Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Way too early 53-Man Bengals Roster Projection | What are the biggest training camp battles facing the Bengals in 2025?

Episode Date: June 29, 2025

There's no time like the end of June to try to figure out who the Cincinnati Bengals will keep on their initial 53-man roster. Before training camp battles have played out with their surprise breakouts and head-turners, Jake and James take a stab at the roster locks and bubble battles that will dominate training camp stories in August.Join the Locked On Bengals Insider Community! https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonbengalsFind and follow Locked On Bengals on your favorite podcast platforms:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/locked-on-bengals-daily-podcast-on-the-cincinnati-bengals/id1159723162Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7AObc0lh0WmQl5fJVgtajsGoogle Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vbG9ja2Vkb25iZW5nYWxz?sa=X&ved=0CAYQrrcFahcKEwio_sXtj8nuAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAgStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/locked-on-bengalsSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelRight now, new customers can get $150 in BONUS BETS when your first $5 BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started.Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNFL at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnfl for 50% off your first year.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From roster locks to the bubble, let's take a look at a way too early, 53-man projection for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2025. You are Locked-on Bengals, your daily Cincinnati Bengals podcast. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. What up Bengals fans and welcome to another episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. I'm Jake Liskow, he's James Rapine. We are your host of Lockdown Bengals covering your Cincinnati Bengals here on Lockdown Bengals since 2016.

If you're looking for an everyday stop for everything, Cincinnati Bengals, from Stadium Lease News that we just covered to contract drama, which we've had enough of this off season to training camp takeaways when training camp arrives in just a few weeks. Well, you're in the right place.

You can hit that subscribe button on YouTube or anywhere you get your podcast to make sure you don't miss an episode. of Lockdown Bengals. And if you're looking to build those good listener habits that I've been talking about, if you've heard me say those words on this show before, you can also make Lockdown Bengals your first listen. Today, James, we dive into a 53-man roster projection.

I will be writing down hash marks as we go. I think you'll be writing down hash marks as we go to make sure we get to 53 players here. I've got three special teamers to start. I don't know who the long snapper is going to be. We can have that discussion later. But let's get started with the Cincinnati Bengals offense as we try to figure out where those roster battles will be because there are obviously roster locks all over the place here, James. And there are guys that we have questions about.

And there are going to be questions about how many of what position groups do they carry. But we can start with quarterback, get the easy ones out of the way here, right? Easy. I just want to know if Peyton Thorne's going to beat out Joe. Burrow. I mean, you could save a lot of money. Okay. All right. The bit ended. The bit didn't even get a smirk out of Jake for those listening. It's one of those bits that like I've tried before too. And in your head, you're like, yeah, this is a good bit. And then you get into the bit and it's like, oh. No, it would have been fine. Peyton Thorne. Peyton Thorne beats out Joe Burrow for the starting job. No,

you know where Payton Ball played his college football? I don't, Northwestern. I don't think that. Oh, okay. I just assumed it was your college. No. I didn't. You know why? Because he's not making the team. And so Peyton Thorne, the reason I mentioned him is I bet there are a lot of daily listeners are everydayers that had no idea who he was and who he is. And yet he signed and is battling Logan Woodside, I would say, for the practice squad job, but is probably a really, really long shot for that. That being said, Joe Burrow, Jake Browning, locks Logan Woodside, probably bound for the practice squad. And that, that was it would make a lot of sense, but there you go.

That clears up quarterback right away, so you can go put two little hash marks at QB. Let's go from the most important position to the second most important position, running back. And because quarterback's most important, analytics people definitely say running back is the second most important position in football. Yep. Better better than your Peyton Thorne bit for sure. Yeah, people are certainly believing that.

How do you think this shakes out? Because there is a dilemma here. It's why there's a reason I brought it up is I think there'll be at least a minute here on this. Chase Brown lock. It's a my JP Ryan lock. Tash Brooks, probably a lock. I think so. Okay.

So what if Zach Moss is healthy? They've given him guaranteed money now. How do you view the running back room? I think four. I think they keep four running backs if Zach Moss is going to be healthy. We don't know if Zach Moss is going to be healthy. So this could be a pup. situation for Zach Moss, physically unable to perform.

