What do you think the Bengals WILL DO this offseason?

[kevin]

(03-03-2023, 02:28 PM)Joelist Wrote: This is not about what we WANT them to do but a bit of a test of prognostication - what do you (we) think they WILL do?

For me, I'll start with the big stuff. They will let Bates walk. We will either see a Burrow extension or a Higgins extension (possibly both but less likely).

Big reach prediction (as in lowest odds of being right) - Mixon gets cut but they do it when the cap hit is minimal.

Other possible cuts - Adeniji (please?), D'Ante Smith

Free Agency - depth pieces mostly with exception being a "Reiff" type signing at OT.

Draft - we go OT, RB, WR (need a more explosive piece behind Boyd) LB, CB (not in this order necessarily).

What do YOU think they WILL do?

Since Bengals just went to AFC Championship 2 years in a row for first time in franchise history, beating Chiefs 1 or those 2 Championships, both games close in Kansas City, and Super Bowl close in Rams home stadium. Added to fact Bengals are not an old team as Brady & Gronk in last years, but more of a young team as Brady and Gronk starting out.  Then The Bengals would love to keep this team together.  This is not the time to blow it up and start all over.  

So The Bengals would love to keep everybody on the team, but the salary cap makes that impossible.  

The Bengals Front Office has already said that Priority Number One is to resign Joe Burrow long term to  avoid free agency after this season.  They need to lock their franchise quarterback in. He is already the most winning play-off QB than any Bengal QB ever, ahead of Ken Anderson and Boomer Esiason. 

The Bengals say everything else is based on resigning Joe Borrow.  They say it is the reason they caved on Paul Brown Stadium and sold the name on stadium rights to come up with more money needed to keep  Joe Burrow.  

Add in that next year they must resign Chase.  They will want the LSU Burrow to Chase combination because playing together in college and pros, their timing is next  to perfect after year of reps together. 

So Bengals have to make salary cap room for not jut Burrow this year, but Chase next year.  

So as much as Bengals would love to keep the entire team together, it's not salary cap possible.  I can tell you this much, Burrow and Chase are going to be together like Brady and Gronk or Mahomes and Kelce.  Bengals will do whatever it takes to resign Burrow and Chase long term.   To do so, we will lose some fan favorites, but Burrow to Chase is going to be expensive to resign in 2023 and 2024. but you want that combo in Cincy a long time.  Don Meredith said it takes years for a QB to get the timing on a pass catcher. The rare thing with Burrow to Chase is their college years together at LSU. Bengals know they need to lock that rare timing in long term.