08-07-2022, 03:18 PM
The math:
Bengals could ask Tee to play out his existing contract for 2.8M in 2023. This effectively would make him a free agent in 2024 unless the Bengals use the franchise tag, (18.4M in 2022) unless they need it for someone else, e.g. Jonah. Note that using the franchise tag would mean paying Tee 21.2M over 2023 and 2024 combined.
If the Bengals sign him to a multiyear deal, they value a long term deal more the the savings of making Tee play out his rookie deal. If they sign a 3-year contract for 18M per year, the math is that they're paying 15.2M more in 2023 than they had to, the equivalent of finishing the existing contract and then paying Tee 25.1M each year for two years. Crazy IMO.
Even trading Tee makes little sense if you think you're getting a 18M player for 2.8M and a draft pick. Would you rather have a draft pick or 15.8M to spend on a free agent?
My conclusion is that you're going to see the Bengals forcing players to finish their rookie deals (except Joe Burrow) and then moving on in the draft or free agency. See Jessie Bates: 2021 (2.4M) + 2022 (12.9M) = 15.3M over two years instead of the 18M per year with signing bonus that Minkah got. And they could still get a compensatory pick if he leaves.
Face it, the Bengals have only 3 starters who were drafted by the Bengals and on their 2nd contracts: Boyd(2016), Mixon(2017), and Hubbard (2018). None were 1st rounders and all are solid guys making ~$10M/yr. Sure, there'll be some wage inflation and positional adjustment, but this is what the Bengals seem willing to do.
Bengals could ask Tee to play out his existing contract for 2.8M in 2023. This effectively would make him a free agent in 2024 unless the Bengals use the franchise tag, (18.4M in 2022) unless they need it for someone else, e.g. Jonah. Note that using the franchise tag would mean paying Tee 21.2M over 2023 and 2024 combined.
If the Bengals sign him to a multiyear deal, they value a long term deal more the the savings of making Tee play out his rookie deal. If they sign a 3-year contract for 18M per year, the math is that they're paying 15.2M more in 2023 than they had to, the equivalent of finishing the existing contract and then paying Tee 25.1M each year for two years. Crazy IMO.
Even trading Tee makes little sense if you think you're getting a 18M player for 2.8M and a draft pick. Would you rather have a draft pick or 15.8M to spend on a free agent?
My conclusion is that you're going to see the Bengals forcing players to finish their rookie deals (except Joe Burrow) and then moving on in the draft or free agency. See Jessie Bates: 2021 (2.4M) + 2022 (12.9M) = 15.3M over two years instead of the 18M per year with signing bonus that Minkah got. And they could still get a compensatory pick if he leaves.
Face it, the Bengals have only 3 starters who were drafted by the Bengals and on their 2nd contracts: Boyd(2016), Mixon(2017), and Hubbard (2018). None were 1st rounders and all are solid guys making ~$10M/yr. Sure, there'll be some wage inflation and positional adjustment, but this is what the Bengals seem willing to do.