He doesn't start the season on the roster. Could be an IR situation for Zach Moss. We really don't know where he is. Do you have any idea as to whether he thinks he'll be ready? Have you seen him at all? Did you see him throughout the offseason program? Yeah, he worked on the side. He was doing some rehab stuff.

And I didn't have the opportunity to talk to him. He was never in there when I was in there at least, or that I noticed. It honestly, it's wild during the offseason program because it's 90 and you're trying to get new faces. And the Bengals did this, which is, it kept me all my toes all offseason program. They switch where guys are. So the offensive line is where the defensive line used to be. And the defensive line is where the offensive line used to be. And it's just looking like, all right, well, I'm trying to get my bearings still a little bit.

So that makes it a little bit more challenging. And the fact that the new locker room exists and I'm still like half used to that. So there you go. But no, I did not interact with Zach. I hope he's healthy enough to compete for a spot because I agree with you. If he's healthy, I think he makes the team. So here's what I've got for now. We'll come back to this one.

I've got it at five offensive players, for sure, three running backs. And I'm writing Zach Moss's name on the side for now. I think the situation is questionable enough that that's one that we'll come back to. But I think P. Ryan, they think is for sure on the team. no doubt about it. And I think that makes sense. And then Taj Brooks, I think there are pretty high expectations for her. I think this is a sixth round pick, a day three running back that they really like that they feel like in other drafts would have gone earlier.

And they're going to really like the way he approaches the game. Obviously, things can change. This is called way too early for a reason. But let's say three running backs there. Let's go to your favorite position here. Next, James. Offensive tackle. Wide receiver.

for everybody knows James loves wide receivers. We have, I would say, four locks at receiver, and I think they're going to keep six. Okay. That's where I'm at right now. Maybe seven, but I don't think seven this year. I don't think anybody on this roster is screaming, I'm going to be necessary for you to keep seven wide receivers right now.

That could change, of course, over the course of training camp, but Jamar, T, Andre, and I think Burton are locks right now. I think Charlie is very likely at this point. And then I think Isaiah Williams, from a specialist perspective and wide receiver six perspective, is probably the sixth guy. What do you think about wide receiver? Do you think there's a case for them to keep seven? I don't think so. I'm looking here.

So Jamar T. Andre, Jermaine Charlie, Isaiah. And so that would have, that would mean either Kendrick Pryor or Mitchell Tinsley or Cole Burgess or. Jordan Moore, and that's an interesting one. Jordan Moore is interesting. Rashad Owens, another interesting one. Des Moines doesn't really have a chance to make the team, our realistic shot to make the team.

Yeah, I think it's six. I don't really see, because you don't have, well, you had in years past when they did this, is you had the young receiver, plus you had a Trentner one. Well, you don't have old reliable anymore, right? Where it's a guy that, he's too good to cut, but he's not necessarily good enough to start

and play regularly. And that's what Trent Nervin really was. You made some big plays for the Bengals. But I look at this and yeah, I mean, Isaiah Williams and Charlie Jones, you're really hoping they run away with it. But if they don't, let's say Charlie Jones just lapsed Isaiah Williams as a special teamer. I don't think he will. I think Isaiah Williams is really interesting.

It's going to come down to him on special teams and how well he picks up the offense after joining the team late last year. More and Owens are the two that I. I would be looking at from a receiver standpoint. Like, all right, is number 14 going to be in the mix? That's Jordan Moore or number 12 going to be in the mix. Rashad Owens. Those are the two that could push for a spot and beat out Isaiah Williams.

But to your point, or Charlie Jones, Charlie's got to stay healthy. I think today it's six and it's those six and it's up to Owens and more to almost beat those guys out, not necessarily earn that seventh spot. And I think it's, you're talking. talking about a slot contributor. I don't think that there's a true slot on this team right now, like the Tyler Boyd type of slot where they're the crafty route runners who are going to be very trustworthy third down targets and wide receiver. I think Mike Keseki is going to do that role to some degree in this offense. And we'll talk about tight ends obviously as well and how many

tight ends we expect them to keep. But let's write down here. I've got we got a lot of two quarterbacks. We got three running backs. We got a question on Zach Moss. We got six receivers who were at 11 players on offense. We got to talk about the trenches. We got to talk about tight end. So we'll continue. We'll wrap up the offense here. We'll get to the defensive side of the ball coming up next. Today's show is brought to you by Monarch money. Ever wish managing your money felt easier. Well, with Monarch money, it can be easier. Whether you're growing your savings, planning a big purchase, Monarch puts you in the driver seat. It's like having your own personal CFO, giving you full visibility and control over your finances.

