{The Ultimate Bengals Offseason Extravaganza Thread}

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(03-13-2025, 06:59 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: If only Trey's agent hadn't shot off his mouth about being confident that he was able to get whatever the Bengals were looking for...

What would have changed if he didn't?

The Bengals would still be asking for a ton, valuing him far more than they're willing to pay him, and he'd still want traded or paid. Nothing would be different.

Tee's agent hasn't said shit and he's still in the exact same situation of the Bengals having higher demands for a player than they're willing to pay them.

[SunsetBengal]

(03-13-2025, 07:05 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: What would have changed if he didn't?

The Bengals would still be asking for a ton, valuing him far more than they're willing to pay him, and he'd still want traded or paid. Nothing would be different.

Tee's agent hasn't said shit and he's still in the exact same situation of the Bengals having higher demands for a player than they're willing to pay them.

Suppose the Bengals had in mind giving him a modest $10M bonus for outplaying his contract, maybe the agent said "F that, allow him to seek a trade, I can get him what he wants and you what you want".

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(03-13-2025, 07:11 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Suppose the Bengals had in mind giving him a modest $10M bonus for outplaying his contract, maybe the agent said "F that, allow him to seek a trade, I can get him what he wants and you what you want".

Except he'd look right over at Tee getting tagged twice in a row and know if he accepted that and played well for them, they'd just tag him in 2026 and again in 2027, stuck on undervalue 1-year deals until was heading into his age 34 season when nobody would give him a large or long term deal. If he accepted that and didn't play well or got badly hurt he'd lose tens of millions of dollars.

If Hendrickson doesn't get a final longterm deal this offseason, he knows he almost certainly never will.

[THE PISTONS]

(03-13-2025, 07:17 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Except he'd look right over at Tee getting tagged twice in a row and know if he accepted that and played well for them, they'd just tag him in 2026 and again in 2027, stuck on undervalue 1-year deals until was heading into his age 34 season when nobody would give him a large or long term deal. If he accepted that and didn't play well or got badly hurt he'd lose tens of millions of dollars.

If Hendrickson doesn't get a final longterm deal this offseason, he knows he almost certainly never will.

Honestly, he probably has 1 to 3 peak seasons left. Giving him like a 3 year $100 million deal has some risk.

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(03-13-2025, 06:52 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Going to have to do a trade back at some point or trade Tee for some picks. I agree with Samhain that we can still salvage this 
Offseason if we can bring in a Guard and have a good Draft. Ja'Marr's deal will get done eventually and Trey will be back so the 
team isn't that far off with Joe Burrow and the new coaches that were brought in IMO.

Agree that the defensive rebuild was mostly going to be via the draft. I know most do not view it thisxway, but we have signed 4 defensive FAs, 3 9f whom are DL: Hill, Ossai, & Slaton. Plus Burks to replace ADG as LB3. We spent $24 mil on the d-line. 

Hill was a top 5 FA DT everywhere I looked. Gesicki a top 3 TE. ESPN & NFL grade Slaton as a top 3 (or top) run stopper in the league. Burks started the Eagles SB run and balled out and graded 80+ at PFF, regular and post season. 

Now, we have totally whiffed on Big 3 extensions and a Burrow extension so far. And on guards. If we'd have gotted most/all of that done, we'd had had more ammo to play in the deeper end of the pool on D in FA. And do more than bring back Gesicki & Perine on O. 

But Jenkins & Scherff are still out there. Trey, Tee, and Chase are still in stripes. Joe is still willing to restructure. It looks as if 25 or so of the top 100 FA's are still out there. There will be more cuts of quality players. This week and post draft. 

I give us a firm D atm, but if we land Jenkins it creeps up towards C. Jenkins + Scherff would be pushing C+/B. 

That getting some Big 3/Joe B re done and making another move or two with the $$ is B+ to A territory.

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(03-13-2025, 07:20 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Honestly, he probably has 1 to 3 peak seasons left. Giving him like a 3 year $100 million deal has some risk.

It's a risk that most teams would take in a heartbeat if they could.

[SunsetBengal]

(03-13-2025, 07:17 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Except he'd look right over at Tee getting tagged twice in a row and know if he accepted that and played well for them, they'd just tag him in 2026 and again in 2027, stuck on undervalue 1-year deals until was heading into his age 34 season when nobody would give him a large or long term deal. If he accepted that and didn't play well or got badly hurt he'd lose tens of millions of dollars.

If Hendrickson doesn't get a final longterm deal this offseason, he knows he almost certainly never will.

He's already at the age where "falling off the cliff" becomes an actual concern. He should realize that the Bengals aren't going to give him away for nothing substantial in return. But alas, our QB has stated his wishes to not only keep his crown jewel of a receiver in Chase, but also his often injured running mate in Higgins. Tough to cover four top tier contracts, let alone 3 of them in the same offseason. However, the Bengals did it to themselves by not already being strong and decisive.

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(03-13-2025, 07:26 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: He's already at the age where "falling off the cliff" becomes an actual concern. He should realize that the Bengals aren't going to give him away for nothing substantial in return. But alas, our QB has stated his wishes to not only keep his crown jewel of a receiver in Chase, but also his often injured running mate in Higgins. Tough to cover four top tier contracts, let alone 3 of them in the same offseason. However, the Bengals did it to themselves by not already being strong and decisive.

If they'd have done 1 or 2 last year, like they should have (Chase certainly), we'd be in a much better position. And we had the cash to do it last year, easy.

