Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - ROOKIE FITS & Burrow REPORTS | How Bengals' Draft Class Will Contribute in 2026

Starting point is 00:00:00 Joe Burrow is back in Cincinnati and training with the Bengals as they wrap up the conditioning portion of their offseason program. 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? Welcome to another episode of the Locked on Bengals podcast. He's James Rapine. I'm Jake Liscoe. We are locked on Bengals. And in today's episode, we're going to be covering.

Starting point is 00:00:35 how all of the Bengals rookies fit in and what they'll be doing to contribute in their rookie season, the Bengals draft picks. And we have to start with Joe Burrow. When Joe Burrow moves, we follow and have to talk about what he's doing, what he's done. And, well, when he appears in Cincinnati,

Starting point is 00:00:56 it's always a big day on social media for photos and sometimes some videos. We got both of those from the Bengals today. That's where we will start in today's show that is brought to you by GameTime. You can download the GameTime map, create an account, and use code locked on for $20 off your first purchase of tickets.

Starting point is 00:01:13 James Joe Burrow is back in Cincinnati. We talked a lot about Burrow yesterday. His comments at the Met Gala and Vanity Fair. We talked only a little about the ongoing undercurrent of folks that thought that he should have been in Cincinnati for the last two weeks during the team's conditioning ramp-up period that I think is concluding, Thursday with Friday's

Starting point is 00:01:36 rookie minicamp and I think phase two is starting next week and so Burrow returns a little bit ahead of what I thought he would when we talked about this yesterday. I said I thought he'd be back after rookie minicamp and instead he shows up one day before rookie minicamp presumably

Starting point is 00:01:52 just to make me specifically wrong. I think he heard what I said, James, and decided I'm going to make that guy wrong and I'm going to show up on Thursday instead of next week. Yeah, probably and I can relate. I understand wanting to prove Jake Liskow I appreciate you for helping us

Starting point is 00:02:10 fight the good fight over here and there you see it. You didn't know I was going to throw it on YouTube but the Bengals, you're right, big on social media. He's dancing a little bit, dapping up his teammate there and I don't even know. Do you know who that is by chance? I didn't spend a lot of time doing detective work on it, but I was not able to off the top of my head identify who that player was. Yeah, it's tough when they're not wearing jersey numbers or

Starting point is 00:02:34 anything like that and in all of those things the point is there's Joe Burrow base and it's like a profile for most of it yeah yeah and so is what it is but what it is is is Joe Burroughs in town and anytime Joe Burroughs in town it's relevant it's important and there was there were some people that were questioning why isn't Joe working out with his teammates and I think it was a loud minority but it was there and now they can be quiet and that's that's the beauty of this That's the beauty of Joe Burrow being in, one, in Cincinnati, two, at Paycor Stadium 3 with all of his teammates. And I do think it's important. He needs to get used to some of these new defenders and meet them or remit them if he's met them before on the other side and phase them.

Starting point is 00:03:20 Plus, he's going to be around for rookie minicamp, which is big. Why? Well, Kobe Young is someone that I think the Bengals could be leaning on, relying on at some point this year to make an impact and helping that. wide receiver room. So yeah, it's a, it's a good thing to see Joe. I think we'll hear from Joe at some point this month. That was always my expectation. I was not really surprised on Thursday when we saw this, but I wasn't necessarily anticipating it either to happen on Thursday. I thought it would happen sometime in the near future. And so the fact that it happened on Thursday is great for great for the Bengals, certainly. And it's good to see.

Starting point is 00:03:55 Yeah, I'll be there for the end of the conditioning program, not that he hasn't been working out on his own. And then I think next week they get into phase two, like I said, which includes a few football activities at walkthrough speed. This is the kind of stuff they're doing at this point in the offseason. And once they get to OTAs, they can do some non-contact, seven on seven, 11 on 11, that kind of stuff. And I think, James, while you were talking, I tried to figure out who that was. And it might be wide receiver Dante Myers, just looking at the hair line and the facial hair and the pierced ear that the jewelry in the ear. It looked. similar to the that's why we wouldn't know it's not like we've seen dante mayors a bunch so there you

