At the end of the day if we want change and to move on from the missed window from 2011 to 2015. The Bengals needed to have a straight horrible season like this to rebuild. They need to have top 3 pick in each round and start a new.

 

So while this year will suck. I am honestly not as upset as I would be because they need a year like this. I honestly think Zac Taylor will be a good one. They are playing hard for him, and I think he is someone who is going to learn from his own mistakes this year. 2021 is the year we can maybe hope for them to get going if and only if they get the qb spot right in this upcoming draft.

 

Having a top 3 pick seems pretty much a lock at this point, Along with a Miami and Washington

I'll keep it simple. OL and LB. Overhaul and fix those positions and I think the rest will follow. I can even accept Dalton because it looks like NFL teams with the right scheme can win without a top 10 QB (look at Josh Allen at Buffalo and Kyle Allen at Carolina). Surrounding personnel is key. Look at Mixon. He led the AFC in rushing last year. He has got to be frustrated. The OL is going to make him old quick. The DL is doing their job. They are occupying blockers but the LB corp is slow, confused and lost in filling holes, making tackles, sealing the edges and covering TE's and RB's on passing routes. The mounting injuries are not helping either.

 

My thoughts on AJ. Yes, I wish we could keep him. He is fun to watch. Conventional wisdom says trade him and get picks. Ok...so, if the Bengals do it, how guaranteed are we that they will manage the draft in such a way to get a decent haul of players? The last few years have proven that they have no clue on what they need or who is NFL ready.

I'll keep it simple. OL and LB. Overhaul and fix those positions and I think the rest will follow. I can even accept Dalton because it looks like NFL teams with the right scheme can win without a top 10 QB (look at Josh Allen at Buffalo and Kyle Allen at Carolina). Surrounding personnel is key. Look at Mixon. He led the AFC in rushing last year. He has got to be frustrated. The OL is going to make him old quick. The DL is doing their job. They are occupying blockers but the LB corp is slow, confused and lost in filling holes, making tackles, sealing the edges and covering TE's and RB's on passing routes. The mounting injuries are not helping either.

 

My thoughts on AJ. Yes, I wish we could keep him. He is fun to watch. Conventional wisdom says trade him and get picks. Ok...so, if the Bengals do it, how guaranteed are we that they will manage the draft in such a way to get a decent haul of players? The last few years have proven that they have no clue on what they need or who is NFL ready.

 

I understand what you are saying. However, people seem to forget we have seen Dalton when he did have all the pieces around him. Do you remember who was the weak link most of those years? It was Dalton. His numbers against teams with winning records, in prime time and in the playoffs even when he was surrounded with talent support that. Even in 2015 before he got hurt he lost 2 of his last 3 with 2 or them being on prime time with a horrible game against the Texans. Him getting hurt actually may have saved him some because people can still say well in 2015. When in reality he very well probably would have lost that Denver Monday night game, and the Pittsburgh game considering the Bengals have never scored more than 21 against Pittsburgh with him at qb.

 

If Dalton had only had to work with what he has dealt with the last 3 years I would get what you are saying. However, we seen him when he was surrounded with talent and he was one of the weak links those years.

 

Not to mention if we keep him. Are you really willing to pay him between 20 and 25 million a year after his current contract is up? If you want to build a team, one of the best ways to do that is to try to have success with a rookie qb who is on a rookie contract those first 5 years.

@futurecoach maybe I missed it, but I’m curious if we’re on the same page about which QB we should go after in the draft. Who do you want? Tua, Herbert, or Burrow?

 

Out of those 3 I would say Tua. Even though all 3 present some worries for me. Tua is such a naturally gifted passer, but he has had it so easy at Bama. Seems like always plenty of time, good running game, great receivers and TE. How would he do when he doesn't walk on the field with the most talented team each week.

 

Herbert consistency worries me with accuracy. He has the best overall physical skills and probably biggest upside.

