Duke & Zac make it clear that they want TEE back with the Bengals but I still see a possible Trade still on the table

with temptations to do so likely PEAKING right about now at the Combine.

To me, this seems like a more Fluid situation than Duke & Zac imply, especially since TEE was Tagged early and

right before the Combine.

Duke should have a Good Idea of roughly what TEE & his Agent would want in a Longer Term Deal. (Money/years)

If things seem far apart, then the Duke may already know that he would only have TEE for one more season.

Duke will now be around people from the other NFL Teams that show up at the Combine who may strike up conversations

about what they might be willing to give for TEE.

I doubt that Duke will proclaim "Go get your own" like he said last year.

I think that Duke will listen and talk this time around.

Duke may just have his EARS open to offer ideas while also having his EYES open looking at all the Wide Receiver rookie prospects

that could help ease the thought of Trading TEE into becoming a reality.

Let's take a look out and see where the Bengals stand after NEXT season (the 2025 season heading INTO the 2026 season).

As of RIGHT NOW, the Bengals will have THREE guys signed that are NOT on their rookie contract.

1. Joe Burrow (48M cap hit)
2. Orlando Brown Jr. (20M cap hit)
3. Logan Wilson (9M cap hit)

After that, the player signed making the most money is Myles Murphy at 4M dollars. The projected cap for 2026 is 350M and the Bengals are on the hook for 93M in active contracts leaving them with around 260M in cap space.

YES, I know the Bengals are going to sign players between now and then. Jamar Chase and CTB mainly. That being said, those contracts will most likely not be more than 40M combined which will still leave more than 200M in cap space.

So, my point is this...the roster drop off after next year is about to be HUGE. This team is going to look completely different, and it can choose to go in WHATEVER direction it wants. They want to sign Chris Jones this off-season and back load the contract? Go for it. They want to sign Tee? Go for it.

They aren't bogged down by any bad, long-term contracts. They aren't kicking the can down the road with void years on players contracts like other teams.

They are in an amazing place with the cap and roster construction. They HAVE the money, cap room, and flexibility to sign who they want. It's up to them to go in the right direction with their signings.

Taylor given an A grade and Reid an A+.

https://nflpa.com/nfl-player-team-report-cards-2024

Survey covers several things

NFL head coach grades, via NFLPA survey:

A+: Andy Reid, Dan Campbell, Kevin O'Connell.

A: Sean McDermott, Zac Taylor, Mike McCarthy, Sean McVay, Mike McDaniel, Nick Sirianni, Mike Tomlin, Kyle Shanahan, Pete Carroll.

A-: Jonathan Gannon, Sean Payton, Brian Daboll, Doug…

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 28, 2024

First up Duke

quotes per Charlie Goldsmith of the Enquirer

spending:"You've got to be really judicious with your money and determine what's needed and what's just wanted. It's a finite pie."
"We want to keep as many good players as we can, but there are always hard decisions to make."


Joe Burrow: rehab going well. He's at the facility a great deal

Tee: He's a good player who we think makes us better. Won't respond to hypotheticals

Sam Hubbard: powered through a "dramatic" injury. Extremely versatile, one of the best

Myles Murphy: growing up and they are excited about his progession over the last season

Joe Mixon: "In terms of predicting anyone's role going forward, I'm not going to do that on the podium. Those are roster building strategies and things we're talking through with every player."

TE: time to end the revolving door. They want a pass catcher and blocker bonus if they can do both. Gotta be Joe approved

DJ Reader: conversations are happening. He's in the building every day rehabbing which is going well

Dax Hill: versatile player moving to CB is an option

RT: looking for a long term solution whether it be a young guy or a youngish veteran

.


TEE said that it would be “ideal” for him to play for New Titans Head Coach Brian Callahan if he were to leave the Bengals.

Callahan would know exactly what he is getting with TEE (versus a rookie) and many believe that TEE can be a #1 receiver in the NFL.

The Titans appear to have a lot of Cap Space at this time and the Bengals avoid paying #1 WR Money to TEE.


A Trade Value Chart gives 1,500 points for the Titans pick #7 and 900 points for the Bengals pick #18. (a 600 point difference)

600 points is roughly a late first round to early 2nd round value for TEE.

Take the POLL - Would you Trade TEE to the Titans for this ?

Some #Bengals notes heading into the NFL scouting combine.

Early conversations indicate the team is prioritizing cornerback, offensive tackle, interior defensive line in the first round.

Pass catcher still an outlier.

High interest in finding a new punter in some capacity.

— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) February 27, 2024

He finished his Cincinnati career with 513 catches. That’s good for #4 all time (Chad, AJ, Pickens).

Got a glimpse of Burrow and Chase at an NBA game today. Apparently, they are in Phoenix. Nice to keep track of them in the off season.

The NFLPA player survey last season gave the Bengals poor locker room scores. Looks like they are fixing that

An overdue improvement for the Bengals: A brand new locker room, per the team https://t.co/lSCdo3oegh

— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) February 23, 2024

Quote:When the Bengals play their 25th season in Paycor Stadium this year, they'll be running onto a new field from a locker room that has been substantially upgraded.

The massive locker room renovation is designed to leave a space that won't be recognizable to the team that packed up after beating the Browns last month in the final game of the season. The project has already begun and involves overhauling ceilings, flooring, restrooms, and showers, as well as installing state-of-the-art lockers.

The target completion date is Week 1 and until then players are using two adjoining locker rooms about 50 yards from the main one.

Bengals Director of Operations Jeff Brickner and equipment manager Adam Knollman, along with representatives of ownership, researched the latest locker-room models in both the college and NFL.

"We view it as the players' office, where they go to work every day, and we believe this meets their every need now and, in the future," Brickner says. "Until then, no one is going to miss a beat. Locker rooms B and C allow us to operate like we have. You only have one chance to make a first impression and we're going to make sure it's completed before we make that first impression."

The locker room renovation and field installation are just two of several offseason projects underway in the building, according to stadium managing director Steve Johnson.

New club seats, updated concessions equipment and an upgraded stadium TV system are among the major gameday enhancements, as well as the plaza expansion outside of Gate D by Elm Street, which aims to open up the stadium to fans more easily and drive more connectivity with The Banks.

"Because of the changes in the dynamic of the city with the entertainment district down the road, we're basically tripling the size of the entrance," Johnson says. "It allows fans much easier passage in and out of the stadium."

The continued investment into Paycor Stadium with these projects, along with the enhancements into the stadium last year, aim to keep the building a best-in-class stadium for fans and players alike. All projects are set to be completed by the start of the 2024 season.

Is the same amount as the a 2024 Franchise Tag for WR. Still under market value, but I’m glad that the 5th year option is calculated based on production.

5. Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals — $21.816 million (Multiple Pro Bowls)

The franchise tag tenders are: receiver ($21.816 million)