Monarch Money is more than a budgeting app. It's a financial command center. You can track all of your accounts, investments, and spending in one place. Was there a specific category, for example, like takeout or subscriptions that added up to more than you expected? That is something that, to me, is really interesting. You monitor DoorDash, and especially, especially in season, Jake, I'm a big door dachshark because it works when you're on the road or here. And so that's something that pops up when you use Monarch Money and you can track it. You can say, I need to relax with that.

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But let's go tight end next where Mike Keseki, Drew Sample and one of the Tanner's, Tanner Hudson, Tanner McLaughlin and Cam Grandi are the four that I'm thinking about right now. And I do think it's at four tight ends. What are your thoughts on the tight end position? Yeah, tight end is interesting. because you look at it and Gaseki lock, sample lock, Hudson, McLaughlin, Grandi, I think two of the three make it. I think Cam Grandi has shown that he can do something that you're not going to get out of Tanner,

that you're not either Tanner, which is block. So I think he's tight end three, as weird as that sounds, for some people. And then it's really going to be an uphill climb for Tanner McLaughlin because he's got to prove that he's the better Tanner. And that he can be essentially Mike Gassicki's backup, if anything were to happen. Like we know Cam Grandy can do some of the Drew Sample stuff. Who can be the slot receiver-ish tight end if Mike Gassickey's knicked up?

And so that's what Tanner McLaughlin's got to do unless he's just way better at blocking this year or two. And it takes a step there and is more complete as a player. I would bet that it would be Tanner Hudson and Cam Grandy as the backups to Mike Gassickie and Drew Sample and get used to it, though. you're going to see those two guys, Micahisickey and Drew Sample, a ton. I think they will play significantly more snaps than the other two guys if all four make it. But I do think that the Bengals, even last year, show that they have roles for Hudson and Grandy, which is why those two are the leaders at this point on June, whatever, 29th, 30th,

whenever you're listening to this end of June. But we're an agreement on four tight ends because they're going to, there's such disparate skill sets in these tight ends. They don't have the all-rounder, largely because Eric All isn't present. Maybe if Eric All is healthy, maybe they talk themselves into three, but I think four tight ends here is pretty straightforward, even though you're talking about some later picks and street free agents, college free agents at the back of the roster. Yeah, I think, I don't know how you get to five. And I look at it. And it really, it's, it's, they didn't add to it for a reason.

I mean, I think they feel really good about it. Now, who knows? Maybe, see, maybe I'm disrespecting Cole Taylor. Maybe I am. Maybe Cole Taylor makes a push. But I think this one's pretty straightforward. And the last thing here on tight end, it's such a bummer that 83 is going to miss the season. And he took a headshot.

He had to take a head shot this year. But unfortunately, not going to be on the field. But Eric All, this room feels so much more complete if Eric All is healthy. and unfortunately he's not it doesn't mean it's a bad tight end room it's just like you said they all have kind of their individual roles that complement each other well yeah my headshot james means a photo picture for madden for madden which i will be doing the offensive line has either nine or ten spots here and this is where the moss thing gets interesting so obviously arlando brown Amarius Mims, Ted Karras, Dylan Fairchild,

Lucas Patrick, Jalen Rivers, Cody Ford. You're up to seven. And then are there three more? Matt Lee, Cordell Voulson, Devin Cochran, Jackson Kirkland, Seth McLaughlin, who I think he's going to be ready for training camp. We'll see how they ramp him up. And to Sean Manning, Andrew Stuber.

Do you think they go 10 here? We've seen them go 10 in the past, but once you get past nine, you're talking Jackson Kirkland. It kind of comes out to just Jackson Kirkland make the original 53, if you think they're going to go 10. Or does somebody else step up in a way that we don't anticipate? And that would be like the Seth McLaughlin's or Devin Cochran's.