Starting point is 00:04:35 go i mean was he was he at training camp last or wasn't he a midseason ad for them you're signed with the bengals on january 8th yeah so yeah i was i didn't even think it was mid season i think it was after the season yeah end of season after season so there you go i think it's him i thought for a second might be Mitch tinsley but i don't think it's Mitch tinsley i think we know i don't think so much yeah i would have it for sure i think it's dante so there you go jose jose jose i don't you go jose back in Cincinnati and what's the next complaint James I think Jamar is still working out in Texas

Starting point is 00:05:07 as far as I know. Should I not have pointed that out? Whoops. Well, he always does in Texas. Worked out with tea for a little bit in Miami, but that's very normal for Jamar to do. Keep working. Keep doing your thing because it's working if you're Joe and Jamar and tea.

Starting point is 00:05:24 We'll see if these guys are there next week, right? when they're doing walk-through kind of stuff. Maybe they will prioritize that and make that the return to Cincinnati. And we don't know who else isn't there. Who know? We have some video, some pictures that Bengals Social is sharing, but nothing has been open to the media yet, correct? Like rookie minicamp is tomorrow.

Starting point is 00:05:48 And then there might be some open practices after that. And then we'll get our attendance lists from you guys who, are at paycore right? Yep, yeah, that's it. And I think most will be there. That's always usually the anticipation and expectation, especially in the Zach Taylor era.

Starting point is 00:06:10 I feel like it's just commonplace for most guys to be there. And obviously all the rookies are going to be there. I have one small note that I wanted to bring up that I'm not sure we've talked about. I was looking through all of the NFL teams, offseason schedules this year. And the Bengals are one of a handful of teams that have the minimum, I think, amount of OTAs scheduled. They have six days of OTAs from June 1st to 3rd and June 9th to 11th. Scheduled.

Starting point is 00:06:39 There are a few other teams that also only have six. Most of them, veteran teams, Kansas City, among them, Denver, among them, that only have six days of OTAs. We can have up to 10. I just thought it was interesting, interesting little note that the Bengals were one of the teams in the NFL, and I think there were like six-ish. I didn't count them exactly. that only had six days and a lot of teams going eight to ten days. And what do you think?

Starting point is 00:07:02 Any thoughts on the Bengals only having six OTA days? No, no, not really. Pretty on brand for them, to be honest with you. And I think that this, it's why they get full attendance partially is because they are lighter on their guys. And they're going to get them out early and they're going to get the work in that they want to get in. And then that's going to be that. And if you do that, you usually can get guys to attend. they got Joe Burrow to attend

Starting point is 00:07:26 and like I said they got all these rookies which obviously rookies are going to attend but rookie minicamp is Friday which makes it a good time to discuss and forecast and look at how this draft class is going to impact the 2026 Bengals how many will contribute what will the role be we'll dive into that coming up next

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Starting point is 00:08:56 All right, Jake, let's dive into these rookies and expectations. And Dexter Lawrence doesn't count, even though we counted him in the pre-draft grade. So there you go. They nailed that one. Let's start with round two. Cassius Howe. I think he's going to contribute. I think he's going to be a guy that is their banking on.

Starting point is 00:09:17 And this is why they drafted him over, say, a C.J. Allen or a Jacob Rodriguez, a linebacker that could help potentially is because they view Cassius Howe is, one, the best player available to a guy that's going to bring instant juice to this pass rush. I think he's going to matter right away. That doesn't mean he's going to start, but I do think we're going to see him out there and him playing that double nickel, Cassius Howe number 55. Yeah, I don't think he will start, in fact.

Starting point is 00:09:43 I think we can say that the likeliest outcome for all of these rookies is that none of them earn a starting role. But I think one of the things that I really like about this draft class, starting with Cassius Howling going, honestly, all the way down the list, is you can project a role for all of these guys to make contributions as rookies. And that doesn't mean that you're putting everything on their plate,

Starting point is 00:10:06 the way that they put everything on Demetrius and Bairt Carter's plate last year. And those guys were just started. And they were just thrust into that role. That shouldn't be the expectation for this year's class. And it tells you something about the way that they've added to the roster such that these guys aren't going to be asked to do perhaps more than they should be asked to do as rookies. And I do think that, like I said, starts with Cassius Howl.

