What I Think Some are Forgetting In Terms of Spending

[*SHRacerX*]

(02-19-2021, 07:18 PM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: I keep hearing talk of who we'll sign out of William Jackson or Carl Lawson.  I also see a lot of breakdowns on our cap space where people account for different signings.  But I think some are forgetting a couple of things.

Jessie Bates and Sam Hubbard are both going into their final years.  If this team has these two in plans for their future and they have faith in them then now is the time to get a deal worked.

You get a discount by signing them early and avoid a number of things that may occur if their contracts run out (Franchise tag, hurt feelings, market going up, etc.)

I think Jesse Bates is an absolute no-brainer to get a deal done with.  He's earned it, he has to factor in our long-term plans, and there is no use in waiting.  Why wait to sign him when we're in a decreased cap year, with a decreased market?  If you don't get it done now you're potentially looking at the cap to reset from 180ish to the 210 range in 2022.  You're looking at the flood gates to open in 2022 with teams looking to spend after a tightened 2021.  The market will inevitably go up.

A lot of what I just said for Bates is true for Hubbard as well.  While I don't think he's as important as Bates, I don't you can deny that if you want him long-term then you work something this offseason.  Not only is he going to be more favorable to work with by giving him security a year early, he's not coming off a strong year.  The price he will cost in 2021 may very well skyrocket in 2022.

If I'm the Bengals I get both of these done.  And I wouldn't even consider signing William Jackson, unless he's looking for a sub 8 mil per deal.  I also wouldn't consider tagging Lawson either.  While I would like to have him, paying top 5 DE money is absolutely absurd.  

So I guess the question remains do you want to pay Lawson higher end money on a long-term vs. Hubbard at a discount?  Or do you work long-term deals for both DE's in one offseason?

I'll stop rambling, but I do think we really need to consider what happens with these two this offseason more than we currently do in our conversations about cap space.

Excellent points.  The debate between Lawson and Hubbard is a lengthy one.  I saw what Lawson did when he got his opportunity this past season (and I am in the camp that pressures are extremely important and with guys like Sims sometimes in coverage, it is a wonder he got any pressures at all) but he did it for one season.  His injury history is real, and the more I think about it, the more I want to franchise tag him and make him do it again if he wants the big contract.  Hubbard could be extended as he is clearly in their long-term plans.  Bates, as you said, is a no-brainer.

So, what other high dollar contracts will the Bengals be removing in the upcoming seasons?  Well, we know for certain that it won't be the QB...that is going to go sky-high.  Waynes?  Possibly.  I think I remember hearing something about an "out" after two seasons that wouldn't cripple the Bengals with dead cap money.  Outside of that, we don't really have an AJ or Geno that will be off the books soon.  Sure, the cap space will increase, but it is a very legitimate question about how to allocate all the future dollars.

One last remark:  Although I REALLY like the guy and love when he shows enthusiasm, this really highlights why you don't spend big money on a RB.