Do one of those guys take a big step and really challenge for the 53? Because I think you got eight pretty comfortably and probably nine, but then it gets a little bit iffy. Yeah, it does. So you have the probable starters, I would say, Mims, Patrick, Karras, Fairchild, Brown. Rivers, I think, is going to make the team. Voluson, I think, probably makes the team in Lee. And Cody Ford.

So there's your, there's your nine. Yeah. Yeah, it's tough. You know, it can, so I think it's going to come down to Seth McLaughlin. Can he, McGlachlan? McLaughlin, excuse me. I'm thinking Tanner McLaughlin and saying that.

But McLaughlin, if he can be healthy, like you said, or what's so interesting about Jackson Kirkland, yeah, if you talk to people, they're like, man, he's got something to him. But he's had so many injuries now.

And he's been nicked up. And you wonder if those have taken a toll. Like he's really been nicked up for the better part of two years. So even if you flash that potential, it's it's tough and Caleb Eton's another one that you know maybe he surprises but yeah it's probably nine barring something unforeseen ETN seems destined for developmental practice squad rule and I hope he lands here because he's got immense size and

hopefully he's a guy that could be developed into a swing tackle long term Kirkland missed the rest of the season after suffering a biceps injury in week five last year so significant injury there didn't he have a an ACL before that? Did he not have an ACL? Am I thinking of a different player? He's missed time with like big injuries so far in his in his two-year NFL career. And was seen as a day two prospect before injuries really started to slow him down at

the end of his college career as well. But from a makeup perspective, you're right. Everyone in the building loves the way he approaches the game, approaches preparation, offensive line experts love the way he maximizes his tools. but the athletic toolkit is limited there. So what I did, James, is I got 24 on offense right now with potentially the 25th guy being Kirkland-Mossom McLaughlin, the Ohio State Center College Free Agent,

one of the top college free agents in the Bengals College Free Agent class. So it could be 25, but let's get through the defense and see how many open roster spots we have because I think the defense is a lot more variable. and we can knock one out. I think safety is straightforward. Geno Stone, Jordan Battle, Dejohn Anthony, Tyson Anderson. And I think it's those four guys.

Unless they bring somebody in, those four guys, right? Yeah, I don't know who else it would be. You're right. I mean, it is even more cut and dry than tight end from that standpoint. You have your two guys that you know are going to start, Battle and Stone, and then two guys and Tyson and Dejohn that are going to be active probably and play a special teams role. But that's it.

PJ Jules, Jalen Key, Chiquon Loyal, those guys are practice squad at best, and that's what they're battling for. So yes, four safeties. And then corner. Well, I think the rest of the defense is just complicated. So I think we'll finish the show

by getting through the rest of the defense and figuring out if we have that 25th player on the offensive side of the ball, James, because we might end up having to keep 26 guys on this defense to feel comfortable where things are going. So let's get to corner. We'll do that and finish the defense here coming up next.

All right. Let's get to corner, Jake. And you look at it. Cam Taylor Britt, obviously Locke, Dax Hill, Locke, DJ Turner, Locke, Josh Newton, lock. And then it's like, all right, well, DJ Ivy, I think they like him a lot. He's probably there. Marco Wilson,

that's when you start to get into it. Jalen Davis is obviously, someone they hold in high regard. So I think the first what, Hill, assuming health, Cam Taylor Britt, DJ Turner, Josh Newton, all locks. DJ Ivy probably close, but I don't know. Marco Wilson, I think they like, but we'll see. How do you view the corners after those first four? Well, I think they're keeping at least five. And then the question is, do Marco Wilson and or DJ Ivy do enough to make them feel like they have to keep six. That's where it is now.

Last year they kept five, they had those four guys that we're talking about as locks this year, plus Mike Hilton. This year it's those four guys. And then one of Ivy or Wilson, probably Wilson would be my intuition here at the end of June.

But that's a true training camp battle, I think, the back of this corner room. J-Lad Davis got to the practice squad last year. I think he still has practice squad eligibility. I mean, either way, I guess he would. He could be a veteran practice squad or the Bengals have. Every NFL team is allowed to have veterans on the practice squad. So I think you're at five for sure.

