NYE Mock

[*ochocincos*]

The amount of scrutiny is kind of amusing but also frustrating to me...

Bengals will need to address so many positions that they won't be able to get it perfect for everyone.

WR2
2-3 DTs (+1 if cutting Rankins, which should happen)
1 Safety if Stone is cut
2 OL (+1 if Cappa is cut)
1-2 DEs (+1 if Hubbard is cut)
TE1
1-2 CBs
1 RB (+1 if Moss is cut)

That's a lot of bodies to replace.

Best case is Bengals could have ~$95 mill if Rankins, Stone, Cappa, and Hubbard are cut.
If Higgins is re-signed, that's likely going to cut into the cap $25+ mill. I don't see Bengals backloading that contract with Chase's impending new deal coming in a year or two.
So you'd be looking at potentially $30 mill, up to $70 mill if guys aren't cut.

Bengals will reserve $10+ mill in cap like they always do, so cut that down to $20 mill, up to $60 mill remaining.

$60 mill after Higgins seems like a lot to work with, but with needing 10+ guys still beyond Higgins, that cap is going to dwindle fast signing a handful of just for a few mill here and there.

Bengals should not expect to get a starter or significant snap contributor after Rd 2. Expect maybe 2 significant contributing rookies to add to the FA crop.

I think at best, we can hope to see 2-3 guys sign for $10+ mill APY, maybe just 1 if Higgins is re-signed.
Bengals are not going to be able to walk away with a haul of like Higgins, Gesicki, and new big upgrades at FS, OG, DE, and DT like we hope.
There just isn't enough money to go around for that.