Let's Talk Extensions

[Essex Johnson]

(10-04-2022, 10:37 AM)pally Wrote: The biggest kicker is Joe Burrow's contract.  They can start renegotiating with him this off-season.  How much and how they pay his new contract will dictate much of what happens with everyone else.  

That means we worry about 2024 after 2023, though knowing the Bengal's front office they have a plan.

Jonah still hasn't proven he is THE answer at LT so don't do anything with him yet.

The WR conumdrum is the biggest what-if out there.  I don't think the Bengals will pay Tee Higgens what he will get as a number 1 receiver on another team.  His agent will demand a huge signing bonus the Bengals won't do but some other team will.  You resign a healthy still producing Tyler Boyd if possible.  He hasn't had the injuries that shorten a WR's career

Jessie Bates is gone.  You re-sign Bell and probably Apple (another 1 year deal).  Right now I would say absolutely re-sign Chido but for a DB 1 3/4 seasons is a long time so you re-evaluate closer to contract time

Germaine Pratt has earned a 2nd contract but LB is one of our deepest room so don't overpay him

The biggest no-brainer on there is  2024 re-signing Logan Wilson

DJ Reader has earned another contract if he can be afforded.  Availability is his biggest issue but when he plays he is an All-Pro.  We get a chance to see how the team plays without him over the next 4-6 weeks.

3 of our 4 TEs are free agents in 2023.  It is also one of the deepest TE drafts in years.  Give Hurst a full season to see what he does.  He is the one player I see giving a home team discount if his career can be revived here.  Drew Sample is expendable but he fits the role he plays in this offense so I would bet he gets a 2nd contract.

I don't see that for couple reasons.  he is not going to get the targets in this offense to really justify paying him much more than he is making but starting all year will help his value to sign with another team plus if we make it to playoffs and win 1 to 2 games, his status just as CJ's will probably go up and he will be offered a bit more $$  and possible multi year contract with hopes of  more targets and will leave as he should