Starting point is 00:10:30 And obviously, their most premium pick, that's where we're going to start the conversation, immediately fits in in third down packages. And if he is the pass rusher that the Bengals think he is and that we think he is and that he was in college where when you go back and watch the Texas A&M line from Shamar Stewart's draft class when it was Shamar Stewart and Samar Turner and all these guys on and Hoosie, Nick, there's Scorton Scorton

Starting point is 00:10:57 is the other one Yeah There's three draftable players On that A&M line Last year And oh hey Cassius Howl's

Starting point is 00:11:06 Probably the best Out of all of And then Obviously he goes In the second round Of the Bengals this year And they reunite him With Samar Stewart

Starting point is 00:11:14 And immediately He might be One of the better Pure Pass rushers On the team Now how is he In terms of Holding up

Starting point is 00:11:22 On rundowns Well you probably are going to see the Bengals hide him from that as a rookie for the most part, unless he shows that that is a part of his game that really develops over the course of the season, which is part of his job as a rookie is going to probably be becoming a more complete player and a guy that can handle more of those every down duties. But initially, and I think the primary expectation for Hal is, is he part of their third down package right away?

Starting point is 00:11:49 Like, is he a starter in the passing down package, you know, as far as quote unquote starters go, or maybe he's not out there for the first snap of the game, but on the first third and nine of the game is Cassius Howell out there. That wouldn't surprise me, and obviously we'll see how the offseason develops there, but if it's Boyet Maffa and Cassius Howl and one of Samar Stewart and Miles Murphy and Dexter Lawrence or Jonathan Allen, and that's their four guys that they want to put on the field on third downs, we'll see who they think their best pass rush rushers are, but Cassius Howell can immediately be in that conversation as one of the guys that they can count on on those passing downs.

Starting point is 00:12:28 For sure. And that's why you get them. That's why you take them and you pass on a potentially bigger need. And I think that's what the Vangels envisioned. Now they have this guy who gives them the extra juice. They have some real depth there. They have a guy that's ready to go and can help them where they need it. At the same time, still needs to develop some and is going to need to get better in some areas. But Cashus Howell is going to contribute. And that's that's huge for a defensive line that that feels pretty good about themselves so after everything they've done they find a guy in round two that they think can make that defensive front a a well-rounded machine of on their defense and like well-rounded is in they have the the waves of past rushers

Starting point is 00:13:13 well-rounded is in good enough to to lose a guy here or there and still be able to get the do the job and get opposing quarterbacks on the ground and get pressure and so when you make that pick, you're doing it because you think he can help now and develop into something even better as time goes on. And so we'll see exactly how they use him, but I would expect to see him right away in the mix, battling for snaps. And do you have anything else on him? Because I think it really does align with Sicario Davis. I just wonder how quickly he will assert himself as part of that past rushing package. because you are talking about then taking off the field one of Miles Murphy,

Starting point is 00:13:56 Shamar Stewart, Boye Amafé, right? Even if they get three of those guys on the field and they continue to play Shamar, say at three tech on passing downs or Miles Murphy kicks inside some on passing downs, which I didn't really do a whole lot of last year, if at all, for Miles. But I do find that part of it to be quite interesting in terms of does he get on the field right away? Is there a rotational aspect for him? Because the primary use is going to be on those third downs, third and long, second and long. So those clear passing situations.

Starting point is 00:14:28 And they obviously have all these guys that they're four deep with highly invested players in that unit now. So that part will be very interesting to me to see how that competition shakes out over the next few months. Yeah. And you really hope that that's the problem. like that's a good problem where it's like man how are we going to find snaps for all these guys and not like hopefully one of these guys can do something instead like how to get on snaps exactly it flips yeah it feels much different right and and that's that hasn't been the case in recent years and i think as we we look at the third rounder and to cario davis it's it's similar in that

Starting point is 00:15:10 you hope that he forces his way onto the field and makes makes you put dachsill inside makes dachsill do what he doesn't necessarily hope to do. But I'm not sure he's going to be ready to do that. We'll see. Like I think that there are, it's hard to find six, four corners with 80 inch wingspans and really, really long arms, nearly 34 inch arms that you trust in coverage. And so if he earns that trust in coverage, I think he will force his way onto the field because of what he'll add to the secondary.

