Albert Breer reported, that that's like a legitimate thing didn't i i i'm confident in saying the bengals weren't seriously
Starting point is 00:07:31 considering him at 17 and so we don't know everything there jihad campbell the medicals are a real thing and so i'm not saying i'm not trying to make excuses i'm trying to give the clear picture here is it is all these guys have flaws it's just it is what it is and i think the bengals look at chamar and they were like all right one and a half sacks miss tackles, which we should get into because I do think that that's, you're going to see those stats and those stats are going to fly around. And I think they're accurate, but I get why the Bengals are look at it the way they do and even Shamari answered a question about them. So I can get into that in a bit. But I get the gamble. I don't know if it's going to pay off. I'm not saying
Starting point is 00:08:17 that's necessarily what I would do. I also understand it. It's why they revamp their defensive coaching staff is to be able to gamble on guys like this and be able to gamble on guys like this and be confident that it is going to work out, that they are going to get on the field sooner, that they are going to make an impact. And I do think that Shemar Stewart, his physical traits, the length, the size, the versatility. I think he gets on the field as a rookie, makes an impact as a rookie, even if he doesn't really, if he isn't refined yet, I do think that he can do that. And part of it is, is the Bengals are young and they need it. But I also think he's that physically gifted. Yeah, I think there is a lot more to get to here.
Starting point is 00:08:56 how he fits in early, the opportunity he will have early, some of the things that he said. I thought he did show some self-awareness that there is certainly character upside there. Just like I think there was with Miles Murphy, I think this is a guy that is going to work his butt off to be a good NFL player. Now, can they get that development that they need to get? Is this coaching staff able to produce the development that the previous coaching staff on the defensive side of the ball wasn't able to produce, as you alluded to. Those are the big questions. That is the pressure on Al Golden, who obviously gets a guy that he feels is going to fit what he's doing.
Starting point is 00:09:36 And I do think that, like, schematically, the fit is there for what you would expect based on what Golden did in Notre Dame. And I can see the vision there. But let's talk a little bit more about the early opportunity that will exist for Samar Stewart. Some of the specific things that he had to say and some of that self-awareness, some of the things that will have to improve for Samar Stewart, continue the conversation about the Bengals first round pick in 2025 coming up next. As a small business owner, you wear many hats. Your work doesn't end when the clock hits five. And well, your business is always on your mind, which means when it's time to hire, you need a partner that works just as hard as you do. That's where LinkedIn jobs comes in.
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Starting point is 00:10:54 Jay, let's talk about what the early opportunity will be versus our start. because you're talking about how he'll contribute in year one and i have thoughts on that i was talking with joe goodberry and uh bangles sands and draft guy jared we're doing a live stream that's still going uh as we're recording this episode and we're talking about well will he be a starter and when will he be a starter when will that opportunity present itself to shamar stuart and the discussion was right away when you draft a guy at 17 and and i i I think we talked about this recently, and I compared it a little bit to Amarious Mims. I would expect that competition to heavily features from R. Stewart, assuming Trey is still
Starting point is 00:11:41 around, assuming that the signal here, and this is a bigger conversation, but assuming that the signal here is that this is just like many Bengals first round picks in the last few years where they're drafting for the future a little bit, they're expecting Trey Hendrickson to depart eventually, but not this year. let Shamar Stewart get a chance to start opposite Trey Hendrickson and let Miles Murphy back up Trey Hendrickson. He's been better on the right side. And on the other side, let Shamar and Joseph Osai and Cedric Johnson, whoever else is on the roster, right, let them and Camp Sample will be the other one. Let those guys compete and see who the best one is in camp. And if he can put it together quickly and understand things quickly, he should be able to get on the field. field if you can put those traits together. Now, big, big if.
Starting point is 00:12:30 But given the draft capital use, given the traits, I mean, he's drafted earlier than Miles Murphy, I know he's a rookie, but I think that if that's the investment you're willing to make in the guy, that is the competition that you should see in Kent. Yeah, and I think there are reasons to believe that he's more ready coming out than Miles. And if some of it is just the traits, sometimes that matters. Like, I know people want to dismiss, like, sometimes if you're bigger, faster, stronger, it can impact things. The length matters. Like, his ability to be disruptive is something they need.
