Inside The Bengals: Part Two Mike Potts & Dave Lapham

Dive back into the fascinating world of NFL scouting in Part 2 of Dave Lapham's insightful conversation with Cincinnati Bengals Scouting Director Mike Potts. 

Following up on their initial discussion, Lapham and Potts delve deeper into the intricate process of evaluating talent for the NFL Draft, offering Bengals fans and draft enthusiasts a rare glimpse behind the curtain.

This segment tackles the crucial balance between on-field performance ("the tape") and athletic testing metrics from events like the NFL Combine. Potts emphasizes that while game film remains the ultimate arbiter ("the biggest deal is put on the tape and what do you see, right?"), athletic testing provides valuable context and potential indicators. They discuss the challenge of projecting players whose testing numbers might not align perfectly with their college production, exploring how scheme, coaching, or usage might influence what's seen on film. Can a player with "freakish" athletic traits but modest college stats be unlocked in the Bengals' system? Potts explains how the scouting department works to answer these complex questions.

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around gathering comprehensive player intelligence. Potts details how the Bengals leverage every available resource – from internal coaching staff insights (mentioning new additions like Al Golden and Jerry Montgomery, who bring fresh perspectives from college and other pro teams) to extensive networks of college contacts. He explains the value of coaches who have either game-planned against a prospect or coached them directly, providing nuanced understanding beyond the raw film.

The conversation highlights the importance of the player interview process. It's not just about football knowledge; it's about understanding the person, their character, work ethic, and how they might fit into the Bengals' locker room culture. Potts shares how they assess football IQ – can the player articulate concepts, understand schemes, and "talk football" intelligently when breaking down film? Interestingly, he notes that sometimes the most impressive prospects aren't the most polished interviewees, and vice-versa, requiring scouts to look deeper. Lapham probes Potts to see whether players ever ask insightful questions back, revealing another layer of the evaluation.

Potts, a former quarterback himself (William & Mary, brief pro stints), shares his perspective on how having played the game informs his scouting approach. He discusses how that experience helps him understand locker room dynamics, recognize subtle on-field traits, evaluate positional nuances, and relate to the pressures players face. This lived experience adds a crucial dimension to interpreting player profiles.

They touch upon the current state of the Bengals' roster-building philosophy, acknowledging the "good problem" of having drafted exceptionally well with stars like Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins. The discussion implicitly covers the challenges of retaining top talent under the salary cap, referencing the franchise tag on Higgins and Chase's potential market-setting value. The ongoing situation with Trey Hendrickson is also alluded to, illustrating the constant evaluation involved in managing the roster and cap, weighing player value against compensation and team needs. Potts reinforces the goal isn't to get rid of good players, but to continuously find ways to improve the team through all avenues – draft, free agency, and trades – while maintaining financial flexibility and avoiding burdensome "dead money."

Specific position groups from the recent Combine are discussed, acknowledging the remarkable athleticism on display, particularly along the defensive and offensive lines and in the secondary. Potts notes the trend of players getting bigger, stronger, and faster each year, presenting exciting but challenging evaluations. They discuss the depth present in this year's draft across various positions, emphasizing that while some spots might be more "top-heavy," there's talent to be found throughout the draft.

Ultimately, Potts paints a picture of a meticulous, multi-layered evaluation process that goes far beyond just watching highlights. It involves synthesizing film, athletic data, medical information, character assessments, scheme fit projections, and input from coaches and contacts to build a comprehensive draft board. He stresses the collaborative nature of the process and the goal of finding players who not only possess talent but also align with the Bengals' culture and vision for sustained success.

This Part 2 discussion is essential viewing for anyone wanting to understand the modern NFL scouting landscape and the Cincinnati Bengals' specific approach to building a championship-caliber roster.