What if we are trying hard in FA but no one wants to come?

[*ochocincos*]

(03-13-2025, 10:05 AM)Housh Wrote: Takes 2 to tango. What if free agents just don’t wanna come to Cincy and we’ve actually made a ton of calls around the league


None of our best players besides Burrow are signed long term so you sign today and you have a 65 overall roster in the next season.



This is part of not resigning your own guys.

I think of instances where we saw guys choose to leave for other teams even though the Bengals' offer was considered "the same" or "comparable."
Two instances that pop into my head - CJ Uzomah, Marvin Jones

It's pretty clear that guys want one, if not both, things:
- Guaranteed money is more important than the overall top contract amount given there's no guarantee the player will be kept through the entirety of contract
- Snaps in the offense/defense

If a guy is given a comparable contract but they have less optimism in opportunity and/or success of the team, it would make sense to choose elsewhere.
It may make sense to take, for example, 3 years $30 mill with $20 mill guaranteed from another team whereas Bengals may offer 3 years, $36 mill with just $15 mill guaranteed.