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Free Agency - Tomcat - 03-05-2025
I'm hoping next week we have quick results like 2022 with Karras and Cappa right out of the gate, but I'm bracing myself for disappointment. Who would be your guess for the first FA the Bengals might sign? I would love for it to be one of Nick Bolton, Josh Sweat or Milt Williams, but i think it will be Will Fries!
RE: Free Agency - Nate (formerly eliminate08) - 03-05-2025
(03-05-2025, 06:02 PM)Tomcat Wrote: I'm hoping next week we have quick results like 2022 with Karras and Cappa right out of the gate, but I'm bracing myself for disappointment. Who would be your guess for the first FA the Bengals might sign? I would love for it to be one of Nick Bolton, Josh Sweat or Milt Williams, but i think it will be Will Fries!
My guess is Will Fries myself because he is a RG and we have a hole there. Hope we are correct, I like the way he plays when healthy.
I heard Zeit's wife didn't like it in Cincy for some reason when he was here and he is older, so I have put him off my radar along with Scherff.
Becton, James Daniels, Tevin Jenkins are also some Guards that should be on our thoughts.
If we trade Trey, we will need a proven pass rusher so Josh Sweat would be a good one for us to add. Milton Williams would be a good 3-tech
for us, better pass rusher than BJ, but not as good of a run stopper. Would love a FA of Fries, Daniels, Sweat and Milton Williams.
This would really free up the Draft.
RE: Free Agency - Bengalbug - 03-05-2025
My gut tells me, unless we figure out Chase, Tee, Trey… it’s a tough free agency.
The optics around bringing anyone noteworthy (aka, paying an outsider), before taking care of you’re home grown will be two fold.
1) Irritate your existing players/locker room.
2) why would anyone want to sign with a culture like that?
RE: Free Agency - Nate (formerly eliminate08) - 03-05-2025
(03-05-2025, 06:14 PM)Bengalbug Wrote: My gut tells me, unless we figure out Chase, Tee, Trey… it’s a tough free agency.
The optics around bringing anyone noteworthy (aka, paying an outsider), before taking care of you’re home grown will be two fold.
1) Irritate your existing players/locker room.
2) why would anyone want to sign with a culture like that?
Yeah, need to get at least 2 of those deals done before FA. Ja'Marr and Trey seem to be closer to me than Tee from what you shown in
the other thread. The last thing we need to do is irritate Joe Burrow and scare any FA's off.
RE: Free Agency - pulses - 03-05-2025
(03-05-2025, 06:20 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Yeah, need to get at least 2 of those deals done before FA. Ja'Marr and Trey seem to be closer to me than Tee from what you shown in
the other thread. The last thing we need to do is irritate Joe Burrow and scare any FA's off.
I think in the long run we'll trade Trey. After Crosby getting that big deal Trey is gonna want 30/yr or more and I wouldn't pay that for a 30 yr old with back problems. Get good value in a trade ( picks and a player) and move on and sign Josh Sweat on a 3 year deal.
RE: Free Agency - Nate (formerly eliminate08) - 03-05-2025
(03-05-2025, 06:27 PM)pulses Wrote: I think in the long run we'll trade Trey. After Crosby getting that big deal Trey is gonna want 30/yr or more and I wouldn't pay that for a 30 yr old with back problems. Get good value in a trade ( picks and a player) and move on and sign Josh Sweat on a 3 year deal.
Thinking the same. According to the sources Bengalbug was quoting in the other thread we are already offering Trey 32 mil per year and he is turning
it down and he could very well fall of this year as a pass rusher at his age. At least Tee is young if he is the one we extend besides Ja'Marr who is going
to get his 40 mil per year by the time this is all over.
No point in dilly dallying around with Ja'Marr, the FO made the mistake, time to pay up. Trade Trey for some good value and extend Tee or trade him.
Either way we still have Ja'Marr and at worse we have more picks or even another valuable player or two in a trade.
RE: Free Agency - michaelsean - 03-05-2025
(03-05-2025, 06:09 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: My guess is Will Fries myself because he is a RG and we have a hole there. Hope we are correct, I like the way he plays when healthy.
