Grade the current (last 5 years) FO

[Luvnit2]

There is a lot of passion about the Bengals FO. We see the discussions from many who feel the FO is inept or those who feel they are not. Let's grade them on cap management, roster (draft, FA and Cuts), contract management and anything else you feel is relevant. Also the coaching staffs they hire/fire each year.

I used current as the current FO is not 100% tied to what happened 10 years agao and even less so goingback decades
Facts
Contract disputes with Trey, Tee and Jamar the past 2 years and now a hiccup with our 1st round pick.
Regular Season Record last 5 years - 44 - 38 - 1
Playoff record (2 of 5 years) - 5-1 and lost 2021 Super Bowl
Burrow injured in 2020 his rookie year and Bengals won 4 games
Bengals one of biggest turnarounds in NFL history going from 4 wins to the Super Bowl with a 2nd year QB
Lost in AFC championship game in 2022 to the Super Bowl inning Chiefs
Traditionally use mostly NFL norms for contracts, not pushing a lot of cap in future years like Saints, Ravens, 49ers, Bills and a few others.
This method hampers their ability to sign additional free agents or more expensive free agents
Made Burrow the highest paid QB is history on his 2nd contract
Made Chase the highest paid non QB in 2025
Made Higgins one of top paid WR's in the NFL
Cut underperformers in 2025
No huge spashes in FA since Trey (Trey at the time was not a huge splash,but outplayed his contract).

Other can add more on eother side of the FO ledger.

Using a grading normal a is outstanding, B , C , D or F grade the FO