03-05-2025, 07:14 PM
(03-05-2025, 06:02 PM)Tomcat Wrote: I'm hoping next week we have quick results like 2022 with Karras and Cappa right out of the gate, but I'm bracing myself for disappointment. Who would be your guess for the first FA the Bengals might sign? I would love for it to be one of Nick Bolton, Josh Sweat or Milt Williams, but i think it will be Will Fries!
There is only so much salary cap money a team can spend. Bengals acting GM said they did not tag Higgins to trade him. They tagged Higgins to try to resign him long term. That is what Higgins says he want's also, to stay a Bengal. Bengals have to resign Chase long term also. This means Bengals already have one of highest paid QB's in NFL. Soon they will have 2 of the highest paid WR's in NFL. That is their Free Agency, keeping Higgins and Chase long term and putting out the huge money to get them re-signed long term in next few months.
I might also suggest the franchise tag on Hendrickson in 2026 is possible. Not a bad move and they would keep their top pass rusher in 2025 and 2026, also with an option to resign longer in 2026 if they chose.
I'm not sure the Bengals Blockers deserve a pay raise with Burrow hit on every play. I'm sure most of the Defense does not deserve a pay raise, they are one of worst Defenses in NFL last 2 seasons.
So lets talk real about money and salary cap. Burrow, Chase and Higgins long term will be a huge cap hit if acting GM gets his way to keep all 3 long term. Again, Chase and Higgins are not signed long term yet, and that will break the bank to do what Tobin plans. That is the Free Agency right there. If they spend a ton on Free Agents, they do not have the cap money to sig both Higgins and Chase to go with Burrow.
I see a solution to the salary cap problem. Avoid Free Agent market to spend money on Higgins and Chase as Duke Tobin wants. So how do they fix the Defense ? Rookies are cheaper than Veterans for their first few years. Go all Defense in The Draft and hope some of the picks pan out. Then after Draft, bring in undrafted Defense players for a chance in preseason. Load up on College players on Defense. Good, Young, Rookies. Paul Brown at Cleveland and Cincinnati preferred young rookies over players from other teams, to coach up the way he wanted them. Let Golden the new D Coach do the same.
Duke Tobin says the goal is to resign Higgins and Chase long term. That will take a ton of cap money. Lay off Free Agency Veterans, put everything into Drafting less expensive Rookies to fix the Defense. I think they have Hendrickson in 2025 anyway, and they could use the Tag on him in 2026 to keep his great pass rush skills to help this Defense. I don't think the rest of the Defense or O Line on this team deserve a raise, they have not earned one. Burrow, Chase, Higgins Long Term, The Big 3 at a High Price, with maybe Hendrickson who has earned a raise kept in 2026. Expensive, Yes, but there is The Draft and good, young talent at Rooke Wages. As bad as Bengals D has been, good young rookies could not be worse and might be better. Being young, they have that room for improvement bad veterans do not.
If they lay off Free Agency this season, that opens up Higgins and Chase contract money and NFL Draft money to get under the salary cap and still rebuild. Plus tagging Higgins was their big Free Agent move right there. When in doubt, go with youth. Bengals had Bates and Burrow and Chase and Higgins and Boyd and Mixon on THE CHEAP under rookie contracts their first years. Duke Tobin wants Chase and Higgins long term for Burrow long term, so time to bring in more rookie contract deals for a few years. Good young players at less pay as when team went Super Bowl in 2021 season. The Defense is Bad and the O Line not so great. There comes a time in every company, when it is more cost saving to hire in new starting wage workers than to keep high paid bad workers. The Bengals are at that cross road. Certainly there are good college players to choose from and bring in. Burrow, Chase, Higgins were once college players. It is time to give some college players a chance on Defense, at lower than Veteran rookie starting pay.
GO BENGALS....ON TO VICTORY
1968 Bengal Fan