I heard Zeit's wife didn't like it in Cincyfor some reason when he was here and he is older, so I have put him off my radar along with Scherff.
Becton, James Daniels, Tevin Jenkins are also some Guards that should be on our thoughts.
If we trade Trey, we will need a proven pass rusher so Josh Sweat would be a good one for us to add. Milton Williams would be a good 3-tech
for us, better pass rusher than BJ, but not as good of a run stopper. Would love a FA of Fries, Daniels, Sweat and Milton Williams.
This would really free up the Draft.
So they went to Cleveland?
RE: Free Agency - kevin - 03-05-2025
(03-05-2025, 06:02 PM)Tomcat Wrote: I'm hoping next week we have quick results like 2022 with Karras and Cappa right out of the gate, but I'm bracing myself for disappointment. Who would be your guess for the first FA the Bengals might sign? I would love for it to be one of Nick Bolton, Josh Sweat or Milt Williams, but i think it will be Will Fries!
There is only so much salary cap money a team can spend. Bengals acting GM said they did not tag Higgins to trade him. They tagged Higgins to try to resign him long term. That is what Higgins says he want's also, to stay a Bengal. Bengals have to resign Chase long term also. This means Bengals already have one of highest paid QB's in NFL. Soon they will have 2 of the highest paid WR's in NFL. That is their Free Agency, keeping Higgins and Chase long term and putting out the huge money to get them re-signed long term in next few months.
I might also suggest the franchise tag on Hendrickson in 2026 is possible. Not a bad move and they would keep their top pass rusher in 2025 and 2026, also with an option to resign longer in 2026 if they chose.
I'm not sure the Bengals Blockers deserve a pay raise with Burrow hit on every play. I'm sure most of the Defense does not deserve a pay raise, they are one of worst Defenses in NFL last 2 seasons.
So lets talk real about money and salary cap. Burrow, Chase and Higgins long term will be a huge cap hit if acting GM gets his way to keep all 3 long term. Again, Chase and Higgins are not signed long term yet, and that will break the bank to do what Tobin plans. That is the Free Agency right there. If they spend a ton on Free Agents, they do not have the cap money to sig both Higgins and Chase to go with Burrow.
I see a solution to the salary cap problem. Avoid Free Agent market to spend money on Higgins and Chase as Duke Tobin wants. So how do they fix the Defense ? Rookies are cheaper than Veterans for their first few years. Go all Defense in The Draft and hope some of the picks pan out. Then after Draft, bring in undrafted Defense players for a chance in preseason. Load up on College players on Defense. Good, Young, Rookies. Paul Brown at Cleveland and Cincinnati preferred young rookies over players from other teams, to coach up the way he wanted them. Let Golden the new D Coach do the same.
Duke Tobin says the goal is to resign Higgins and Chase long term. That will take a ton of cap money. Lay off Free Agency Veterans, put everything into Drafting less expensive Rookies to fix the Defense. I think they have Hendrickson in 2025 anyway, and they could use the Tag on him in 2026 to keep his great pass rush skills to help this Defense. I don't think the rest of the Defense or O Line on this team deserve a raise, they have not earned one. Burrow, Chase, Higgins Long Term, The Big 3 at a High Price, with maybe Hendrickson who has earned a raise kept in 2026. Expensive, Yes, but there is The Draft and good, young talent at Rooke Wages. As bad as Bengals D has been, good young rookies could not be worse and might be better. Being young, they have that room for improvement bad veterans do not.
If they lay off Free Agency this season, that opens up Higgins and Chase contract money and NFL Draft money to get under the salary cap and still rebuild. Plus tagging Higgins was their big Free Agent move right there. When in doubt, go with youth. Bengals had Bates and Burrow and Chase and Higgins and Boyd and Mixon on THE CHEAP under rookie contracts their first years. Duke Tobin wants Chase and Higgins long term for Burrow long term, so time to bring in more rookie contract deals for a few years. Good young players at less pay as when team went Super Bowl in 2021 season. The Defense is Bad and the O Line not so great. There comes a time in every company, when it is more cost saving to hire in new starting wage workers than to keep high paid bad workers. The Bengals are at that cross road. Certainly there are good college players to choose from and bring in. Burrow, Chase, Higgins were once college players. It is time to give some college players a chance on Defense, at lower than Veteran rookie starting pay.
