Should Wilkins be #1 FA target if not tagged?

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(01-16-2024, 04:19 PM)Synric Wrote: BJ Hill is in the last year of his contract and it's reasonable at 1y 10m. They have plenty of cap space and I see Christian Wilkins as a guy they can build the DT room around.

It's the straight up paid out money this year that could be the biggest issue. Burrow just got a huge payout just a few months ago, tagging Tee is guaranteed money, possible big Ja'Marr Chase payout by say September, and then adding in a 4 year 100m ish contract for a DT or any player for that matter. That's alot of money in a single year span.

He's heading into his age 29 season. There's only so long you can build around him. Honestly whomever Reader's replacement is needs to be a draft pick. Same with whomever we replace Hill with heading into 2025.

Right now for 2024...
Hubbard paid and heading into age 29 season
Hendrickson paid and heading into age 30 season
BJ Hill paid and heading into age 29 season

Then if you add Wilkins paid and heading into his age 29 season, you've got yourself an old and expensive group. Eventually the Bengals are going to have to develop some of their draft picks. Kind of the same spot they are with the OL. At some point you need to add and develop young guys to mix with the older and more expensive vets.