Bengals-Talk

All the latest news and talk about the Cincinnati Bengals

You are here: Home / Archives for Dalvin Cook

Bengals’ Biggest 2017 NFL Draft Needs, Part II: Running Backs

2 Comments

Before you see our analysis of the running backs, make sure you catch our recent post on the top 3 choices for Cincinnati at defensive end. Check it out here!

There’s more buzz surrounding the running backs than any other position in the 2017 NFL Draft. The number of quality guys is so impressive, it’s like reading the name of a law firm with an irritatingly long list of partners. The Cincinnati Bengals could use some of those fresh legs in the backfield to take pressure off QB Andy Dalton.

Cedric Peerman sustained an arm injury in the preseason that basically wiped out his 2016. Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard led a rushing attack that averaged 4.0 yards per carry, good (or bad) for 23rd in the league. Now’s the time for the Bengals to cash in and get a franchise-caliber RB.

 

TOP RUNNING BACKS FOR THE CINCINNATI BENGALS

1. Leonard Fournette – Fournette came to LSU with ridiculous expectations and did not disappoint. His junior campaign was limited by an ankle injury, but Fournette showed as a sophomore what he can do when healthy. In 2015, he rushed for 1,953 yards, scored 22 TDs (in the SEC, mind you), and was a unanimous All-American. It’s tough to catch the 4.51 speedster. It’s even tougher to bring him down. He weighs 240 pounds, plays with low pads, and has little fear of defensive backs.

2. Dalvin Cook – Florida State couldn’t get enough of Cook’s performance over the last few years. Cook put up three straight 1,000-yard seasons for the Seminoles. He finished off his college career by rushing for 1,765 yards and 19 touchdowns. This two-time All-American used his sub-4.5 speed to earn Orange Bowl MVP honors (207 total yards) in a 33-32 win over Michigan. He tends to fumble too much, though (13 career cough-ups) and has had some run-ins with the law. That could make him a distraction in the locker room.

3. Joe Mixon – This Oklahoma back caught the eyes of college football fans everywhere when he gained 1,812 yards from scrimmage in 2016. He caught the eyes of NFL coaches by displaying his burst of speed and quick feet at the NFL Combine. He caught the eyes of the rest of America when a video surfaced of him punching a lady in a Norman, OK cafe in July 2014. Mixon has the physical tools to be a first-rounder, but the off-the-field behavior may have cost him. He could still be a steal if he slides in the draft and it will be interesting to see if Cincy is willing to take a risk.

Free Agency Update: Bengals Sign Minter, and More

Leave a Comment

The Cincinnati Bengals made a big free agency move yesterday with the signing of LB Kevin Minter from Arizona.

Minter signed a 1-year deal worth $4.5 million. His arrival to the Bengals will take some of the sting out of losing Karlos Dansby to the Cardinals on his own 1-year deal and should help upgrade the LB position.

The 26-year-old Minter was taken in the 2nd round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He has played in Arizona for the past four years and started every game over the past two seasons. He played over 93% of the team’s defensive snaps in 2016, so he’s durable. During the past two seasons he has logged 175 tackles and four sacks (a career-high 3.5 last season).

Other Bengal free agency news last week

  • The Cincinnati Bengals inked offensive tackle Andre Smith to a 1-year contract on Tuesday. Does the name sound familiar? It should. Smith was drafted by the Bengals out of Alabama in the first round in 2009 and will be heading into his 9th season. He spent last year with the Minnesota Vikings but only started four games before injuring a tricep. Soon after that, he was placed on injured reserve and didn’t play for the rest of the season.
  • Guard/center TJ Johnson agreed to a 2-year deal on Friday. Johnson is a third-year man out of South Carolina and was chosen in the 7th round of the 2015 draft.
  • Finally, two players who are no longer on the Bengals’ roster include wide receiver James Wright (released) and running back Rex Burkhead (signed with the New England Patriots). Since losing Burkhead leaves the team thin at that position look for them to take advantage of a talent-rich draft that includes names like Florida State’s Dalvin Cook, LSU’s Leonard Fournette, Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey, and Tennessee’s Alvin Kamara.

Who Stays and Who Goes for Who Dey – Part III

Leave a Comment

We’ve spent the past couple of weeks evaluating Cincinnati Bengals players with names like Whitworth, LaFell, Kirkpatrick, and Zeitler, among others. The purpose? To make the call on whether these free agents will suit up for Cincy next fall. They are some of the biggest names to watch, but they ain’t the only ones. Let’s take a look at two others to keep an eye on this offseason.

 

6. Eric Winston (offensive tackle) – The 11-year NFL veteran has done a nice job over the past 3 seasons with the Bengals. The team brass has thought the same thing. They originally signed Winston to a one-year deal in late 2014 and keep bringing him back. Another one-year deal could happen again, but if it does, Winston might be filling the backup role. In fact, the Cincinnati Bengals’ decision to re-sign Winston in any capacity will probably be determined by how things shake out with Andrew Whitworth and Kevin Zeitler. Ya gotta think we’d be able to keep at least one, which would leave enough room for Winston for one more year. Re-sign (yep or nope): Yep

7. Cedric Peerman (running back) – Peerman has been an extremely valuable special teams player during his time in Cincy. He didn’t get a chance to prove himself in 2016 at running back, though, after suffering an arm injury during the preseason. Further clouding Peerman’s future with the Cincinnati Bengals is the depth of this year’s running back class in the draft. We’re talking Leonard Fournette, Christian McCaffrey, Dalvin Cook, Alvin Kamara, D’Onta Foreman, and Joe Mixon, to name a few. We doubt the Bengals will retain Peerman’s services. They have the chance to get fresh legs and someone to compliment Rex Burkhead in the backfield. It’s too good of an opportunity to pass up. Re-sign (yep or nope): Nope