The NFL has announced that the 2024 salary cap is set to be a record $255.4 million—an unprecedented $30 million increase for each franchise. pic.twitter.com/R1KpuNLiT0

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 23, 2024

Media reports say the Bengals are expected to place the franchise tag on Higgins to keep him with the team in 2024. But I’ve been told the team wants him longer than just next season.Sources close to the Bengals tell me the team is trying to negotiate a contract extension with Higgins to lock him up for the next several years. If the team cannot agree to terms with the wideout by March 5, they’ll tag him but continue to negotiate with the hopes of signing him long term before the start of the season.

https://www.sportskeeda.com/nfl/news-insider-notes-davante-adams-tee-higgins-futures-jets-may-find-conversation-difficult-bengals-lay-gameplan#google_vignette

Hamilton County Commission today approved new field turf for Paycor prior to the start of the season.

#Bengals won’t be the lone NFL team left still using slit-film turf next season.

They are moving to FieldTurf CORE, surface used in Atlanta, Carolina, Detroit, New England, New York and Seattle, according to a club release. pic.twitter.com/DaicRF5YM4

— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) February 22, 2024

Isn’t he eligible for an extension. I think this is one that will get done.

Highest paid Kicker or not even close?

https://www.footballdb.com/stats/penalties.html

76 total penalties for second least in the NFL and just 1 more than the Raiders who had the least.  That's an improvement over 2022 when they had the 4th least penalties (81).  They also were second in 2021 (72), 9th in 2020 (83) and 5th in 2019 (93).   The link above has all years going back to 2006 for those interested in more data.

Seems one issue for the 2023 season was delay of game at 10 penalties putting them at a tie with Green Bay for second most.  

Anyway, I thought people might be interested in seeing the team had another good year as far as total penalties.  While that seems to represent a more disciplined team I do wonder if that also means they playing less aggressive at times.  

Feb 20th to Mar 5th : Franchise Tag Period

Feb 27 to Mar 4th : NFL Draft Scouting Combine

Mar 13th : Free Agency Signing Begins

Apr 25 to Apr 27 : NFL Draft

As soon as Draft over, Undrafted Free Agents called by teams to fill out rosters.

So with 2 top WR's ready to leave Bengals, will they Franchise Tag one of them, or tag some other position, or not use the tag at all.

WR is going to be key to watch on who Bengals let go, and who Bengals might replace them with in free agency or the draft. Plus Bengals need to sign Chase long term in his last year of his contract. Providing Joe Burrow with Pass Targets is Key to any Play-Off and Super Bowl dreams. We will watch and see how it all plays out.

One observation going forward is Coach Taylor Playbook seems many plays need WR's that can Block. Last few years all Bengals WR's could flat out block. I don't think it's enough that new WR's coming in can catch, they also have to be good blockers to run the Coach Taylor Playbook. Bengals run so many plays where the WR has to make a block for another WR or a RB. Up to now, Bengals have been loaded with good blocking WR's on those screens and slants and run plays. If Bengals can not reload with good pass blocking WR's, could the Bengals go to more TE's like some teams. We will see.

GO BENGALS

Curious, i recall seeing where the bengals, like most teams, run a nickel base most often. Knowing the division we play in, does this make sense? I like Logan Wilson and I think Pratt is an ok 2 down player. But neither are that second level enforcer. Knowing the impact Roquan Smith had on the Ravens, do the bengals need to look at a free agent sideline to sideline MLB? Would this help our run defense? I’m not throwing shade at Wilson or Pratt, but would we better served bringing in someone that is an enforcer? We really don’t have that guy beyond the DL (Hendrickson).

Lovonta David (34) and Wagner (33) are both older vets, but maybe they would want to join a team. I personally believe the impact a player like that could bring would be well worth the investment. Obviously there are younger options in Free Agency, but I’m not sold that committing long years and dollars into the Lb position is the best play for this team, this year.

Will it make a difference in 2024/2025?

Our division is tough, we have to fix going 1-5 in the AFCN regardless, but we lose three 2023 first place AFC teams and gain three 2023 last place teams.

Could schedule and a healthy Burrow possibly propel us to #1 seed in AFC?

Can we go from last to 1st in AFCN again?

ESPN had a number of their "experts" make predictions for the 2024 season, and two pick us to make the Super Bowl, with one having us win it!

Quote:Matt Bowen, NFL analyst: Packers over Bengals. A healthy quarterback Joe Burrow will put the Bengals back in the mix as one of the top teams in the AFC. It's the Packers, however, who win the Super Bowl because of quarterback Jordan Love's difference-making ability and a change in defensive philosophy under new coordinator Jeff Hafley.

Quote:Dan Graziano, national NFL writer: Bengals over Lions. Obviously, this is a bold exercise at this point, so I'm putting two teams in the Super Bowl who've never won it and banking on someone making history. (Even though the real answer is probably the Chiefs making a different kind of history.) Assuming Burrow is 100% healthy from his thumb injury, Cincinnati has a loaded roster (that went 9-8 in 2023 because Burrow got hurt) and gets to play a last-place schedule. And the Lions, who came closer to the Super Bowl without getting there than many, return with their coaching staff intact and should improve on defense through free agency and the draft.