Starting point is 00:13:10 Like, they need to find a guy. And maybe it's Miles Murphy. I don't care really who it is, but that can be disruptive on the opposite side of Trey. So he's going to be the one commanding the attention. I think the Bengals have all the. belief in the world that Trey Hendrickson's going to be a bengal and in all the intention to keep him a bengal in 2025,
Starting point is 00:13:31 just to be very clear. Like this does not signal the other way. I know there are some that have already said, how well, they drafted an edge. I think Shamar, it's kind of funny. It's kind of like the Dax pick.
Starting point is 00:13:42 I thought when they picked Dax, Dax's game complimented Jesse Bates really well and it went together. I think Shammar Stewart on the opposite side of Trey Hendrickson makes sense if he can learn some of those things quickly, like you said. but yeah if he can be this this versatile piece that can one just set the edge and be an ultra-athletic guy on the opposite side of trey hendricksson that sees a bunch of one-on-ones he could probably make the most of those and then who knows maybe things work out and miles murphy or joseph o'sai
Starting point is 00:14:15 is hitting the ground running and then you can kick steward in inside a little bit and now you're you could be really cooking with trey hendricks and so i do think that they complement each other well and i agree with you i think he will battle for that and and the thing i really liked is how motivated is is it goes without saying right but you're right he was self-aware didn't shy away from the the sack totals talked about how he needed to improve that he was just scratching the surface and then was asked about the tackling too and this is what i think is interesting i want to go back and and kind of watch because al golden did you you You saw the Al Golden stuff, I'm sure.
Starting point is 00:14:56 I did not. I've seen nothing. Okay. All right. So Al Golden talked, was asked about the mistackles. And he was like, a lot of times Shamar gets himself in position where he's trying to chase guys down and gets close to guys that he has no business really getting close to that most won't. And he was, so I think maybe that percentage number is skewed. And the other reason why I feel that way is we asked Shamar about mistackles.
Starting point is 00:15:20 And he was like, I don't think I had that many mistackles. And teams chart that much. differently than some of these sites. So even if it is an issue, maybe it's not as big of an issue, as some have said. And the Bengals clearly don't feel that it's as big of an issue because tackling has been a big issue and they're going to put him on the field and expect him to make tackles in the AFC North and not only in the run game, but make plays on the quarterback. And obviously, that's the big thing.
Starting point is 00:15:47 That's the thing that they need to get the most out of him. He needs to be able to finish. If he's going to be disruptive, which I think they expect to. to be disruptive, he needs to be able to finish it off, get the sacks. They're banking on being able to get that out of him. It'll be interesting to see how that all plays out. That's what we obviously won't know until we see Samar Stewart on the football field. I think there are a lot from judging from social media replies, judging from the replies in our
Starting point is 00:16:14 lockdown Bengals insider group as we were sending out information as we had it as the pick approach tonight. people were not hoping to see this pick. And as we got closer, two picks away, I'm thinking, man, Arizona, nobody's really linked Arizona that hard to Walter Nolan. And then, of course, Arizona picks Walter Nolan. Then Chomar starts a pick. Now that that's the reality,
Starting point is 00:16:41 he's a Cincinnati Bengal, you're hoping that he hits that upside. At the same time, I can't help but remain a little bit critical here of the process, once again, taking this big bet on traits, a player that needs to develop awareness, needs to develop a feel for the game. And that's a lot to ask of a rookie in a short time where you're really looking for rookie impact. And there have been many times that we've asked to Bengals not to try to draft for 2026, 27, draft for the future. And I'm sure they don't think that. I'm sure they think that they can get a lot.
