Thoughts on contract extensions.

[Luvnit2]

I have not read all posts. but sorry if all of the info was presented earlier, but Bengals are in cap heaven in 2022.

They have 48.586 + any carryover from 2021 after an estimated 26 million addition due to 2022 NFL cap rising significantly. As of now, we have no dead money (had 9.6 million in 2021). So, they have a lot of money now and for 2022. This includes some key guys signed:

Top 3 WR's
Top 3 RB"s
Franchise QB
LT
Center
Top 3 CB's
Starting LB's
9 rookies drafted in 2021
Rookies drafted in 2020
Reader
Hendrickson
Bell

My point being yes Bates is a priority and will not be cheap. Hubbard, I would like to see how he performs in 2021 personally, he is good, but not a great DE, not yet so buyer beware. Either way, we have money to do more in 2021 and still have a lot of money left in 2022 to sign players needed to keep getting better. We also don't have to sign players to one year deals in 2021 that are cut or if we acquire someone in a trade who has more than one year left on his contract. We are in great shape if the right guy(s) become available for an affordable price.