"I need to be here too"

[Luvnit2]

(01-19-2023, 12:20 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote:
Chase had 1 year left before he gets an extension.

I just don't see how you can give out contracts that average $110m to a QB and 2 WRs and build a complete team around them. The Boyd and Mixon cap space savings is nice, but compared to what you'll be adding? Chump change.

Burrow, Chase, and Higgins had a combined $19.2m cap hit in 2022. Higgins alone is going to probably get $25m/yr.

That's not touching the fact that other guys cap hits are all going to rise even without new deals, eating up most of the cap increase you're getting. Hendrickson's hit will be $1m more, BJ Hill's will be $2.5m more, Hubbard's will be $2.8m more, Reader will be $1.9m more, Jonah will be $7m more, Cappa will be $1.9m more, Hilton will be $1m more, Chase will be $1.4m more, Collins will be $2.7m more.

So even with no internal (there's a good amount of important ones who will be more expensive if you want them back) or external FAs signed, or any extensions given, those guys are still going to cost $22.2m more cap space than they did in 2022. I just don't see how they maintain a competitive full roster while extending Burrow, Chase, and Higgins all to the contracts that they'll command.

I think your 1st statement is misleading. Chase has one year prior to being eligible for an extension, but can be under contract for 3 more years.

I also don't see Higgins get 25 million a year, maybe I am wrong. Davonte Adams who is far superior to Higgins just got an average of 28 million a year. There is no comparison in results, Adams is simply a lot better.

The Bengals have 48 million in cap space without any cuts in 2023. The have over 100 million in 2024. The cap will continue to go up 15 to 20 million a year. If Europe develops, the cap will go crazy.

The Bengals will have tough decisions, but realize, Burrow will get an extension so his cap hit in 2023 will be very reasonable, so will 2024. The Bengals are in a great place compared to others, just take a deep look and you will see teams in really bad cap situations. The Ravens for one do not have the. money to franchise tag Jackson without cuts being made in 2023.

I am under no illusion the Bengals will get huge discounts, so the key moving forward is for FO to work on keeping as many pieces together as possible while using the draft and low levels of FA to continue with a great roster.