6 hours ago, MaddenCurse44 said:

1 hour ago, theguru said:

From Fox19 on Allen:

“Cincinnati pursued the former Pro Bowler aggressively after Minnesota released him,” Fowler said.

Allen, who recently turned 31, has been in the NFL since 2017.

He was drafted No. 17 overall by Washington in the 2017 NFL Draft.

After eight seasons in Washington, Allen spent the 2025 season with the Minnesota Vikings.

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So we signed a guy off the scrap heap, ugh. His original team let him walk and his second team cut him after one year.  That is not a good look. Hopefully it works out. 

 

 

At this point it was as good as they were going to do.  Played 17 games.  68 tackles. 3.5 sacks.  DT was thin in free agency. I don’t mind the move at all. He is an upgrade for the Bengals.  I also think the Vikings had to make cuts to get under the cap, so they just couldn’t afford him. 

How do they fix the linebacker position?

8 minutes ago, FatNate said:

How do they fix the linebacker position?

Hope and the draft. 

15 minutes ago, theguru said:

Hope and the draft. 

Sonny Styles.

2 hours ago, theguru said:

From the NFL on Facebook:

Bengals signing DT Jonathan Allen to a 2-year deal worth a max of $28M with incentives. (via Tom Pelissero)

I thought they was against signing older players he is 31 just like Trey.

Just now, MaddenCurse44 said:

I thought they was against signing older players he is 31 just like Trey.

Not everyone is equal, some players age quicker than others. 

Bengals sign DT Jonthan Allen to a two-year $26 million contract. From PFF  he is recognized as one of the top interior defenders in the league. 

4 hours ago, MaddenCurse44 said:

Sonny Styles.

I hope.  I wish.  But based on everything I have seen, he will not be there at 10. 

I asked Google about Allen's PFF grades and here is part of what it said:

Jonathan Allen received a 53.2 overall PFF grade for the 2025 season with the Minnesota Vikings. This mark was largely driven by a 64.9 pass-rush grade and a 45.4 run defense grade, resulting in his release after one season due to his performance and cap constraints.

Allen was ranked 86th out of 134 interior defenders by PFF.

His performance was viewed as a disappointment relative to his high-salary contract.

Prior to 2025, he was considered one of the top interior pass rushers, having earned high grades (80.0+) in previous seasons.

11 hours ago, theguru said:

I asked Google about Allen's PFF grades and here is part of what it said:

Jonathan Allen received a 53.2 overall PFF grade for the 2025 season with the Minnesota Vikings. This mark was largely driven by a 64.9 pass-rush grade and a 45.4 run defense grade, resulting in his release after one season due to his performance and cap constraints.

Allen was ranked 86th out of 134 interior defenders by PFF.

His performance was viewed as a disappointment relative to his high-salary contract.

Prior to 2025, he was considered one of the top interior pass rushers, having earned high grades (80.0+) in previous seasons.

Its not a very exciting signing, but also isn't a bad signing either. As they literally have had zero interior pass rush, and he still is solid in that area. Which what he is really good at is pushing the pocket by driving the guard back into the QB. Which wasn't a great fit for Minnesota, as with Flores being very blitz heavy, it involved him having to stant/angle/loop etc with all their exotic blitzes, and that isn't his game. Plus with him, it should also help BJ Hill. So while I would have preferred probably a Logan Hall type who is more athletic and younger. Allen should at least help in regards to getting an interior push, which in turn helps the edge guys. 

2 hours ago, futurecoach said:

Its not a very exciting signing, but also isn't a bad signing either. As they literally have had zero interior pass rush, and he still is solid in that area. Which what he is really good at is pushing the pocket by driving the guard back into the QB. Which wasn't a great fit for Minnesota, as with Flores being very blitz heavy, it involved him having to stant/angle/loop etc with all their exotic blitzes, and that isn't his game. Plus with him, it should also help BJ Hill. So while I would have preferred probably a Logan Hall type who is more athletic and younger. Allen should at least help in regards to getting an interior push, which in turn helps the edge guys. 

Very good response.  He isn’t elite but he is a solid pro.  Bengals defense could use a lot more of those guys — solid pros.  Do your job guys.  The truth is there was one elite DT in free agency and once you didn’t get him, guys like Allen are as good as they could get.  Allen signing also doesn’t count against the compensatory pick formula, which has them in line to get an estimated 3rd rounder in 2027 for Trey.  The problem with this free agency group was the team needed a linebacker.  Needed an above average linebacker and they didn’t get it done.  I like all three signings but they should have prioritized linebacker.   As much as I wanted Cook and was glad they signed him.  The safety pool was deeper and I would have preferred Chenal at LB and a lesser safety. 

3 minutes ago, FatNate said:

Very good response.  He isn’t elite but he is a solid pro.  Bengals defense could use a lot more of those guys — solid pros.  Do your job guys.  The truth is there was one elite DT in free agency and once you didn’t get him, guys like Allen are as good as they could get.  Allen signing also doesn’t count against the compensatory pick formula, which has them in line to get an estimated 3rd rounder in 2027 for Trey.  The problem with this free agency group was the team needed a linebacker.  Needed an above average linebacker and they didn’t get it done.  I like all three signings but they should have prioritized linebacker.   As much as I wanted Cook and was glad they signed him.  The safety pool was deeper and I would have preferred Chenal at LB and a lesser safety. 

I am still confused why they didn't make sure they got Chenal. Especially at the price he signed up, as they could have easily got Cook and Chenal. 

I also wish the organization had the creativity and guts to make a meaningful trade.  Jets acquired Minkah Fitzpatrick for a 7th round pick, and I believe they will be paying him less than $15M per season.  49ers traded a 3rd round pick for Osa Odighizuwa and will be paying about an average of $20M for the next two seasons.  These are just a couple recent examples.  Not blockbusters but meaningful trades for positions the Bengals needed.  Might just be the fantasy football GM in me that wants more trades.  I get the impression it isn’t something the organization considers unless they are trying trade an unwanted player.  Flacco doesn’t count either — they waited several weeks too long to make that move be considered meaningful. 

The Bengals will always be the Bengals. Everyone knows what that means. They are a textbook inept organization from top to bottom. I truly do not believe that Burrow will finish his career as a Bengal. Of course, I hope that I am wrong. 

The team signed, in my opinion, band aid players for the defense. The defense will still not be good. 

A 31-year-old journeyman DT at the end of his career, a D end who is no Trey Hendrickson, and a safety who has had some clutch plays, but is no Jesse Bates by any means. 

And Sonny Styles will be a Rookie. Cannot rely on first year players! Too wet behind the ears. 

Maybe I am too pessimistic, but the Bengals were not honest with anyone this offseason when they said they were going to make changes to the roster. At least quality changes. if I am Burrow, I am not happy. 

But is anyone surprised? I don't get my hopes up anymore.