Free Agents/Resigns for 2024

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(01-20-2024, 10:50 PM)pally Wrote: I know that but they aren't going to screw him over by paying league minimum.  I'm guessing market value is somewhere in the  $4-6 million range. I see the Bengals offering in the $2-4 million range.  Acknowledging he is worth more than minimum but not breaking the bank

Highly doubt it. 

He's already going from $750k (2023 min for 0 years of service time) to $915k (2024 with 1 year of service time), and the NFL specifically has a pool of money that they divide out to players who were later round draft picks but end up seeing a lot of playing time.

https://nflcommunications.com/Documents/2023%20Football%20Information/03%2017%2023%20-%20Performance-Based%20Pay.pdf
From the results of the 2022 season: Volson got over $850k, Logan Wilson got almost $670k.

Then there's things later like Proven Performance Escalators (which is why Tee will make $10.1m on his 4yr/$8.68m rookie deal) and the like to make sure guys also get some more money if they perform while under cheap team control.

So I doubt the Bengals are just going to throw an extra $1.1-3.1m more at him for nothing in return. Not to mention then it is setting a standard for any future exclusive rights free agent the Bengals ever have. If they DON'T pay them more than the minimum after doing it as a gift to Browning, they're insulting them by saying that they aren't worth it to the team.