Upcoming FAs - who do you want?

[BFritz21]

(03-06-2023, 04:00 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: I've seen Wagner suggested a few times, but does anyone really think that he'd be interested in playing for Cincinnati?  He's an LA guy who's played his entire career on the West Coast.  

He's played his entire career out there so he doesn't need any more of the glamour of cities like LA!

He's 32 (I think?) and probably just wants to end his career chasing more rings since he's done pretty much everything else and he has to be worth ten million or more, so he's not out chasing money (I get it that money still plays a part), which is good for us since we can't be throwing a ton of money around with the extensions we're trying to work out.

SI and CBS Sports echo my opinions:

Quote:The Bengals are the best destination for Wagner if they can figure out the money.

"Wagner wants to play for a title-contending team, and the Bengals are coming off consecutive AFC title game appearances," Bryan Deardo wrote. "Cincinnati, led by Pro Bowl quarterback Joe Burrow, is expected to contend for a Super Bowl again in 2023. Wagner would serve as the perfect replacement for Germaine Pratt, who is expected to depart in free agency.

Money is the biggest roadblock between Wagner possibly signing with Cincinnati. The Bengals have cap space, but they expect to use most of it on re-signing Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and (down the road) Tee Higgins. Wagner would have to take considerably less than his market value in order for this to happen."

Will he prioritize winning over one last payday? That's the big question as Cincinnati decides what to do with Germaine Pratt's expired contract and Logan Wilson's looming extension.

I think if we offer him a fair and decent contract with a decent amount of guaranteed money, we could land him because he's smart and knows that we'd be a safe bet for a last decent deal while also offering the chance at more rings.