Starting point is 00:15:42 But that being said at baseline, I do think he's going to be asked to cover tight ends. I do think he's going to be asked to contribute in different ways because of his length and because of his height and his speed and his ball skills and his ball tracking and all of those things. So he might not start. I think best case scenario, he's the one that does find a way to start with no injuries or anything because he's just that awesome. And they're like, man, the three best corners are Dax DJ and Takario. I don't know how realistic that is, but I do think it's realistic that he can contribute on the field

Starting point is 00:16:15 and be in multiple different sub-packages that help this team. Yeah, I think the very obvious role that has been projected for him since he was drafted, since Al Golden invoked the name, Trey Flowers, has been the Trey Flowers role, right? I mean, that's just as obvious as it could be for a rookie projection for Ticario Davis. And if that's his role and he can develop into a baseline average NFL starter at Corner or better with that unique skill set that you talked about over time, then great, that's great for a third round pick. You got a starting corner out of a third round pick in the long term,

Starting point is 00:16:50 who in the short term has a clear role who can do something for you that you don't necessarily have the ideal personnel for, because if you move Dax into that role, where say you're dealing with a particularly challenging tight end matchup, and you're like, all right, well, we'll just use Dax there. Well, now who is playing outside? You're limited there. So having Ticario Davis to potentially take on some of those duties to provide quality corner depth as well because we know and we have seen for years.

Starting point is 00:17:20 We've talked about for years. Your cornerback three is going to play a lot of snaps in the NFL. Having Ticario Davis for that duty, hopefully not immediately. Hopefully it's not needed. But if he can get some development time and start to do the one role that we're, and we think the Bengals envisioning for him as a rookie, then he'll be. quality depth as well. And the fact that these guys who aren't necessarily going to need to be starters, like I said, the way Barrett Carter and Demetri's night were last year do you still have clear paths to contributing to this defense as rookies, I think that that is something that I really

Starting point is 00:17:58 have grown to appreciate about this draft class. And that continues on day three, James. So let's discuss how the day three guys fit in and what the expectation should be for their roles as rookies. We've got five of them to talk about because that's where all the Bengals picks were this year. We'll finish the show with those conversations next. Today's show is brought to by Game Time. We can stream anything, order food and minutes, do everything from our phones, including watch Locked on Bengals and somehow buying tickets to live events still feels way harder than it should.

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Starting point is 00:19:13 Terms apply. Again, creating an account and redeem code L-O-C-E-D-O-N, locked-on for $20 off. Download game time today. James, as we dive into day three, the conversation starts with the fourth round picks. Bengals had their trade-back pick swap to move from the sixth round to the fourth round,

Starting point is 00:19:33 and they add Connor, Lou, and Kobe Young in the fourth round. And there is honestly a more difficult charted, path for Lou and Young, I think, to make significant impacts as rookies where Lou is coming back from the ACL injury and we'll see how that recovery is. There's a decent chance that he's able to participate in training camp and maybe he just earns a backup center job. I think that's the clearest path forward is if he recovers on time and it sounds like his recovery has been on time that he gets ready and is able to do that at the start of the season. There's probably a decent chance that he starts the year on the NFI if he needs that, if he needs that extra recovery time.

Starting point is 00:20:14 And so that is the summary to me for Connor Liu. Ideally, he's healthy, backup center, boom, good to go, start developing and potentially priming to take that starting job in the future. Kobe Young, more interesting, I think, thrust immediately into a competition for snaps in a wide receiver room that could use a little bit of additional wide receiver three quality in competition where they trust Andre Josevosh to line up in a number of different spots. And Kobe Young is probably more of that T. Higgins role on offense. He's playing on the line of scrimmage.

Starting point is 00:20:51 He's probably playing outside quite a bit using that big frame and that vertical ability. But what do you think about the fourth round picks, James? And I think Kobe Young is especially interesting because of his skill set and the position he plays and how the Bengals wide receiver room stacks up, Conor, Lou, a little bit more cut and dry. but obviously if you have thoughts on Lou, feel free to add those as well. Yeah, Lou, it's going to come down to his health and then obviously health with Ted.

