LaCanfora: Three step plan to fix the Bengals (Panther related)

[Mr. Scot]

Based on a belief that Burrow might go into full tilt "don't draft me" mode by April, and accepting that it's unlikely Bengals ownership would think outside the box, Jason LaCanfora suggests three steps to make the Bengals competitive (or at least interesting) again.

Quote

Step One: Trade Andy Dalton

He has no future there. He knows it. We all know it. Of course, it was ridiculous that the week the Bengals finally opted to bench him was literally right at the trade deadline; he should have been long gone before that. With this shaping up as an offseason unlike any other when it comes to quarterback movement/free agency/possible retirement, the Bengals need to act fast here and be proactive. Try to get a second-round pick from the Bears – who recently hired Bill Lazor, who is very close with Dalton from coaching him in Cincy, to run their offense. They have picks 43 and 50 – maybe target 50.

Step Two: Trade for Cam Newton

Newton and Dalton have effectively the same contract. Pay-as-you go, for $19M next season. The Panthers aren't sure what exactly to do with Newton. They're torn. Getting him out of the NFC, if they did opt to move him, would make the most sense If Mike Brown is stuck in enough to actually tag A.J. Green in order to keep him, then go rent Newton for a year. Offer the Panthers three second-round picks. The Bengals already have the first pick of the second round this year, and the first pick of the third round. Maybe you get it done for pick 50 plus those two and something in the future? I don't know, get creative. With Newton's health a thing, getting pick 33 is essentially like a first-round pick. (Heck, maybe the Panthers want maximum draft capital now to go up and try to get Burrow themselves, given his relationship with Panthers new offensive coordinator Joe Brady).

Include a condition that if you re-sign Newton the compensation increases to another pick (don't worry, we aren't re-signing him, and we have a Plan B and Plan C at QB). If Newton is back, and returns to close to MVP form, you can always tag him in 2021 as a precursor to a trade. Even if you let him walk, the Bengals would get a serious comp pick in return. Or you stick with him and work out an extension. Because, trust me, we're not going to be sweating the draft picks we traded for Newton once we get to Step Three…

Step Three: Trade the first overall pick

In this scenario, it's time for the Bengals to do what the Rams did all those many years ago, when they basically auctioned off the second-overall pick for the right to draft RG3. Only a lot has changed since 2012, including teams getting multiple first-round picks for guys like Laremy Tunsil. So what would the right to draft Burrow, who looks like a can't-miss kid, be worth on the open market?

The Skins dealt three first-round picks and a second-round pick to move from sixth overall to second overall to take Robert Griffin back in 2012. I would bet the Bengals could get another second-round pick thrown into the pot for this selection, which more than makes up for what we have going out for Newton. Plus, by the spring of 2021, they might be able to get another first-round pick for Newton. And, this is the rare year where it is already an absolute certainty that there is a QB worthy of the first-overall pick waiting on the other side in the 2020 draft. Trevor Lawrence may very well prove to be an even more sure-first prospect, and the Bengals will be loaded with more draft capital than you could imagine.

Normally, I would never support passing on a potential superstar QB, But 2020 is not a normal year, with guys like Tom Brady and Philip Rivers and Jameis Winston and Newton and Derek Carr and Dalton and Teddy Bridgewater all possibly changing teams, and Drew Brees possibly joining Eli Manning in retirement. Options abound, and Lawrence is still stuck waiting to join the party until 2021.

CBS Sports: Three step plan to fix the Bengals

To be clear, in this scenario we trade Newton to the Bengals but don't necessarily get the number one pick unless we want to also make a separate trade involving more draft capital.

And again, LaCanfora acknowledges this isn't realistic. It's more of a "here's what I'd do" thing.

[mc52beast]

Did anyone involved with the Bengals either play or coach for Baylor?

[Untouchable]

Media: "Panthers should cut or trade Newton and draft a QB"

Also Media: "Every QB needy team should trade for Cam Newton"

[1of10Charnatives]

4 minutes ago, Untouchable said:

Media: "Panthers should cut or trade Newton and draft a QB"

Also Media: "Every QB needy team should trade for Cam Newton"

Since both of these things generate more clicks than saying not do them, it should not surprise anyone in the least that this is what the media says. Media is focused on sensationalism, not accuracy.

[Mr. Scot]

To be fair, you're talking about two different situations.

Teams trading for Newton would be expected to be decent teams that just need help at the quarterback spot (granted, that might be a stretch with the Bengals specifically).

The Panthers are not expected to be a good team, or a decent team, or likely much of a team, in the coming year (and maybe longer).

[Toker Smurf]

Poor, poor Cam.