Starting point is 00:17:19 lot out of Shamar Stewart right away, right? They wouldn't have drafted him if they didn't think that those traits could come together. And they showed us and told us that this was possible. They, Duke Tobin said, sometimes you bet on the traits. You need a guy that can defend their run a little bit too or a lot. And at 285, that's the scheme fit for Sam Mar Stewart. He can fit in to that role that Sam Hubbard played in this defense for the last, what, eight, nine years and hold the edge on the other side of the defensive line. He has the size and the ability to do that. If they can get him to consistently play with technique,
Starting point is 00:17:55 which when he demonstrates that technique, he demonstrates it at a high level, but often does not use it. If he can play with that technique consistently, he can be a very solid baseline all-round defense event. And it's truly defense event, right? Like, Andy should be able to kick inside. The upside then is, as Dame Bruegler writes in his strengths in the beast,
Starting point is 00:18:18 rare athletic balance and fluidity for a 285 pounder and explosive off the ball with flexibility to turn the corner and flatten. Long arms, natural power to separate from blocks, has a variety of moves that he's shown, cross-top, club rip, variety of swipes, and can set a hard edge. If he can put all of those things together, then the upside is you can move them all around and you can have them doing the crossover kind of stuff that you see the top edge rushers in the league do over the center. So there's some steps to get there. And that's what's, I think, a little tenuous about the pick.
Starting point is 00:18:57 And that's why I think a lot of fans were gritting their teeth, I think, after Walter Nullough went off the board. Sure. And I get that. I do. I also think when you're drafting 17 and not four, there's going to be an if or a butt. or a concern.
Starting point is 00:19:17 And we'll see, right? I mean, we'll see. It's, Derek Harmon may blow up for the Steelers and be awesome. And then we're going to be the one too, right? That's going to be the comparison. There's always one. Well, it'll be Derek Harmon.
Starting point is 00:19:30 Malachi Stark goes to the Ravens. I mean, the AFC Northman, just adding dudes. Like it's Mason Graham to the Brown. Like, it's been a wild round one. At least it's not Travis Hunter. And guess what, guys?
Starting point is 00:19:44 And ladies and gentlemen, everyone listening, because we're going to get into day two in a second. If Shamar Stewart hits his ceiling, and it might be a big if, but if he does, he could be the best guy out of all these guys. He could be. And that's what the Bengals are banking off. Will it pay off? We'll see. I don't really care how Miles Murphy worked out or didn't because it's different coaches now. And maybe Miles works out this year.
Starting point is 00:20:11 So I can bury that. And we'll see what happens here. He's got a ton of upside. And it's why the Bengals made the moves on defense that they did. So we'll see if it works out. I'm not going to crush it because I get the risk. And there would have been risks with virtually any guy we talked about. We spent weeks on this.
Starting point is 00:20:31 So I understand their mindset. Let's continue to wrap up the Shamar Stewart conversation. They were going to take a risk no matter what. And then we got to say two to talk about as round one is wrapping up as we're recording this segment. We'll finish there coming up next. Round one of the NFL draft is, well, it's almost over as we record this. It's going to be over when you hear this. And well, the NBA playoffs are here. And that's why you got to get the Fandall. Fandall is America's number one sports book. And that means that you can get on
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Starting point is 00:21:38 So don't miss out. Head to fandle.com and claim your $250 in bonus bets today. So the Bengals add a defensive lineman whose potential is athletically speaking through the roof, who has no character risk and is known for a crazy motor, a versatile skill set can line up all over the defensive line and has well-documented risks, whether it's the mistackles, whether it's the awareness issue, whether it's sometimes getting caught with his pad level too high and being late to react, whether it's production.
Starting point is 00:22:19 And we've talked about those. And those production profiles can work out. But that pick is in the book, James. And the Bengals still have a pretty pressing need at guard. The way the draft went, there wasn't really the opportunity for the Bengals to address a guard at 17 that feels like that's where that player should be picked. great's able went 18 so maybe you can make an argument that the bengals should have picked gray's able
Starting point is 00:22:47 donovan jackson goes 24 to the minnesota vikings so maybe you can make that argument as well but tyler booker goes 12 so if the bengals were interested there as we thought they were not an option kelvin banks goes nine well before the bengals have an opportunity to make that pick and i'm sure they tried to trade back and simply couldn't i'm sure a bunch of teams in that range tried to trade back and nobody was calling at that point in the draft yeah i agree with that i think that they were down to trade back i think that that was a real discussion um and it didn't happen by the way the eagles land jihad campbell they traded up one pick and get jihad campbell and uh that one that one sucks i'm not going to lie to it's just another one of those of course of course yeah like malachi starts
Starting point is 00:23:35 to the ravens jihad like guys we love like they're like Of course. Of course. Good Lord. Anyway, it just makes you. Curses me off. Every year. Every year.