Starting point is 00:21:16 You hope you don't see him. I hope we don't see Connor Lou play a snap this year. Sorry, that's just the best way about it. Hope you're healthy, hope you're ready to go. And I hope you enjoy the bench with Joe Flacco. And that should be the mindset in a lot of ways. I'll say this. What if he's the extra linemen?

Starting point is 00:21:34 What if he's the best sixth linemen for their six linemen packages? Maybe it's not common. Maybe it's Brian Parker. Maybe it's Cody Ford. Maybe it's Jalen Rivers. Who knows? But there might be a competition for that job. Who knows?

Starting point is 00:21:44 Maybe. I would be stunned if it wouldn't be like one of Brian Parker or Jalen Rivers or worst case Cody Ford. Like I think one of those guys like the center like the center only guy. You know, that's why it would surprise me. But I mean, I don't rule it out. Matt Lee did it some. And we don't know about his receiving ability.

Starting point is 00:22:04 And that's obviously a big deal for the Bengals six wide receiver. That's right. There you go. I know what you meant. Yeah, you're keeping me on my toes today talking about that and transitioning to wide receiver at the same time. Meanwhile,

Starting point is 00:22:15 Cody Ford's stiff-arming dudes into oblivion and running down the sideline, right? I think Kobe Young has a clear path, and it's because more than one wide receiver plays, you can get out there. And if he's, if he is what they think he is, I think he's going to make an impact right away and be part of this. And that's what I think is so interesting.

Starting point is 00:22:38 You talk to the Bengals and just multiple people in the building. And I'm sure that this will come out during rookie minicamp and beyond. They really believe in him. They think that he's really good after the catch. They think he can high point. They think he's strong. They think that he can play in the slot. They love him as a blocker.

Starting point is 00:22:59 He did do some special teams. Like if he does those things, then he's going to contribute right away because those are all the things that I'm, Jay Yoseva showed as a rookie, as a sixth-round rookie, that he could do, and it got him on the field. There will be injuries this year. And so I do, I think Kobe Young, if he is what they think he is, he's going to matter. I, for me, like, you got to, like, he has 1,400 yards in college, total. And I know there's a lot to it.

Starting point is 00:23:29 I know he was good at Miami trending upward, transfers to Georgia, has the suspension, and then last year has the injury. Fine. I still need to see it. That to me is such a question mark is like, all right, well, are you going to be the guy that has some highlights in camp, which I expect him to? Is that going to translate to games in the preseason? Is that good enough to crack what the Bengals have on offense and be a regular contributor? Would be great if it is, but I think he has a lot to prove the Bengals, I think, think he's going to prove it.

Starting point is 00:23:59 It's going to be interesting to see how it plays out. I think the wide receiver battle is going to be especially fascinating this year. during camp because of the addition of Kobe Young and he's almost certainly going to make the team right fourth round picks they make the team yeah lock yeah i mean barring something catastrophic and the interesting thing is is that charlie jones has still been a primary return for the team and if you've got march josephosk Kobe Young Mitchell tinsley is that is that five or is that six i can't count maybe that's only six and then it's not as interesting interesting. Andre Yosefash is three, right? Colby Young, four, in no order. Mitchell Tinsley and Charlie

Starting point is 00:24:42 Jones is six. Okay, so that is six. So that is less interesting than I thought. I thought Charlie Jones is going to be seven. Then I named him and then it was only six. No, here's why it's interesting though. It is because Keishon Williams is a dude. That's right. And also a returner. Well, well, that's it. He's a dude in the return game. Yeah. And that that Charlie Jones, Kishon Williams and Mitch Tinsley for that matter, that's a battle. That is probably going to be a battle. But that's what's interesting about Kobe Young is like Mitch Tinsley made plays too.

Starting point is 00:25:13 And so if you're young, you're going to have to make plays and start there. It's not going to start with him just supplanting Andre. He's going to have to start lower than that. Yeah. Oh, yeah. I mean, that's what's going to be one of the interesting thing. Like Mitch Tensley is a highlight reel. He's not necessarily the most efficient.