[Luvnit2]

(03-13-2025, 02:56 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: There's no fines for holding-in. Or from having a soft tissue injury on Day 1 of mandatory camp.

You may want to to look it up. I did and provided it either in this thread or another.

Yes, he can fake injury and let the NFL know he can't be trusted.

[Luvnit2]

(03-13-2025, 07:24 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: It's a risk that most teams would take in a heartbeat if they could.

They can, but need to pony up a huge draft haul so Bengals win too.

[Luvnit2]

(03-13-2025, 07:36 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: If they'd have done 1 or 2 last year, like they should have (Chase certainly), we'd be in a much better position. And we had the cash to do it last year, easy.

Makes no sense. If they hd the cash year, ten they have that cash + any cash made in 2024 also. Their cash does not disappear.

[SunsetBengal]

(03-13-2025, 07:37 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: You may want to to look it up. I did and provided it either in this thread or another.

Yes, he can fake injury and let the NFL know he can't be trusted.

Would that really be the case? I mean the sports reporting world already gives the Bengals the reputation as "cheap", so in the sports world court of public opinion, most would simply say that the Bengals were reaping what they sowed.

[RunKijanaRun]

There is no rationalizing to be done. Make flimsy excuses if you need to as a coping mechanism for yourself.

These assholes have Joe Burrow, Jamarr Chase and Tee Higgins in their prime and they are wasting these years.

They’re doing nothing. Certainly nowhere close to enough to make a 9-8 team a SB contender.

It’s an insult to fans; but they’ve been doing that for decades. But it’s insulting to the elite players. Part of me hopes these big 3’s deals aren’t getting done because they no longer want to play here.

[SunsetBengal]

(03-13-2025, 08:56 PM)RunKijanaRun Wrote: There is no rationalizing to be done. Make flimsy excuses if you need to as a coping mechanism for yourself.

These assholes have Joe Burrow, Jamarr Chase and Tee Higgins in their prime and they are wasting these years.

They’re doing nothing. Certainly nowhere close to enough to make a 9-8 team a SB contender.

It’s an insult to fans; but they’ve been doing that for decades. But it’s insulting to the elite players. Part of me hopes these big 3’s deals aren’t getting done because they no longer want to play here.

Deals ain't done, yet. The organization is so closed mouthed that we know nothing other than silence, until the deal is done.

[NUGDUKWE]

(03-13-2025, 06:43 PM)jj22 Wrote: The defense upgrade was always going to come in the draft. And now we have to add safety to the list.

Guards we need and we can still get and they have to lock up one of the big 3. FA can’t be graded yet.

For the record wrote in stone. THIS is the product of the dead cat bounce we always argue about fearing after the 2-5 start. Remember that if this ever comes up again (hopefully not).

It’s not only about blowing the high pick, its also about forgetting the stench.

Bengals FO forgot the stench. They feel close. Closer tan they looked week 1-11.

Dead cat bounce or not. Next time we get off to a bad start can we all remember this free agency and just hope they suck the rest of the season. If our only hope of adding players is the draft we need early picks. Only way this FO is going to win anything is to be so terrible they get lucky in the draft.

[NUGDUKWE]

(03-13-2025, 06:31 PM)Wyche Wrote: Just friggin do SOMETHING. Anything.

I really need it. Just to know they are even trying to field a competent team.

[NUGDUKWE]

(03-13-2025, 06:03 PM)samhain Wrote: I think they can still salvage this offseason by adding a decent guard and a couple of complimentary pieces.  The major "if" here is the draft, which is becoming critical to upgrading the defense.

2 guards. Literally nothing else needs done besides the big 3. Take away one pressing need in the offensive line and then address defense in the draft and a guard if the board falls right. At this point I think we have to trade back in the 1st. Normally seems unlikely but I don't know how we fill these holes with 6 picks. 

[samhain]

(03-13-2025, 09:19 PM)NUGDUKWE Wrote: 2 guards. Literally nothing else needs done besides the big 3. Take away one pressing need in the offensive line and then address defense in the draft and a guard if the board falls right. At this point I think we have to trade back in the 1st. Normally seems unlikely but I don't know how we fill these holes with 6 picks. 

Agree.  I wouldn't hate picking up another running back or receiver on the cheap, either.  Samaje is a fine player, but Idk if I like him being a feature back should Brown miss significant time.  Brown-Dobbins-Perine would be a solid group.  If certain wrs like Cooper, Allen or even Boyd hang around for a month or so, I wouldn't be opposed to them on a cheap deal, either. 

The defense not being addressed combined with the stars not being extended (not one of them) is extremely discouraging.  It makes me worry for the state of the team and it's ownership.  WTF are they thinking?

Semi-related: I wonder where Elizabeth Blackburn went?  She was the new, passionate face of the family that appeared to be bringing them into the modern NFL.  I haven't seen much of her since that weird video of her and Mikey not looking too happy in LA.  

As I said before the season began, the vibes are bad.  Real bad.

[BrownAssClown]

I agree with what James Rapien said last night...The Bengals will pick up just one more free agent, a guard and that's it. They will draft another guard and the rookie will compete with Volson and Ford for a starting position.

[samhain]

(03-13-2025, 09:40 PM)BrownAssClown Wrote: I agree with what James Rapien said last night...The Bengals will pick up just one more free agent, a guard and that's it. They will draft another guard and the rookie will compete with Volson and Ford for a starting position.

If someone is insane enough to give them want they want for Trey, then I think they could be more active.  

Also, Pratt, Volson, and Stone are all conspicuously NOT cut.  They can make room relatively easily.