Super Bowl Mock

[*ochocincos*]

(02-02-2022, 12:30 PM)Bengalfan11164 Wrote: I don't feel that the Bengals have a significant fewer amount of contracts in 2022 than they did in 2021.  

16 practice squad players.  
Plus UDFAs.
Plus retained Bengal UFA.
Plus acquired UFA.  

If Bates signs long term contract, then the Bengals prorated signing bonus will free up even more cap space.  As is the case when any of the signed UFAs. 

Hendrickson signed 4 yr/$60mm contract.  2021 salary cap hit was $2.5mm under average.  
Awuzie - 3 yr/$21.7 - 2021 was $1 million under average

Again, don't let Hobson's propaganda confuse you.  There is plenty of cash.  

We can't predict how the Bengals will exactly structure the cap of FAs year-to-year.
Best we can do is estimate APY.

All I know is it's likely unrealistic to think the Bengals will do all of the following:
Re-sign/tag Bates ($13+ mill)
Re-sign Uzomah (expected $6-7 mill)
Re-sign Hill OR Ogunjobi ($7+ mill)
Re-sign Eli Apple (~$5 mill?)
Bring in an upgrade at LG ($7+ mill)
Sign James Daniels ($9-11 mill)
Sign Morgan Moses ($8-10 mill)

Just those guys alone = $55+ mill
You're now at 41 guys on the roster. 10 more spots to fill

Add 1-2 depth WRs: $2+ mill depending on player(s)
Add 3 depth DBs (2 CBs and 1 safety or 3 CBs): $4+ mill depending on players
Add 1-2 backup DL that offer some pass rush: $2+ mill
Add backup QB better than Brandon Allen: $2+ mill
That takes you to about $67 mill and 47-49 spots on the roster.

You then can expect to fill 2-4 vacant roster spots with draft picks, but that's going to be another at least $4 mill (displacement doesn't count much in this case because there's no one to displace)
You're now pushing $72 mill.

If you wanna keep Bates at the cost of some other vet who will cost $7+ mill, who you not signing from the above?