Tyler Boyd

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(12-20-2022, 10:53 AM)Wyche Wrote: This contract stuff makes it tough. I'd hate to lose TB, but it might just have to work out that way.

(12-20-2022, 11:44 AM)SunsetBengal Wrote: I was just about to mention that some of us had TB tabbed as the odd man out, when it comes to re-upping the WR corps contracts.  He's always been a Raven killer, plays uber hard versus the Steelers, then showing tremendous courage in games like the one at Tampa.  He's really making it tough to contemplate the team moving on without him.

I don't think losing Boyd moves the needle enough to cover for signing both Higgins and Chase. Those two are going to combine for an average of at least $60m/yr ($25m/yr and $35m/yr, respectively). Combine that with Burrow's $50-55m/yr, and it will be real hard to build a competitive team around those 3 contracts. In two years, even if you project the cap to rise massively to $240m, they'll still be ~46% of the cap on average. For 3 guys. That's a tough way to try to build a complete team.

Say it rises $32m, but their cap hits on average rise from ~$19m this year to $110m, that's still $59m difference. Then remove Boyd's $10m as that's the start of this conversation. Now try to find where you can cut $49m worth of cap hits on this current team and it still be good.

Possibly more important than cap numbers, where the Bengals are concerned, that's a whole lot more liquid wealth that the Browns/Blackburns have to put into escrow. Burrow is going to get $125-235m guaranteed at signing (not sure if he'll push for more than Watson or just take more than Wilson who has the 2nd highest guaranteed at signing, but whatever he wants, he gets), Higgins will get $40-45m guaranteed at signing, Chase will probably get $60m after Justin Jefferson resets the ceiling for WR contracts this offseason. That's all money that has to be liquid and put into escrow.

For reference, the highest non-rookie-contract guaranteed at signing amount the Bengals have on their roster right now is Reader at $20.25m followed by Hendrickson at $16m. They don't give high guarantees at signing unless forced to by the CBA, but they're going to have to here soon.