[BFritz]

You're right, this could greatly affect how the Bengals draft this April. But I was thinking more along the lines of if we get Thurman back, we don't need to take a LB in the first round. We still need more help on the D-line, and a top-notch tackle or end would be hard to pass up.

I noticed in your assessment of the Bengals' linebackers for next year that you left off Landon Johnson. Are you assuming he won't be back? I hope that's not the case, as he has been their most consistent LB the last couple years and can still make plays. I hope the Bengals make him a competitive offer. A starting LB group of Brooks, Thurman, and Johnson looks pretty good to me. Maybe they could pick up some LB depth in the later rounds.

Johnson was the leading tackler last season, and maybe he'll keep producing, but something about him just makes me nervous and skeptical of his abilities. Who knows, maybe I'm being completely stupid. Johnson, Brooks, and Odell as our backers would be a nasty group (I'm looking at it objectively and not considering my bias against Johnson.) I'm putting my bias aside and agreeing that we should take a defensive end or defensive tackle early, preferably a good pass rusher.