***NFL Free Agency News & Signings Thread***

[Luvnit2]

(03-13-2024, 06:21 PM)ochocincos Wrote: The point I was trying to make (and I thought was obvious) was that once you're a competitive team and paying some big contracts to certain positions, you won't be able to keep everyone...especially really good players who are going to hit FA.
Teams like the Patriots and Steelers in the 2000s and 2010s frequently let some good talent go because of cost, but they had a plan to replace those players with cheaper options. And they found ways via budget signings and/or the draft to make that happen.

As you said, KC was able to have a great draft after trading Hill, which has contributed heavily to them continuing to have success after.
Bengals need to hit on their draft picks (especially early ones) to continue to have success after losing proven talents like Bates and likely losing Higgins after this year.

Bengals have Higgins for 21.6 million (not chump change for Tee) and then can tag him again for around 24 million in 2025 if he has a great year. Based on the Ridely contract, Tee is a steal this year.

Bengals control Tee, Tee and his agent don't control the Bengals.