Starting point is 00:25:28 You know, he only caught, I think, less than 30% of his targets last year in the regular season. I can't remember exactly, but I was looking at it recently. Maybe I should look that up before I throw that number out there. But who's going to be the highlight reel this preseason? Because Kobe Young, at his size, 6-4, with his ability to high point and be a downfield vertical guy, like that could be the highlight reel of the preseason, and then that could be pretty fun. I do think that that battle in general will be pretty interesting in wide receiver.

Starting point is 00:26:02 I Mitch Chisley caught 35% of his passes last year, eight of 23 targets. But some of those were just some of the best plays you can make as a wide receiver, which is part of why he was so fun last year. Let's get to the next set of picks here, James. Brian Parker in the sixth round, I think immediately is battling to be a backup at all three interior spots. And he's going to get a look at tackle. and we'll see how he does in that job because if you have, say, Cody Ford

Starting point is 00:26:37 and say Connor Lou can play in the preseason, maybe, or maybe it's not Connor Lou, but there's a different person at center. I'm sure Brian Parker will get some center snaps. And Jaylen Rivers at the other guard spot, there's a chance for Brian Parker to work at both center and tackle in the preseason depending on how things go for him in camp. So I think the first question that I'm interested to see Brian Parker answer is

Starting point is 00:26:58 just how much run does he reach? really get at tackle. Yeah, I think, I hope it's a lot. And I hope he runs away with that. And it's like, I've played a ton of tackle. I'm comfortable at tackle. Yeah, I can do these other things for you. But how valuable does he become if he's suddenly like, oh, well, he can be your swing

Starting point is 00:27:22 tackle. And he's a sixth rounder on a rookie deal. Like it just becomes so valuable. Obviously, Orlando's on an extension. But Amari Smith is entering year three. like that becomes a real talking point and I would like nothing more than to think all right well Orlando Amarius and Brian Parker are your three tackles that you can really bank on and so yeah I think that's his path like the most realistic path would be that and and yet that being said you could

Starting point is 00:27:50 say well Connor Lou is dealing with an ACL and snapping could be it and you'd be the backup center and he might and that's the thing is when does Lou get cleared how many snaps does does Parker get, or how many reps does Parker get at center, literally snapping the ball, versus a guy like Jacob Bear, who is also on the roster at center, an undrafted free agent that they liked, that they added mid-year last year. So that is it. I hope the center snaps don't take away from his chance at tackle. Because in an ideal world, much like Ticario Davis, excuse me,

Starting point is 00:28:26 pushing to start, Colby Young pushing Andre, you would love for Brian Parker to push and get that swing tackle job and be active because of his ability at tackle. Obviously, if he can do that, they're going to think he's versatile to play all five spots. But the tackle one is the big question for me. Yeah, I think the most likely outcome is that he is best inside. We'll see how that plays out for him in the NFL. It would be great if he can be a swing tackle. I agree with you there.

Starting point is 00:28:54 I don't necessarily project that right now based on where his strength. and weaknesses are and how he appeared to play on tape. And we'll see how that goes for him. And that will be something that will be exciting to see for him in the next couple months and into July and into August and training camp. Something certainly we will be watching. The seventh round picks, Jack Andrews and Landon Robinson, as seventh round picks will be fighting to make the team,

Starting point is 00:29:21 that's just how it works for seventh round picks, no matter how much we like them. I think Jack Hendries is immediately competing for the Eric Oliver that we saw from him a couple of years ago. But as a seventh round pick, maybe that's more of an uphill battle than Eric all had. It's not just a matter of showing that he's healthy. He has to be able to execute those things at a high level

Starting point is 00:29:40 and at an NFL level where I thought he showed well as a move blocker and has the receiving ability to do both of those things in an offense. As a seventh round pick, man, I really wonder how that's going to impact him because I think he immediately could have a role where he's getting, you know, 10 snaps a game on offense in those certain formations and certain looks that they want to use for him as a blocker and as a hybrid tight end threat as potentially, and we'll see about Eric Al's health. That's a big X factor here.

Starting point is 00:30:13 He's competing with Eric Al for the Eric All job. Yeah. And honestly, it's wild. You look at that room and in an idea. Again, I'm living in the perfect world. Endries and all would both make the team. And like Cam Grady would be the odd man out. And Tanner Hudson would be the odd man out.

