(12-18-2021, 11:14 PM)TheO-LineMatters Wrote: I begin an immediate search for a HC. I want an offensive minded coach from a winning organization who is known for developing QB's. Getting Trevor Lawrence on track is without a doubt, priority #1. I involve Trevor in the search and make sure he is comfortable with the person I hire. I also ask each person I interview who they intend to bring in as Coordinators and coaches to make sure that we don't have a huge debacle like when Meyer tried to bring in that racist coach. We CANNOT repeat the mistakes of the past. We HAVE TO learn from all the things we've done wrong in order to turn things around.

I try to look for trade partners in deals for Jawaan Taylor, Laviska Shenault and Myles Jack. There is a good chance we might not get anything for Taylor and Shenault and if that is the case, I cut them outright. I'm not gonna waste time trying Taylor inside at OG, he sucks and he has to go. The same for Shenault. I'm not keeping dead weight. As for Jack, it's obvious that he is best suited for a 4-3 scheme as an OLB. He has some value to other teams, so I take the best offer I get, no matter what it is.

Free agency is gonna be an uphill battle now that our reputation is even worse than it was before. We have to upgrade this O-Line though. If Terron Armstead hits free agency, I call his agent immediately and offer him a 4 year deal, making him the top paid OT in NFL history. I make sure I'm the top bidder by quite a bit. Solidifying the LT position is a must and he is by far, the best player in free agency. As I have said on numerous occasions, I think this is the worst OT draft class in at least 5 years. I wouldn't even consider selecting one of these OT's until at least, round 3. So, I cannot count on filling either starting OT in the draft. It has to be done in free agency in order to get significantly better. I also target Riley Reiff in free agency as well. He had made the Bengals O-Line so much better this season, until his injury and he is now on I.R. If I could somehow land Armstead and Reiff for LT and RT, that would be the ideal scenario. If I only land Armstead or Reiff, at least that would help. If I land neither, I franchise Cam Robinson one more year and add depth via free agency by signing a young OT with potential to compete with Robinson and Little for starting positions. The guy I like for that spot is Joseph Noteboom of the Rams. If none of these moves work out, we're screwed. I also look at the OG's and Centers and see who is allowed to hit free agency and then make some other offers. If all of my options fail for OT, I make a trade for a good, young OT. If I have to use this year's 3rd round pick and next year's 1st round pick, so be it. I have to get a veteran OT, one way or another.

I need to add a veteran WR with speed to this roster, so I don't put too much pressure on the rookie WR's we bring in. Obviously, Davante Adams is the prize, but I see no way he's coming here. The same goes for Chris Godwin, but I make very high offers to them anyway and see what happens. I definitely re-sign D.J. Chark. The offense completely fell apart when he got injured. I also make an offer to Mike Williams of the Chargers. If I can't get Adams, Godwin or Williams, I reach out to Christian Kirk, Michael Gallup, Marques Valdez-Scantling and Russell Gage and see what I come up with. I then focus heavily on WR in the draft.

When it comes to the draft, I'm taking the BAP. If we have a top 2 pick, I'm taking one of the DE/OLB's (Hutchinson or Thibodeaux) and if we pick lower and they are gone, I'm taking my next highest rated player (Jameson Williams), but I'm gonna try and slide down a bit to get him. Definitely no lower than #6 overall though. From there, I concentrate on WR, ILB, OG, Center, OT, S, TE, CB and OLB, if we don't get one of the top 2 pass rushers in round 1. There is no priority of positions. I just take the BAP, depending on who is the most highly rated player when we pick. I'm definitely double dipping at the WR and ILB positions. We need all new starters at both spots and I would be very active bringing in as many UDFA's as possible. I'm looking for help anywhere I can get it.

Even if everything on this list goes perfectly, it still won't make us a playoff team. I make the fans realize this is gonna take a while, but they WILL see improvements and that is the new goal. We need to keep improving until we get to that point where we are competitive and then to where we are contenders. My new team slogan is "No looking back, only forward." We need a new mindset for the team and the fans. No more hanging on to past mistakes, we learn from them and move on. It's all about noticeable improvements, taking accountability and looking to the future.