Starting point is 00:23:50 And I loved Campbell. And clearly there was some kind of red flag on him medically that scared teams off. And the Eagles were like, well, yeah, 31's worth it. Anyways, I think, I think I lost my train of thought. I still can't believe John Campbell's off the board. I was really wanting to talk about him at the day two target. Yeah, day two. the guard is where it's at.
Starting point is 00:24:12 And you're right. There was not a guard. Gray's able would have been the one. And I don't think they were in on him at 17. I just, I don't think that they viewed him in that range. And so I don't even want to mention the other Ohio State guy's name until we get pick 32 because he makes a lot of sense for the chief.
Starting point is 00:24:30 So I'm not even going to mention it. You don't either. We'll still be continuing this podcast when that pick comes in. I hope. But yeah, I really, I really think that they're going. to address the offensive line on day two.
Starting point is 00:24:44 And then it's kind of open. And I wonder where they go. I mean, you could say defensive tackle for sure. You could say linebacker for sure. You could say, do they say, is running back in there? It may be. And so I think that those are probably the three. But safety, you know, you forget about safety.
Starting point is 00:25:01 Safety is one that could certainly be in the mix. I think there are worlds where Malachi Stark is a Bengal tonight. And instead, and was pretty high on the day. Bengals board. So yeah, I think just looking at it, those are some of the positions as I stumble through here thinking about Jahad Campbell going to the Super Bowl champs. Man, why are you going to say it like that? I mean, top player in the draft, it goes at 31. Like, good God. There's a chance of Bengals go back to the defensive side of the ball on the interior.
Starting point is 00:25:37 T.J. Sanders is a guy who seems to have a falling. stock in the 24 hours leading into the draft, but he could be an option at pick 49. As you mentioned, safety could very well be an Xavier Watts pick. That shouldn't shock anyone. If that turns out to be the case, we've talked about Carson Schlesinger quite a bit throughout the process. If it's guard, we've talked about the guys they've met with. And many of them, of course, selected at this point.
Starting point is 00:26:09 but Ariate Ursari, Jonas Savanaya, and Tate Ratledge, or the three that come to mind for me as some of the targets that I think we could expect for the Bengals. Depending on what happens between now and their pick, at 49. Yeah, I think that's fair. I'm looking here, and really, I do wonder, I wonder a little bit. Xavier Watts obviously would be, round, second round, but I'll stick with, with offensive line here. You said everybody, I think, I mean, if you get the round three,
Starting point is 00:26:50 I'll just put offensive line together real quick. I like Dylan Fairchild, Emery Jones, Wyatt Milam, I think are probably in there. And so Charles Grant, Jared Wilson, some other guys that could be in the mix. So, yeah, I, the thing is, Jake, let's just say it. just say they go T.J. Sanders or Xavier Watts. They go with that guy. And then they take Dylan Fairchild or Emery Jones. You feeling great about the Bengals offensive line? No, they have to block Mason Graham and Derek Harmon now, too. Twice a year. Dude, I know. And so that's what's so interesting here is like, even if they did get Tate Ratledge, let's say, you'd almost be like, all right,
Starting point is 00:27:34 it will take another Georgia guy, take Dylan Fairchild round three. Like take another guy and just really bolster the interior of your lot. Like that that's what's interesting to me is finding that balance because they, they need to. I don't know how you look at the AFC North right now
Starting point is 00:27:50 and don't desperately take a guard immediately as soon as you can. The way that these defensive lines are shaping up the AFC North, the guys they're going to have to do with. Yeah. I do wonder, do you just call Brandon Sherry? And it is sheriff, by the way. I confirm with Dan Horde.
Starting point is 00:28:08 It's sheriff. Of course you call him. Yeah, I'd call. I don't care. I'd call him right now. Yeah. You want me to call him there in the pod? Yeah, can you call him?
Starting point is 00:28:16 Do you have his number? I could get it. I'm going to call his agent. So we're still waiting. I'm not making him an offer here. We're still waiting for Pick 32. Yeah, we still are. I just don't want to talk about that Ohio State guy.
Starting point is 00:28:28 Well, I was going to mention another name you probably don't want me to mention, which is Nickyman Worry. who as of the moment we're recording this has not been picked. Why, what are you doing to be? That would be fun. You said, lots to mention the Ohio State. Yeah, I know. That would be.
