2022 Cap is 208 million

[muskiesfan]

I'd rather the Bengals go ahead and re-sign Bates and Hubbard than to hold onto that money for next year and potentially have to pay even more. Ertz isn't a real need and isn't a big enough upgrade if we keep Uzomah. Locking up $14-15m in those 2 tight ends just doesn't sound like a smart move to me. While a TE is a big help, why don't we try to use our exceptionally overdrafted TE more in the passing game? How about we do even more to actually improve the OL so that the TE isn't necessary for blocking every time our QB drops back.

I also don't see a need for Ertz if we truly have the best WR trio in the league like so many keep saying. The 3 of them need fed. Mixon should hopefully be used more in the passing game as well. Trading a pick or whatever for an $8m a year TE when we already have 4 guys ahead of him who should get more looks doesn't sound like the best plan. Also, isn't our QB supposed to be a guy that elevates everyone's play around him because he is supposed to be elite or on his way to elite? I like Burrow a lot and I am very happy he's a Bengal. I'm not trying to knock him at all with that statement. Simply saying that he has 4 very good weapons already plus it's not like Uzomah is garbage when healthy. We also brought in his college TE who is an unknown but it keeps being repeated that his chemistry with players should help him and them.

I'm not saying Ertz isn't better than Uzomah or knocking Ertz for age, injuries, or production. If the team wanted to make a trade another quality OL or LB would be a much greater benefit than Ertz.