GO BENGALS....ON TO VICTORY
RE: Free Agency - SunsetBengal - 03-05-2025
(03-05-2025, 06:20 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Yeah, need to get at least 2 of those deals done before FA. Ja'Marr and Trey seem to be closer to me than Tee from what you shown in
the other thread. The last thing we need to do is irritate Joe Burrow and scare any FA's off.
All I know is that I just heard Maxx Crosby just got extended 3 yrs/$106M. I guess we better start thinking about our farewell posts to one of Trey or Tee.
RE: Free Agency - kalibengal - 03-05-2025
(03-05-2025, 06:09 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: My guess is Will Fries myself because he is a RG and we have a hole there. Hope we are correct, I like the way he plays when healthy.
I heard Zeit's wife didn't like it in Cincy for some reason when he was here and he is older, so I have put him off my radar along with Scherff.
Becton, James Daniels, Tevin Jenkins are also some Guards that should be on our thoughts.
If we trade Trey, we will need a proven pass rusher so Josh Sweat would be a good one for us to add. Milton Williams would be a good 3-tech
for us, better pass rusher than BJ, but not as good of a run stopper. Would love a FA of Fries, Daniels, Sweat and Milton Williams.
This would really free up the Draft.
Or James Daniels
RE: Free Agency - kalibengal - 03-05-2025
(03-05-2025, 07:20 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: All I know is that I just heard Maxx Crosby just got extended 3 yrs/$106M. I guess we better start thinking about our farewell posts to one of Trey or Tee.
heres my Take: between the two, if I had to choose...I go with Trey. He is more reliable and honestly all we have for a pass rush
But at a price tag of 32M per yr?? IDK
RE: Free Agency - jason - 03-05-2025
(03-05-2025, 07:20 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: All I know is that I just heard Maxx Crosby just got extended 3 yrs/$106M. I guess we better start thinking about our farewell posts to one of Trey or Tee.
I mean Crosby is younger and a better all around DE...
RE: Free Agency - pulses - 03-05-2025
(03-05-2025, 06:49 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Thinking the same. According to the sources Bengalbug was quoting in the other thread we are already offering Trey 32 mil per year and he is turningSweat is 28 a 3 year deal for 60 would be good and much less than what it will cost to keep Trey. Use the savings on someone else.
it down and he could very well fall of this year as a pass rusher at his age. At least Tee is young if he is the one we extend besides Ja'Marr who is going
to get his 40 mil per year by the time this is all over.
No point in dilly dallying around with Ja'Marr, the FO made the mistake, time to pay up. Trade Trey for some good value and extend Tee or trade him.
Either way we still have Ja'Marr and at worse we have more picks or even another valuable player or two in a trade.
RE: Free Agency - Nate (formerly eliminate08) - 03-05-2025
(03-05-2025, 07:12 PM)michaelsean Wrote: So they went to Cleveland?
Well, he was vastly overpaid by Cleveland so the wife must of been okay with it lol
(03-05-2025, 07:20 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: All I know is that I just heard Maxx Crosby just got extended 3 yrs/$106M. I guess we better start thinking about our farewell posts to one of Trey or Tee.
Mad Maxx is damn good and much younger than Trey though. Maxx is a much better run stopper and just as good of a pass rusher
and he can rush from either side of the line and even against DT's. Maxx is very special. Trey is a great pass rusher, but he is older
and should take the current offer (if true) of 32 mil per year. Might be only a 2 year extension that is holding it up I don't know.
I think we could get more in a trade for Trey and this Draft is loaded with quality Ends so I tend to lean towards trading Trey if we
have to let go of one of these guys. Still, a massive hole will be left if we have to say farewell to either Trey or Tee. We don't have a
replacement in house for either one.
But Josh Sweat or Davante Adams sure would be nice if we do move on from one of them.