Starting point is 00:28:44 Can you imagine how fun that would be? You talk about athleticism. You have even worry. Significant athleticism to your defense. Let's go. Yeah, you would. By the way, we debated like Starks and even worry. We can say it now.
Starting point is 00:29:03 The Bengals definitely had Starks ahead of even worry. on their final board. Yeah. For those wondering. And I think saw the picks that went ahead of them and felt a lot of guys flying off their board right before they picked. I think that several of the picks immediately preceding their pick were guys they were interested in.
Starting point is 00:29:24 Yep. Yep. No, I think that's fair. There were multiple defensive tackles that they were in on. In Jahe, Campbell, it's got to be the medicals. because I really have no idea why else they wouldn't be in on him. Because I know they like them as a player. And that's what happens here is you have the evaluations,
Starting point is 00:29:44 but then you have the checkpoints of all the other stuff. And if it doesn't make sense to get through all the other stuff, then it ends up being that. So, yeah, I still can't believe the steel. It really does feel like a steal that Jahat Campbell went there to Philly. If he is healthy, I mean, it's just one of those things, just like Derek Harmon. Derek Harmon, as a high-upside defensive tackle, who's very disruptive landing in Pittsburgh, they develop defensive linemen like nobody's business in the NFL.
Starting point is 00:30:20 The Eagles develop athletic defensive players from big programs like nobody else in the NFL, and they seem to have their opportunity to pick these guys so often. We'll see what the second round and third round have in store, and of course we'll have you covered here on lockdown Bengals and some Bengals continue to round out their draft. And like I said, we'll look at all sides of things. We'll talk about the risk for some of the players who are drafting. We'll talk about what the players can do,
Starting point is 00:30:47 how the players can fit in with what the Bengals are trying to do. But the theme that we felt all offseason, James, I continue to feel now, which is a lot of pressure on Al Golden. Yeah, yeah, I would agree. I think that's what this is, is saying, hey, these guys are here to develop. And all right, you want this guy? And I think Al was all about him, for sure. You get the most out of them.
Starting point is 00:31:15 And if he does, if they're right, then great, then it's going to work. But it's an if. And until you know, I get the skepticism. And that's going to continue. I will say just thinking about your boy Carson Sweissinger, there's not many ifs with him if he gets the 49 that'd be so should i should i go through a couple real quick oh yeah by the way i was i was waiting i was trying to delay it josh simmons going to the chiefs of course he is my guy good lord oh of course he is like these people are having a great time
Starting point is 00:31:50 what do you mean what do you mean what do you i'm having a great time oh all right um so just guys that they i think like i i do wonder i'm just going to mention it because i don't want to have a situation where we haven't mentioned it, but like the Trayvion Henderson's, Quinchan Judkins, Caleb Johnson, remember they met with all those guys, Xavier Watts, obviously, Tate Ratlidge, Landon Jackson, Carson Swechinger, T.J. Sanders, you mentioned, Jack Sawyer, Aronte Urserie, Jonasseva Anaya. I know you've mentioned some of these guys. Ashton Jalati, Dylan Fairchild, D. J. Giddens, Chris Paul, Jared Wilson, Demetrius Knight Jr., Charles Grant,
Starting point is 00:32:28 Omar Norman Lott. That's a guy that could be interested in around three, I would say. All guys did to keep an eye on, I would say, tomorrow. You think Cam Scadaboo? You think it's in Cam Scatibu range? Is that round four? I think I hope for, given what they've done and what they need to do, I hope for. That's where I'm after. I'm just talking about running back.
Starting point is 00:32:51 Running back, y'all. Can't rule it out. I like Jane Blue. Let's wrap up there. I'm just kidding. Of course, have you covered for rounds two and three tomorrow. We'll look at what's left for day three. Gelati.
Starting point is 00:33:05 I want some job. For day three as well. That'd be great. I don't think, can they do that now after you take? I don't think they can. No. I don't think so either. Gelotti.
Starting point is 00:33:16 Gelato is going to have to stay in Italy. That's going to do it for this episode of the... It's going to take a gamble and gelati. I'm not going to let you get out of here. That's going to do it for this episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Until next time, thanks for listening. Ho-Day. And have a good one.

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