PART ONE: NFL Draft & Free Agency Deep Dive: Bengals' Mike Potts Explains the Process

Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the Cincinnati Bengals' roster-building strategy with Mike Potts, a key Bengals' personnel and scouting department member. In this insightful interview, Mike pulls back the curtain on the chaotic yet crucial off-season processes that shape the future of an NFL franchise.

The off-season in the National Football League is a whirlwind of activity, and Mike Potts navigates through it all. His area of focus is college scouting, a vital ingredient in the modern NFL, where roster turnover is constant. No roster is the same from one year to the next, and the draft and college free agency are often the lifeblood of franchises looking to rebuild or maintain their competitive edge.

Mike begins by vividly describing the current landscape, describing it as a "crazy time of the year" due to the simultaneous whirlwind of free agency, the NFL Combine, and the looming draft. He emphasizes that maintaining a consistent dialogue between the personnel staff, coaching staff, and ownership is crucial for aligning player evaluations and setting clear team goals.

He dives into the Bengals' free agency strategy, highlighting the team's priority of re-signing their own players. He underlines the importance of understanding "scheme fit" and "culture fit," ensuring players align with the Bengals' values and locker room dynamics. While acknowledging the large sums of money thrown around in free agency, he stresses the importance of cap management. The Bengals are known for remaining responsible with their cap, and he discusses how the team balances retaining key players with adding talent from other organizations.

The interview transitions into discussing the "secondary market" of free agency and finding opportunities beyond the initial bidding frenzy. Mike acknowledges that some players overshot the market, and being patient for the price to come down can present an opportunity.

Samaje Perine is discussed, as is his importance to the Bengals organization. Sam Hubbard's departure from the team after an impressive career is also discussed.

The discussion moves to the college draft, a central theme of Mike Potts' expertise. He emphasizes the value of players with positional versatility, as NFL rosters are limited in size, and players who can contribute in multiple roles are particularly valuable. He highlights BJ Hill, Mike Gesicki, and Cody Ford as players who can perform at numerous positions.

Potts explains why his team is so important to him and the direction of the team. According to him, the team's job is to scout each player and understand everything from their college careers to more personal details.

Transitioning to the upcoming NFL Draft, Potts assesses the overall depth and quality of the available talent. He explains that there may not be any first-ballot hall of farmers, but there is still a good amount of depth at various positions.

As the interview wraps up, Potts emphasizes the ongoing nature of roster evaluation and improvement. He notes that the Bengals will continue to monitor the free-agent market, assess draft prospects, and identify players who can contribute to the team's success.

In The Trenches with Dave Lapham is presented by First Star Logistics. Be sure to join Lap and Joe Goodberry for the 3rd Annual First Star Logistics Bengals Draft Party on Friday, April 25th, at 7:00 pm. You can watch the livestream exclusively on the First Star Media Group YouTube Channel.