[JawnyBlaze]

Nothing I’ve seen says Burrow is gonna try to avoid being drafted by the Bengals. The only talk I’ve seen is some hairbrained dot connecting by Mike Florio involving the Palmer brothers (when was the last time either had anything to do with the Bengals??  Why don’t we ask Kerry Collins what the Panthers are going to do with Cam, surely he’ll know as an ex Panthers QB right?)

[Mr Mojo Risin]

As I've said before No NFL team in their right mind will trade a high draft pick for Cam Newton as he is now on a 1 year deal. Cam would have to agree to some sort of extension and he'd have to prove without a reasonable doubt that he's healthy. What NFL franchise would do that? That's why it makes sense for the Panthers to wait and see what they have. If it doesn't work out with Cam in Carolina this season we will likely have a top 5 pick next year anyways. We have everything to gain and nothing to lose by hanging onto Cam for the last year of his deal. We will not be getting a high pick for Cam Newton. Will. Not. Happen.

[stbugs]

59 minutes ago, JawnyBlaze said:

Nothing I’ve seen says Burrow is gonna try to avoid being drafted by the Bengals. The only talk I’ve seen is some hairbrained dot connecting by Mike Florio involving the Palmer brothers (when was the last time either had anything to do with the Bengals??  Why don’t we ask Kerry Collins what the Panthers are going to do with Cam, surely he’ll know as an ex Panthers QB right?)

I agree. It’s all been Carson Palmer’s statements. That said, Burrow is doing pre-draft training with Jordan Palmer, Carson’s brother. That’s where the speculation really tries to connect the dots.

Here’s a funny page I found roasting Palmer for leaving Cincinnati: https://stripehype.com/2020/02/01/real-reason-carson-palmer-doesnt-want-joe-burrow-bengal/

Funny that the Bengals went to 5 straight playoff appearances after Palmer left. Also, funny that he had Chad Johnson, Houshmandzadeh and Rudy Johnson (over 1300 yards 3 straight with Palmer) and still bitched. It was fun beating the eff out of him In the championship game. Looking back, he is a little whiner.

[JawnyBlaze]

3 minutes ago, stbugs said:

I agree. It’s all been Carson Palmer’s statements. That said, Burrow is doing pre-draft training with Jordan Palmer, Carson’s brother. That’s where the speculation really tries to connect the dots.

Here’s a funny page I found roasting Palmer for leaving Cincinnati: https://stripehype.com/2020/02/01/real-reason-carson-palmer-doesnt-want-joe-burrow-bengal/

Funny that the Bengals went to 5 straight playoff appearances after Palmer left. Also, funny that he had Chad Johnson, Houshmandzadeh and Rudy Johnson (over 1300 yards 3 straight with Palmer) and still bitched. It was fun beating the eff out of him In the championship game. Looking back, he is a little whiner.

Yea, that was part of the dot connecting, but Jordan Palmer has done this with numerous QB draftees.  Burrow isn’t working with him because of any Bengal ties or anything. It’s just one of those coincidences because little Palmer happens to be one of the few people training prospective QBs before the draft these days. 

It just annoys me, all this irresponsible journalism that’s been so rampant. Concocting whatever random bs they want because it’ll get clicks.  The National Enquirer is just as reputable as any other “news” outlet these days, and sadly that includes sports. 

[micnificent28]

this guy is a troll all he ever talks about is trading for cam or any cam ho hum he can drum up.

[Peon Awesome]

Point 1 will never happen because who is stupid enough to trade a 2nd round pick for Andy Dalton for the right to pay him nearly $20 million? His deal is unguaranteed. It's a foregone conclusion that the Bengals will cut him, so even if a team is interested, they'll wait till he gets cut and then offer him a contract for less than half of that most likely. 

Point 2 is similarly outlandish thinking they would offer picks 33, 50 and 65 for Newton when he hasn't proven to be healthy in 2 years. For the Panthers, it'd be hard to pass that up. At that point you take it and accept a full rebuild but you can't hold your breath that anyone would offer anything remotely close to that.

Point 3 is highly unlikely but at least the most plausible if they decide they aren't in love with Burrow and want to go all in for the 2021 QBs. Imagine the haul they would get for the 1st pick this year. But it'd have to be the first time in history that a qb needy team passed on a consensus elite qb prospect when they had the chance to draft him. Don't envision them setting that precedent.

[Mr. Scot]

On 2/10/2020 at 9:48 PM, Peon Awesome said:

Point 1 will never happen because who is stupid enough to trade a 2nd round pick for Andy Dalton for the right to pay him nearly $20 million? His deal is unguaranteed. It's a foregone conclusion that the Bengals will cut him, so even if a team is interested, they'll wait till he gets cut and then offer him a contract for less than half of that most likely.

Don't know what they'll get in return, but a trade of Dalton does sound like a real possibility.