Congrats on the Burrow signing!

[*rfaulk34*]

(09-09-2023, 04:31 PM)StrictlyBiz Wrote: I know that success is something new to the people of Cincinnati, but he's right. 

This is what happens when you get a franchise QB. Don't get me wrong, it's a good problem to have and better than not having a QB at all. But it's tough field a team while paying a QB his 2nd contract and beyond. 

Not really. I know how it works.

With Burrow signed, the Bengals should still be able to sign Chase to top dollar. They can't sign Higgins to a long or short term contract. They could still tag him next year because Burrow and Chase will still be at a lower number. If they do it right, they could tag and trade him next year for some picks. 

They already have Hubbard signed through '25 and they just extended Hendrickson. Ossai still has 2 years left on his contract and they drafted Miles Murphy this year. They have Pratt for 3 more years and just extended Logan Wilson who will be here through '27. Dax Hill and CTB are starters in year 2 (rookie contracts) and they drafted a couple other safeties in the last couple years (one of them this year). They still have Hilton for 2 more years. Awuzie is the guy they probably won't be able to afford, if he plays up to his '21 standard. DJ Reader is getting long in the tooth and they probably won't be able to sign him once he comes up. They just drafted 2 WRs, Yoshi and Chris Jones to fill a wideout and slot that could be available soon, if they can't ink Higgins and Boyd. 

Guys on a rookie contract that will contribute this year: (S) = starter
DJ Turner
Jordan Battle
Dax Hill (S)
CTB (S)
Cordell Volson (S)
Ja'Marr Chase (S)
Joseph Ossai

Significant FA next year:
DJ Reader
Tyler Boyd
Chidobe Awuzie
Jonah Williams
Tee Higgins
Irv Smith
All are starters. They will be able to sign at least 2 of them and Smith is JAG. Burrow has gotten Uzomah and Hurst paid the last 2 years and that position is plug and play for the Bengals. Usually a 4th option in the offense. For each name on that list, they already have a guy that could step in and play. They don't have a single hole in the team. The biggest question, for the 3rd year in a row is going to be the offensive line. 

Not counting this year, they've had 3 very good drafts with players that have and will play a key role on the team and this years draft has at least 4 guys that will have key backup spots covered. 

Burrow, counting this year, will still have 3 years of sub 40M+ AAV before his money kicks in for the '26 season. Same for Chase. They'll extend him next year and his big money won't hit until '27. 

So basically, they can still do things for the next 4 years before big money starts rearing it's ugly head, and there's a lot of time between now and 2027.

Finally, and most importantly, Duke Tobin and Zac Taylor seem to work very well together. Much better than Tobin/Marvin. With how the front office has been doing things since Taylor has been here, as long as those 2 stay together, the team should be in good hands for quite a while.