02-16-2022, 05:54 PM
James Daniels-- turns 25 in September. PFF has him as 5 years/$50mm. Cutting Waynes-- there is your $10mm for 2022 at least. This of course assumes that the contract will have the same 2022 cap hit as the average yearly salary. (It doesn't have to of course, they could structure the deal to where his cap hit is $20mm or $5mm for example for 2022)
At Center, Bengals go with the cheaper option, Ben Jones over Ryan Jensen. 3 years, $21mm. Cutting Hopkins saves $6mm, so this is basically an upgrade for an extra $1mm cap hit.
Connor Williams, LG- turns 25 in May. PFF has a 3 year deal, but I would think a 4 year deal for $28mm. (Cap space now down to approximately $50mm.)
They may like another guard better than Williams- but we will just put the $7mm cap hold here as there are few LG's on the market and Wiliams was the first guy I thought of.
Jonah, Connor, Ben Jones, James Daniels, Raimann (1st round pick.)
Bengals also sign a player like Reiff, or even Reiff to be the primary backup in case of an injury @ T or Guard. Backup OL are now Reiff/Reiff type player, Trey Hill, Smith, Carman, Adeniji, XXX
$8mm needed for draft picks. Down to $42mm in cap space. Backup swing Tackle, $5mm. Down to $37mm. Tag Bates, $13mm, down to $24mm. TE-- $7mm give or take. Down to $17mm. Sign a DT-- down to $10mm give or take. Lets say another CB for about $5mm-- and they also draft a CB in round 2 or 3. Down to $5mm in cap space which is probably where they want to be.
Bengals would only need to draft 1 OL in the 1st. Rest of picks can be spent primarily on defense to help fill holes left by departing FA's.
2 young guards in FA, a solid center with experience. Some depth on the line with a Reiff type player in case the #1 draft pick doesn't pan out. Have to hit on a few draft picks to help the starters and depth on defense. Basically this mock is the 2021 team, but with 3 better IOL.
In reality, I expect the Bengals to disappoint, and they just keep Hopkins, sign a RG and a RT. Then trying to find a LG in the draft, so they can use the $7mm else that was earmarked for a Connor Williams type player elsewhere. Maybe even re-sign Spain to fill the LG spot as a cheaper option to save a few million.
All I know is it is very doable for the Bengals to sign 4 FA OL, keep Bates and still have the money to possibly re-sign Ogunjobi or a similar player, another CB or keep Apple and also to sign Uzomah or a similar TE.
The money is there-- and honestly, if they want to push cap hits further down the road, they can go even more balls out the next 2 years by signing players with lower cap hits this year and next. IE-- Chiefs signed Thuney to a a 5 year $80mm deal, and the cap hit in year 1 was only $4.5mm. But to do that, also means larger signing bonuses-- and who knows if they will want to shell out a ton of cash in signing bonuses.
It is very doable to rebuild the entire OL in 1 offseason. The Bengals have the cap space to do it.
At Center, Bengals go with the cheaper option, Ben Jones over Ryan Jensen. 3 years, $21mm. Cutting Hopkins saves $6mm, so this is basically an upgrade for an extra $1mm cap hit.
Connor Williams, LG- turns 25 in May. PFF has a 3 year deal, but I would think a 4 year deal for $28mm. (Cap space now down to approximately $50mm.)
They may like another guard better than Williams- but we will just put the $7mm cap hold here as there are few LG's on the market and Wiliams was the first guy I thought of.
Jonah, Connor, Ben Jones, James Daniels, Raimann (1st round pick.)
Bengals also sign a player like Reiff, or even Reiff to be the primary backup in case of an injury @ T or Guard. Backup OL are now Reiff/Reiff type player, Trey Hill, Smith, Carman, Adeniji, XXX
$8mm needed for draft picks. Down to $42mm in cap space. Backup swing Tackle, $5mm. Down to $37mm. Tag Bates, $13mm, down to $24mm. TE-- $7mm give or take. Down to $17mm. Sign a DT-- down to $10mm give or take. Lets say another CB for about $5mm-- and they also draft a CB in round 2 or 3. Down to $5mm in cap space which is probably where they want to be.
Bengals would only need to draft 1 OL in the 1st. Rest of picks can be spent primarily on defense to help fill holes left by departing FA's.
2 young guards in FA, a solid center with experience. Some depth on the line with a Reiff type player in case the #1 draft pick doesn't pan out. Have to hit on a few draft picks to help the starters and depth on defense. Basically this mock is the 2021 team, but with 3 better IOL.
In reality, I expect the Bengals to disappoint, and they just keep Hopkins, sign a RG and a RT. Then trying to find a LG in the draft, so they can use the $7mm else that was earmarked for a Connor Williams type player elsewhere. Maybe even re-sign Spain to fill the LG spot as a cheaper option to save a few million.
All I know is it is very doable for the Bengals to sign 4 FA OL, keep Bates and still have the money to possibly re-sign Ogunjobi or a similar player, another CB or keep Apple and also to sign Uzomah or a similar TE.
The money is there-- and honestly, if they want to push cap hits further down the road, they can go even more balls out the next 2 years by signing players with lower cap hits this year and next. IE-- Chiefs signed Thuney to a a 5 year $80mm deal, and the cap hit in year 1 was only $4.5mm. But to do that, also means larger signing bonuses-- and who knows if they will want to shell out a ton of cash in signing bonuses.
It is very doable to rebuild the entire OL in 1 offseason. The Bengals have the cap space to do it.
