03-21-2022, 11:42 PM
An overwhelming majority of people here judge free agency based on a few huge signings. But that is not how it works. Instead you have to look at how a team replaces all the players they lose and what they add beyond that. A $80 million signing is useless if you fail to fill 3 other holes left by free agency.
You also have to look at how responsible a team is with its cap. It is okay to go "all in" if you have a bunch of older players and the window is closing, but it would not make sense for a young rising team like the Bengals.
And finally you have to consider how it plays out long term. An $8 million-a-year 28 year old is more valuable than an $8 million-a-year 32 year old.
1. Not a single player we signed to replace a departing player was a significant "step down".
2. Some of the players we signed were big upgrades.
3. We got younger on almost every deal and A LOT younger on the O-line.
4. We managed our cap brilliantly.
Got to be top 5 in the league.
You also have to look at how responsible a team is with its cap. It is okay to go "all in" if you have a bunch of older players and the window is closing, but it would not make sense for a young rising team like the Bengals.
And finally you have to consider how it plays out long term. An $8 million-a-year 28 year old is more valuable than an $8 million-a-year 32 year old.
1. Not a single player we signed to replace a departing player was a significant "step down".
2. Some of the players we signed were big upgrades.
3. We got younger on almost every deal and A LOT younger on the O-line.
4. We managed our cap brilliantly.
Got to be top 5 in the league.
