02-27-2023, 03:42 PM
I think the team would obviously like to have it done sooner. It won't directly impact this years cap signings, but 3 year deals signed this off-season will bump into Burrow's first extension year (assuming the 5th year option is picked up, which has been the rule on big $$$ QB extensions).
If the deal gets done before FA, then the team has the biggest piece of the salary puzzle pegged for the next 6-8-10 years and can play accordingly. Furthermore, if Joe takes a bit of a discount to stay, other guys will see that & it becomes more likely some of them will too. Be it guys up this year (Bell, Pratt, Hurst, Perine, Apple) or next (Higgins, Boyd, Reader, Chido, Wilson), or further down the road (Chase, Hendrickson). Might help with restructures too. And it is better for the team the earlier it gets done, because the cap goes up every year, as does the Max. Team benefits on locking him it at lower numbers. All that helps to increase cap room, enabling us to retain/sign more guys.
Now, this stuff is complicated. Perhaps all the I's are not dotted & T's not crossed before FA starts March 13th. But I bet the FO will know if it is going to be a straight max, when Joe wants it done, and the ballpark of the haircut if there is one.
It seems like Joe wants to win. Badly.
If the deal gets done before FA, then the team has the biggest piece of the salary puzzle pegged for the next 6-8-10 years and can play accordingly. Furthermore, if Joe takes a bit of a discount to stay, other guys will see that & it becomes more likely some of them will too. Be it guys up this year (Bell, Pratt, Hurst, Perine, Apple) or next (Higgins, Boyd, Reader, Chido, Wilson), or further down the road (Chase, Hendrickson). Might help with restructures too. And it is better for the team the earlier it gets done, because the cap goes up every year, as does the Max. Team benefits on locking him it at lower numbers. All that helps to increase cap room, enabling us to retain/sign more guys.
Now, this stuff is complicated. Perhaps all the I's are not dotted & T's not crossed before FA starts March 13th. But I bet the FO will know if it is going to be a straight max, when Joe wants it done, and the ballpark of the haircut if there is one.
It seems like Joe wants to win. Badly.
