Bengals not expecting to sign Bates to an extension at this time

[Whatever]

(08-10-2021, 08:36 PM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: But that's not how it works.  They wouldn't be paying him 14-15 million this year.  He'd being playing on his rookie contract, and the extension would begin next year.  The only actual dollars that could be placed on this year would be cap related (frontloading some of the bonus).

The motivation for the Bengals would most likley be tagging him in 2022, which I think is around 11 million right now, vs. paying him top 6 money (14-15 mil).

The question becomes, is it worth saving 3 or 4 million bucks if you risk alienating your best player, and keeping him long-term?

Justin Simmons got a $15 mil signing bonus, so yeah, we are talking paying him that kind of money.  I realize you're talking strictly about cap accounting, but you also have to look at the real money, too.

The question is when you sign that deal, are you getting '20 Bates, '19 Bates, or '18 Bates? If you're paying Top 6 money for '19 or '18 Bates, you're getting screwed.  You basically have him already for 3 years with the FT.  There's not much motivation to extend him if all you"re doing is getting an extra year to finesse the cap.  I get trying to keep guys happy, but it's also a business.