02-19-2021, 09:42 PM
I have spent the last month or so looking at the Bengals offseason and the draft in depth since I have mostly been stuck at home. During that time, I have looked at other teams salary caps and their situations and I have read through a lot of other teams message boards to get a feel on their own cap casualties including the consensus of what they think their teams might or should do.
With that said, I have come to some conclusions:
1. For a lot of teams, the salary cap isn't going to be as restrictive as many think. The truth is due to restructuring and assuming the cap increases a healthy amount in 2022, most fans and teams are not panicked. There are some teams that it is clearly going to hamper to some extent but overall it appears to be a lesser deal than it has been out to be.
2. Draft picks are somewhat more valuable as a whole this season for many teams. Part of the reason the cap isn't as big of a problem as it could be is filling in roster spots with draft picks. With that said, each pick takes on a bit more value as to what each team can do with the constructs of their team.
3. Cincinnati is in a really good position in terms of the cap but that doesn't necessarily mean much.
Currently over the cap has the Bengals sitting at 37.6 million under the cap.
Cincinnati Bengals Salary Cap Calculator | Over The Cap
Cincinnati generally leaves about 10 million in contingency and their draft pick signing is estimated to be around 9.6 million.
The Bengals can save around 4.8 million by restructing Boyd's contract.
Then through potential cuts or trade of a number of players they can save more.
Atkins, Bernard, Hart, Finney, Uzomah, etc. They could even post June 1 cut Waynes and save 10.8 million more if they so chose.
In theory, they could get all the way down to 96.5 million in cap space if they wanted to do that with 29 players under contract. If one considers adding 7 players in the draft for about 10 million that makes the 53 man roster and the 10 million roster contingency that would leave roughly 76 million to fill in the rest of the roster on this years cap. Even more important than that is they would have 148 million for the 2022 season. Money that can be pushed into next season through signing bonuses etc. My point here is the Bengals are in really great shape.
I am now going to revisit point number 3. The fact that this doesn't mean that much. Part of free agency involves recruiting players and the Bengals simply don't have a ton to sell to a free agent. History of losing, no practice bubble, etc etc. This causes Cincinnati to have to vastly overpay a top tier free agent to come in to town.
With that in mind, in my opinion the real key to next season is what happens before the new league year, instead of after the new league year. Over the next couple of weeks, Cincinnati needs to exploit their salary cap advantage and pick up a few players via trade specifically on the offensive line. I know a lot of people think draft a OT with 5 and then draft a guard in the 2nd through 4th and then sign Thuney in free agency and everything is fixed but rookie offensive linemen tend to struggle. Cesar Ruiz was the top IOL last draft and he struggled for the Saints. Two rookies and potentially Price in the starting OL could potentially look worse than what they had last season.
4. Cincinnati should use both their 7th round picks and potentially some roster guys to bolster their offensive line.
Here are a some guys I researched who are likely or could possibly be cap casualties.
Tackles
LT Reilly Reiff, Vikings, age 33 season
He is slated to make 11,750,00 next season in the last year of his deal. An extension to 3 year deal at 12 to 13 million per could probably be worked and fair market value. The cap hit could be arranged to be around 7m for this season.
Trade possibilities: 7th round pick, Geno Atkins (Zimmer reunion) and they need IDL help, or maybe they take Fred Johnson for a young cheap OL guy with some experience in exchange.
RT Ricky Wagner, Packers, age 32 season
The Packers are one such team that is going to have to make some tough cuts and it appears that Wagner could be among them. He played really well last season for the Packers and is on the last year of his deal. He is only slated to make $4,250,000 in 2021 and that is solid value for what he can do.
Trade possibilities: 7th round pick, a Gio trade matches up really well here as he would fit their system well and they need a solid tailback, or maybe they take Fred Johnson for a young cheap OL guy with some experience in exchange.
RT Rob Havenstein, Rams, age 29 season
I don't think he would be a straight up cut but I have seen where they might be interested in trading him. He will leverage more than a 7th round pick as he has 2 affordable years left on his deal and he performed well last season for the Rams bouncing back from a not so good 2019 campaign. He is slated to make $6,750,000 in 2021 and $7,250,000 in 2022.
Trade possibilities: My suggestion would be a 4th round this season and a 5th round pick in 2022 but I don't know for certain what it would take.
Other possible tackles:
Trenton Brown (Raiders) 14 million
Bobbie Massey (Bears) signed for 3 more years for 8m per
Nate Soldier (Giants) opted out last season and could potentially retire
none I would be particularly interested in
Guards:
Justin Pugh, Cardinals, Age 31 season
Arizona has a cap crunch and he has 2 years left at 9.2 million and 10 million.
He is a possible cut but more likely to stay than not in my opinion. Really solid in the pass blocking department.
Kevin Zeitler, Giants, Age 31 season
He has 1 year left on his deal for 12 million. I feel like he gets extended but he could be available.
Couple other possibilities
Gabe Jackson, Raiders, age 30
He has 2 years left on his deal at 9.6 million per, none of which is guaranteed.
Richie Incognito, Raiders, age 38
He comes in at 5.6 million.
Defensively, there are a few guys worth a look also.