And then it's do we think that Wilson or Ivy, one of those two guys, does enough to make them keep six. Yeah, I wonder about Wilson because I know there are people in the building that like him. And he joined mid-year. and yet you think back to Ivy as a rookie. And I remember veterans telling me like, oh, that dude can be a dude when he was a rookie. And he started to make a few plays and then obviously gets hurt and comes back last year. And so I would give Ivy the edge, but I think that that's an interesting battle.

But one thing is certain just based on their lack of moves at corner, they feel good about this room. And I think it's because of guys like Ivy and Wilson and even a guy like Jalen Davis, who I think they are confident in the belief in those guys allowed them to stand pat in their mind. And so do they keep six? Is it five with multiple guys on the practice squad that they believe in? I think Marco Wilson and DJ Ivy, and maybe Jalen Davis will be in the mix there.

Yeah. So for now I've got five. I wrote down some names here. I'll add Davis's name to the list because I think this is going to happen at multiple defensive positions where we're going to talk through a couple of guys. And then we'd be like, well, what about this one more guy? So let's go linebacker next.

This one just trying to go from simplest to complex. And maybe that's the opposite order. We should be doing this. But Demetriusite, Barrett Carter, the rookies are going to be on the team along with Logan Wilson. Orrin Berks, I think, all that certainly is on the team. He's going to be seen as an ace special teamer, if all things go, according to plan. He is a versatile backup linebacker who has shown that he can play when he's on the field on defense was great in Philly's. playoff run. And then I think Muma Jong meta is probably the fifth guy, but with the return of

Al Golden, I wonder if that shakes things up a little bit. I'm Muma and Shaka Hayward. They're the two guys. And I think it's probably five linebackers. Do you have thoughts, strong thoughts, on whether they go six on the initial 53? I, it's, it's, this is an interesting one because you have Logan Wilson who's going to lead the show. Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter lock, lock, Oren Burke's lock. And then after that, it's really, really up in the air where like Muma's the fan favorite.

I think Shaka Hayward showed something. And then you got Craig Yelling and Joe, Giles Harris. And are either of those guys even going to be in the mix for a spot? Probably not. So I would say five. And that Hayward versus Jung meta battle is, interesting to me because I think Hayward showed something. I know everyone remembers MoMA in his

preseason last year and I think he's in the mix and maybe favored. But I think those are the probably the six. Maybe you end up with one more on the practice squad as well. The six linebackers that you want inside your franchise, you probably go with five, but the six that you're going to have on your practice squad. Maybe the seventh is somewhere else or maybe he is on the roster. But I think they end up going with five and it'll come down to Mooma or Shaka. The end of the year last year, Shaka Hayward played seven snaps in the week eight team game against Pittsburgh. He played five snaps on defense before that in week 15 and week 16 against Tennessee

and against Cleveland. Muma Junk meta from week nine through week 18 was getting some sub-packaged play. So if you went based on last year, Muma did out snap Shaka Hayward, but it was like a 31 to 12 advantage. We're not talking about a large amount of snaps here. I would personally lean MoMA for those reasons primarily. But like I said, with the new defensive staff, new linebackers coach, new defensive coordinator, does last year matter all that much when it comes to that battle?

I think that's a real battle. So I think we're at five linebackers. And then if those guys are both awesome, maybe there's a way they keep six. Last year they kept five, I would be surprised to see six linebackers. Last year we were talking about do they only keep four linebackers? And they went with five. The defensive line, though, is going to be a crowded room. And I think that this is where things get particularly spicy on defense.

Because assuming Trey is on the team, your edge room consists of Trey Hendrickson, Joseph O'Sah, Marstoward, Miles Murphy, Cam sample, all to me as locks right now. And I think Cedric Johnson is favored to make the team. I would say more likely than not to make the team. and part of the reason for that is that there's only four interior defensive guys that you feel good about making the team right now. And then the question is, do one of Howard Cross or Eric Gregory, the two relatively marquee college free agents on the defensive side of the ball, do enough to be the fifth interior guy that then makes the Bengals consider,

hey, do we keep 11 total in the trenches? Do we still keep our six edge guys and go with five interior guys, gets us to 25 players on defense. And that would mean that they're only keeping five corners at that point. Or do they opt for the sixth corner and go lighter in the defensive line? Because last year, their initial 53, they had 10 defensive linemen. They kept the extra safety last year. They had five safeties last year.