Starting point is 00:30:38 And those guys would be practice squad guys behind Gaseki and Sample. And now suddenly you have two guys that you trust to do a bunch of stuff plus Gaseki plus sample who obviously have their clear strengths. I think he's got a real shot. I do. Just saying that out loud. like can you beat out cam grandi well i think that's semi-realistic can you beat out tanner hudson joe bro loves him we'll see but i don't think that that's completely out of the question yeah i think the thing with brandy that'll be interesting is

Starting point is 00:31:08 if they see him as the guy that's really capable of doing the inline stuff that drew sample was doing how much do they think that these other guys can actually do that because if they lose giske for a game or two right and you need or for a quarter or two and you need Jack injuries to do some of the Gaseki stuff. You can change your offense a little bit. You can use wide receivers to do some of that stuff. You can use injuries, maybe to do some of that stuff. But with sample, it's such a different role.

Starting point is 00:31:38 They're really using him as an extra lineman, essentially, with limited receiving ability. So I do wonder how they'll see that. Not that I think these guys can't beat out Cam Grandi. I like Cam Grandy and what he can do, but the versatility of all in injuries is really appealing. And if you can have two of those guys instead of one of those guys, I think that's the step in the right direction for the tight end room. Last one here, Landon, Robinson, James, competing for a roster spot in a big way. That is a crowded, crowded defensive tackle room. Again, in the ideal world, he shows that he can play with that 5 foot 11 leverage and be a pass

Starting point is 00:32:11 rusher and be a guy that can make an impact if you need him and part of that defensive line rotation in a realistic role, James. I think it's going to be a real battle for him to deal with the depth they have there as he tries to make the team. Yeah, it's just really tough. I mean, you're competing with Chris Jenkins. And on draft night, I was texting with someone in the building after they took him. And I said, hey, he's going to push Chris Jenkins, isn't he? And that guy said, hey, man, we still believe in Chris Jenkins.

Starting point is 00:32:41 Like, don't get it. And so the draft status aside, this person isn't worried about that, just to be clear. So you could kind of guess, make your guess of where that would be. But it has nothing to do with Chris Jenkins being a second round pick. I think they do believe in him. Now he's got to go out and show it. Hopefully, Landing can push him and can push because he is a good player. And I think he really impressed Jerry Montgomery.

Starting point is 00:33:07 And they do believe that he can be something in this league. And it's just a matter of him going out there, making his presence felt. And I really do hope we're talking about him forcing his way. way onto the roster because how great would that be that this defensive tackle room just gets another dude and a guy that they feel like is good enough to make an impact and make the team. Yeah, real shot in the arm. I predict that Landon Robinson will, if he is on the bubble, and I think he will be, is going to be the one guy that people are the most worried about losing to waiver claims this

Starting point is 00:33:41 soft season, unless there's like one of these linebackers or undrafted free agents or maybe there's an undrafted free agent at a different position that really catches people's eyes throughout training camp in the preseason. Landon Robinson, if he is in fact on the bubble, will be that guy this year. And I just, again, I really like that you can project either important backup roles for a lot of these guys, important sub-package roles for a lot of these guys, important rotational roles for a lot of these guys, in terms of finding ways that they will make impacts. And when I think about it that way, the fact, again, that they're not going to be asked to do more than what their strengths are.

Starting point is 00:34:25 You can really align what they're being asked to do with what their strengths are as rookies. I think that that bodes well for them making a positive impact on the Bengals in 2026. Well, they all fit. And you're right. They all fit. And really outside of Landon, you could see all of them making the team. making the team and making a push and Landon too obviously making a push for that role,

Starting point is 00:34:48 whatever it is, but they're not going to be treading water, so to speak, in the middle of the year. Hopefully they're in position to have success, like you said. So we'll see, but I do like it,

Starting point is 00:34:58 and I do think the early picks, especially, are going to get a real shot here to matter on defense. And we will see these guys at rookie mini camp on Friday, and then we'll see them working with the veterans thereafter. And it'll be time to start seeing, how they're acclimating to the pros. But that's going to do it for this episode

Starting point is 00:35:17 of the Locked-on Bengals podcast. Until next time, thanks for listening. Ho-Day. Have a good one.

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