DT Jurrell Casey, Broncos
DT Akeim Hicks, Bears
DE Derek Barnett, Eagles
With that said, I have come to some conclusions:
1. For a lot of teams, the salary cap isn't going to be as restrictive as many think. The truth is due to restructuring and assuming the cap increases a healthy amount in 2022, most fans and teams are not panicked. There are some teams that it is clearly going to hamper to some extent but overall it appears to be a lesser deal than it has been out to be.
2. Draft picks are somewhat more valuable as a whole this season for many teams. Part of the reason the cap isn't as big of a problem as it could be is filling in roster spots with draft picks. With that said, each pick takes on a bit more value as to what each team can do with the constructs of their team.
3. Cincinnati is in a really good position in terms of the cap but that doesn't necessarily mean much.
Currently over the cap has the Bengals sitting at 37.6 million under the cap.
Cincinnati Bengals Salary Cap Calculator | Over The Cap
Cincinnati generally leaves about 10 million in contingency and their draft pick signing is estimated to be around 9.6 million.
The Bengals can save around 4.8 million by restructing Boyd's contract.
Then through potential cuts or trade of a number of players they can save more.
Atkins, Bernard, Hart, Finney, Uzomah, etc. They could even post June 1 cut Waynes and save 10.8 million more if they so chose.
In theory, they could get all the way down to 96.5 million in cap space if they wanted to do that with 29 players under contract. If one considers adding 7 players in the draft for about 10 million that makes the 53 man roster and the 10 million roster contingency that would leave roughly 76 million to fill in the rest of the roster on this years cap. Even more important than that is they would have 148 million for the 2022 season. Money that can be pushed into next season through signing bonuses etc. My point here is the Bengals are in really great shape.
I am now going to revisit point number 3. The fact that this doesn't mean that much. Part of free agency involves recruiting players and the Bengals simply don't have a ton to sell to a free agent. History of losing, no practice bubble, etc etc. This causes Cincinnati to have to vastly overpay a top tier free agent to come in to town.
With that in mind, in my opinion the real key to next season is what happens before the new league year, instead of after the new league year. Over the next couple of weeks, Cincinnati needs to exploit their salary cap advantage and pick up a few players via trade specifically on the offensive line. I know a lot of people think draft a OT with 5 and then draft a guard in the 2nd through 4th and then sign Thuney in free agency and everything is fixed but rookie offensive linemen tend to struggle. Cesar Ruiz was the top IOL last draft and he struggled for the Saints. Two rookies and potentially Price in the starting OL could potentially look worse than what they had last season.
4. Cincinnati should use both their 7th round picks and potentially some roster guys to bolster their offensive line.
Here are a some guys I researched who are likely or could possibly be cap casualties.
Tackles
LT Reilly Reiff, Vikings, age 33 season
He is slated to make 11,750,00 next season in the last year of his deal. An extension to 3 year deal at 12 to 13 million per could probably be worked and fair market value. The cap hit could be arranged to be around 7m for this season.
Trade possibilities: 7th round pick, Geno Atkins (Zimmer reunion) and they need IDL help, or maybe they take Fred Johnson for a young cheap OL guy with some experience in exchange.
RT Ricky Wagner, Packers, age 32 season
The Packers are one such team that is going to have to make some tough cuts and it appears that Wagner could be among them. He played really well last season for the Packers and is on the last year of his deal. He is only slated to make $4,250,000 in 2021 and that is solid value for what he can do.
Trade possibilities: 7th round pick, a Gio trade matches up really well here as he would fit their system well and they need a solid tailback, or maybe they take Fred Johnson for a young cheap OL guy with some experience in exchange.
RT Rob Havenstein, Rams, age 29 season
I don't think he would be a straight up cut but I have seen where they might be interested in trading him. He will leverage more than a 7th round pick as he has 2 affordable years left on his deal and he performed well last season for the Rams bouncing back from a not so good 2019 campaign. He is slated to make $6,750,000 in 2021 and $7,250,000 in 2022.
Trade possibilities: My suggestion would be a 4th round this season and a 5th round pick in 2022 but I don't know for certain what it would take.
Other possible tackles:
Trenton Brown (Raiders) 14 million
Bobbie Massey (Bears) signed for 3 more years for 8m per
Nate Soldier (Giants) opted out last season and could potentially retire
none I would be particularly interested in
Guards:
Justin Pugh, Cardinals, Age 31 season
Arizona has a cap crunch and he has 2 years left at 9.2 million and 10 million.
He is a possible cut but more likely to stay than not in my opinion. Really solid in the pass blocking department.
Kevin Zeitler, Giants, Age 31 season
He has 1 year left on his deal for 12 million. I feel like he gets extended but he could be available.
Couple other possibilities
Gabe Jackson, Raiders, age 30
He has 2 years left on his deal at 9.6 million per, none of which is guaranteed.
Richie Incognito, Raiders, age 38
He comes in at 5.6 million.
Defensively, there are a few guys worth a look also.
DT Jurrell Casey, Broncos
DT Akeim Hicks, Bears
DE Derek Barnett, Eagles
![[Image: 4CV0TeR.png]](https://i.imgur.com/4CV0TeR.png)