And that was the extra player on defense. Yeah, that's the Von Bell spot. I know it wasn't Vaughn. I mean, he was starting. but the difference between last year's room and this year's room, obviously Dejan made the team. I think as of today, I think they just keep four. You think 10, 10 defensive linemen, six edge guys, four defensive tackles. The six edge guys are locks, right?

I mean, Osai Shamar, Cam Sample, Trey, Miles, Cedric. Lock, lock, lock. You think Cedric is locked? Locked, locked. Okay. I didn't feel that strongly about it. That's interesting. Yeah.

I thought, I thought favored like 80s, 80%, but I didn't feel 100%. I mean, unless he just throws up to camp 20 pounds heavier than he was two weeks ago, you know, and just out of shape. But other than that, yeah, I think he I think they really, they like him and they think he has potential. And so you're not

going to throw that out the door when, heck, he got a lot of valuable snaps in the off-season program and there's belief they saw him. So, no, I think there are locks. And so what that means is, is if you're Howard Gregory, or Howard Cross or Eric Gregory, you need to not just prove to be the 11th guy,

but you need to show enough to where maybe they risk exposing Cedric Johnson to waivers. Maybe they risk going that route and enforce their hand a little bit. I would say right now, so right now we're at 51 with the bubble guys. We got 24 in offense. We got 24 on defense. We got three special teamers. and the guys that are in the air are those two defensive tackles, Howard, Cross, Eric Gregory,

and we've got questions for one of potentially Marco Wilson, DJ Ivy, Jalen Davis. So like one of those corners that they wanted to keep a sixth corner. We've got Shaka Hayward or Mumajong Meta if they wanted to keep a six linebacker. So there's a bunch of guys on defense they could go to get to 25. Or if they wanted two of those guys, then you could say 24 on offense if, say, Zach Moss is on a list to start the year and say they don't feel like McLaughlin or Kirkland are 53 worthy. So those are the guys we're considering for two spots now. The way that we've boiled it down is Jackson Kirkland and Seth McLaughlin as offensive lineman.

We don't know the status of Zach Moss. So that's three on offense. And then on defense, the two defensive tackles, the three corners, and one linebacker for two spots. And that's interesting. it is interesting because I think a lot of people are going to say, right, keep the defensive tackle. And so when you put it that way, it's like, all right, well, all right, Mr. Cross, shine bright, you know, and make a difference and show that you belong. Obviously, you played for how golden. You're familiar with things.

Show that you matter. And we'll see. He's certainly someone that could be in the mix. Both guys, Gregory and Cross aren't young, you know, 23 and 24. you would hope that they would be able to potentially contribute and earn a spot. And so it's good to do this exercise for that reason because sometimes it isn't, all right, defensive tackle versus defensive tackle. It really is, Muma versus Gregory versus Cross versus Shaka.

And sometimes it's across it. Like you said, it's, well, we can maybe put Zach Moss on this list or in risk losing this guy. or we can go this route or in and so that's those are the dilemmas and the conversations that they have going into that that cut down and into that final week of the preseason so the the big takeaway here is is the roster is pretty close to set and obviously there'll be injuries and information's going to change but a lot of this if it's just chalk i think we're we're pretty close with the 51 I think barring something unforeseen, this could in an ideal world be what the Bengals are envisioning for their 2025 roster coming out of the preseason and going into the regular season. And the one thing that I'm thinking again as we go through this is, man, they could sign a safety and it would help.

Man, they could sign a guard and it would help. Those thorns in our side that have been there for this entire off season are still there, even as we go through this exercise. because I think they make some of these decisions easier or make you feel better about some of the spots on your team at least and that's where we're going to be. But I do think that the other takeaway here is like you said, there's some very interesting battles at the back end of this roster throughout training camp, but there will be surprises too.

There will also be injuries that change the math here on certain spots, but the surprises are always interesting. Somebody is going to emerge at this training camp. It almost always happens that we're not anticipating today in June. And that's part of the interesting thing about this too is to look back on this in a month and a half and see who has really popped throughout the

training camp and preseason process. But that's it for this episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Let us know who you think is making the team that we aren't considering strongly enough in the comments or track us down on socials. Yell at us there if that's your thing.

Until next time, thanks for listening to this episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Ho-Day and have a good one. Thank you.