 

Burrow I am not big on yet. Last year he completed I believe less than 60 percent of his passes. Now this year he can't miss. So did something finally click, or is this a one year wonder which the Bengals already drafted one of those before in Akili Smith. Plus the few games I seen, when he does get pressured he puts his head down rather than keeping eyes down field.

 

You already know my feelings on Fromm. However, the one I am starting to like more and more and want to see how he finishes is Jalen Hurts. When you look at some of the most successful qbs in the NFL now and in history. They are the qbs who did stay in college for 4 years. He played in a pro style offense at Bama and did the game manager game there and was a real leader even when Tua took over. Now he is at Oklahoma who keeps producing qbs, and he is showing all his skills now. Which his style really fits the way the NFL is starting to go. Mobile qbs are starting to stick more now. With him the Bengals could kind of do what the Ravens have done and be a running team based with Mixon, but he has shown now he can also pass and be a true leader at qb.

 

So right now Tua and Herbert, but Hurts is someone I am really getting interested in.

I understand what you are saying. However, people seem to forget we have seen Dalton when he did have all the pieces around him. Do you remember who was the weak link most of those years? It was Dalton. His numbers against teams with winning records, in prime time and in the playoffs even when he was surrounded with talent support that. Even in 2015 before he got hurt he lost 2 of his last 3 with 2 or them being on prime time with a horrible game against the Texans. Him getting hurt actually may have saved him some because people can still say well in 2015. When in reality he very well probably would have lost that Denver Monday night game, and the Pittsburgh game considering the Bengals have never scored more than 21 against Pittsburgh with him at qb.

 

If Dalton had only had to work with what he has dealt with the last 3 years I would get what you are saying. However, we seen him when he was surrounded with talent and he was one of the weak links those years.

 

Not to mention if we keep him. Are you really willing to pay him between 20 and 25 million a year after his current contract is up? If you want to build a team, one of the best ways to do that is to try to have success with a rookie qb who is on a rookie contract those first 5 years.

 

You missed my point on Dalton (or maybe I was not clear). I said "I could accept him" which I think he is serviceable. I would welcome the opportunity for a QB upgrade and, if successful in doing that, would not sign Dalton to a long term contract. I'm not giving Dalton a free pass for the past. However, having good players around him in previous years was not enough. We had bad coaching and inconsistent play calling in those years. Even though he might have had some bad games, it is not all Dalton's fault. He is not Brady, Rodgers, or Brees. He makes decent throws now and then. He is a middle tier QB. I can live with that if we win.

The #1 skill I want, in fact must have, in a new QB - mobility and ability to make plays outside the pocket.

You missed my point on Dalton (or maybe I was not clear). I said "I could accept him" which I think he is serviceable. I would welcome the opportunity for a QB upgrade and, if successful in doing that, would not sign Dalton to a long term contract. I'm not giving Dalton a free pass for the past. However, having good players around him in previous years was not enough. We had bad coaching and inconsistent play calling in those years. Even though he might have had some bad games, it is not all Dalton's fault. He is not Brady, Rodgers, or Brees. He makes decent throws now and then. He is a middle tier QB. I can live with that if we win.

 

That's the thing in those years I mentioned he didn't have inconsistent play callers. He had only two those years Gruden and Hue. So he did have consistent play callers and still struggled with the talent around him.

 

At the end of the day Dalton at this moment is not the weakest link. However, you need to also get a franchise qb. Which usually being at the top of the draft is the best chance for that.

 

So I know your not saying that, but I have seen others say address other areas first. Dalton's contract is up after next year. So they will need a new qb unless people want to pay him 20 to 25 million a year. So this isn't really directed to you, but the best way to rebuild is not paying a qb that much money. Draft one this year, don't spend the money on Dalton and build around your new young franchise qb.

The #1 skill I want, in fact must have, in a new QB - mobility and ability to make plays outside the pocket.

 

Agreed and that is why all of a sudden Jalen Hurts is someone that I am starting to get more and more interested in. Even though he is not one of the top qbs talked about yet.