(03-05-2025, 07:31 PM)kalibengal Wrote: Or James Daniels
Yep, always liked James Daniels and I listed him as one of my wants Kali.
(03-05-2025, 07:34 PM)jason Wrote: I mean Crosby is younger and a better all around DE...
For sure.
RE: Free Agency - SunsetBengal - 03-05-2025
(03-05-2025, 07:34 PM)jason Wrote: I mean Crosby is younger and a better all around DE...
This team has always struggled to retain even two top of the market star players, let alone four of them. Obviously they're going to do whatever it takes to keep Chase, but I've been thinking all along that one of Tee or Trey was going to be exiting soon. If they want to keep Joe happy and sign Tee, fine. However Trey means more to the team as I see him as tougher to replace. Yeah, I know the draft is loaded with pass rushers, but the draft is also a crap shoot. The offense can build the line, sign Gesicki back and sign another strong TE for less than Higgin, and make the offense more dynamic and less predictable going forward.
RE: Free Agency - Nate (formerly eliminate08) - 03-05-2025
(03-05-2025, 07:37 PM)pulses Wrote: Sweat is 28 a 3 year deal for 60 would be good and much less than what it will cost to keep Trey. Use the savings on someone else.
Sweat would be awesome and he shouldn't fall off for at least 3 years, for all we know Trey could start falling off at any time, it happens.
RE: Free Agency - Bengalbug - 03-05-2025
(03-05-2025, 07:34 PM)jason Wrote: I mean Crosby is younger and a better all around DE...
Younger, yes. Better, not so fast. He may be better, but it’s a coin flip at best, with the lean going to Hendrickson, IMO.
Pff isn’t be all, end all.
Trey
OVR-88.1
Pass rush- 90.4
Run defense - 65.1
Snaps - 823
Crosby
OVR - 74.1
Pass rush - 70.1
Run defense - 73
Snaps - 766
Last 3 years, Hendrickson ranks second in sacks (43), one behind the leader Myles Garrett. Maxx Crosby is 7th with 34.5. Trey Hendrickson has forced 8 sacks to Crosby’s 4, over the same time period.
I get it, we want to maybe diminish his play, expecting we will lose him. Make no bones about it, he is a top player at his position with an elite skill set.
RE: Free Agency - Bengalbug - 03-05-2025
(03-05-2025, 07:50 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Sweat would be awesome and he shouldn't fall off for at least 3 years, for all we know Trey could start falling off at any time, it happens.
It does happen. But hindsight is 20/20. I feel like if Trey stays mostly healthy, he is a 10+ sack/year guy for the next 3 years.
Cameron Wake could be a good example. He was older when he started, but he didn’t have all the snaps in his early 20s, much like Trey. In his age 33-35 seasons wake had 7 sacks (in 7 games), 11.5 and 10.5.
It’s likely a decline is going to happen, but I imagine Trey will still be a very valuable piece of a puzzle for some team (bengals or others), over the next 3 ish years.
RE: Free Agency - SunsetBengal - 03-05-2025
(03-05-2025, 07:37 PM)pulses Wrote: Sweat is 28 a 3 year deal for 60 would be good and much less than what it will cost to keep Trey. Use the savings on someone else.
If they could get him for that deal, it would be a steal. I have a feeling with Crosby resetting the market today that the $20M/per you were hoping for will become $25M/per.
RE: Free Agency - Bengalbug - 03-05-2025
(03-05-2025, 08:16 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: If they could get him for that deal, it would be a steal. I have a feeling with Crosby resetting the market today that the $20M/per you were hoping for will become $25M/per.
How much of a reset is it really?
Bosa got $34m AAV vs a $224m cap.
Crosby is getting $38m AAV vs a $278m cap
The % of Guarantees is really the biggest difference. Bosa got 70ish percent to 85% for Crosby. When you count the last two years of his current contract, he is under control for 5 years, $153m, or just over $30m/year in AAV.
It’s hard at this point to “overpay” elite players, with the rising cap. Just get Chase done for $40,000,000. I get the bengals offer of $38,000,000… it’s just the JJ contract with the 9% escalation in cap. The issue is Chase wants to do better, or beat it.