10-21-2021, 07:19 PM
(10-21-2021, 05:28 PM)JaggedJimmyJay Wrote: We heard for years that the Bengals don't spend first round picks on the interior offensive line, only to see Kevin Zeitler and Billy Price as two IOL first round picks in the same decade. "They don't spend big on safeties" probably reflects [mostly] the fact that they haven't had a safety worth retaining for such a long time, or a free agent they've wanted/been able to land. The only example I can think of is Reggie Nelson, and they did lock him down for 4 years at $18 million in 2012 (not super comparable to Bates money, but also 9 years ago).
And remember when we would NEVER use a high draft pick on a TE?
Nelson was not rated as high as Bates is, but we did outbid other teams for him. I'd say he was probably paid top 10 at his position or close to it. Maybe $9-$10 million today.
Whenever fans mock the Bengals for all their "buy low on former first round pick" moves I have to remind them of Nelson. We got him in trade for David Jones and Reggie was a hell of a player for us.
