Tee vs a NEW D

[Nicomo Cosca]

(12-31-2024, 09:29 AM)Bengalbug Wrote: No one has said who they would target in free agency, they just say “get this guy.” How did Rankins work out? Alex Cappa, Trent brown, OBJ? As far as draft picks go.. Tee is our 3rd best player drafted in over a decade.

I get the concept of what you are saying, but the reality is that you if you let tee walk (top 3-4 player on the team), you will likely just be replacing with a middle of the road somewhere else.

Orlando was a good signing.

[Brownshoe]

(12-31-2024, 09:29 AM)Bengalbug Wrote: No one has said who they would target in free agency, they just say “get this guy.”  How did Rankins work out?  Alex Cappa, Trent brown, OBJ?  As far as draft picks go.. Tee is our 3rd best player drafted in over a decade.

I get the concept of what you are saying, but the reality is that you if you let tee walk (top 3-4 player on the team), you will likely just be replacing with a middle of the road somewhere else.

We still got people like Hendrickson, Hilton, Awuzie and Reader from FA that got our defense where it needed to be. The only person we drafted that we should have kept was Bates. FA is hit or miss just like the draft. We need to use both. We also need to be less frugal with spending (that won't happen)

[Hammerstripes]

The key here isn't what they spend, it's how they structure it. There's no reason that the cap hits for Burrow, Chase and Higgins should prevent the team from signing key players at other spots. The cap goes up every year roughly 10%. No reason to think that in a few years it's $40 million more than it is now.

[*bfine32*]

The thing about Tee (I think) is he must hit FA unless they tag him again.

[ERIC1]

(12-30-2024, 05:03 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: One of the keys to making everything happen as we would like for it to happen is that Tee's market value appears to have declined a bit over the past two seasons with all of the injuries and missed production. We as fans understand the value he adds to the offense when he's available, perhaps now he will see the value in agreeing to a deal that allows both he and Chase to be signed to new deals? They still need to figure out how to fill those gaping holes on defense, and last time I checked, good defenders aren't getting any cheaper either..

Promise you ..regardless of ll the talk...higgins and chase are not going to take less money to stay together

[SunsetBengal]

(12-31-2024, 07:49 PM)ERIC1 Wrote: Promise you ..regardless of ll the talk...higgins and chase are not going to take less miney to stay together

Are you sure? I've seen it shown that Tee Higgins injury adjusted value is around $16.3M/per. There has been a quote from Tee on social media saying that he'd be willing to take less than WR1 money to remain on the team, as he's paired with one of the best WRs and one of, in not the best QBs in the game. I'm thinking that 3 years/$50M will keep Higgins on the team, right now.

[jj22]

At the very least you tag and trade him. He’s got a little momentum back going into the offseason. There may be renewed interest if they tag him and are open to trade him.

[SunsetBengal]

(12-31-2024, 08:49 PM)jj22 Wrote: At the very least you tag and trade him. He’s got a little momentum back going into the offseason. There may be renewed interest if they tag him and are open to trade him.

I'm not sure that is even necessary, he was quoted as saying that being paid as a WR1 is no longer his goal. Tee went on to say that playing with the best QB and WR in the league opened up a lot of opportunities for him. At this point, I really think that the guy just wants to remain a Bengal.

[Frank Booth]

I personally want the best WR available in the 1st round. I think thats the route they should go

Lean on chase brown and khalil herbert a little more if you have to. Especially with an upgrade at one of the Guard positions

proceed to fix the defense as best as possible

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(12-31-2024, 07:56 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: There has been a quote from Tee on social media saying that he'd be willing to take less than WR1 money to remain on the team

I'm thinking that 3 years/$50M will keep Higgins on the team, right now.

(12-31-2024, 08:55 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: I'm not sure that is even necessary, he was quoted as saying that being paid as a WR1 is no longer his goal.

Sources?

I know awhile back he said that he was looking for a contract prior to the 2023 season similar to what Michael Pittman Jr ended up getting a year later (3yr/$70m) and the Bengals offer never reached even $20m/yr so they hadn't talked about an extension since March of 2023.

https://nflspinzone.com/posts/cincinnati-bengals-stud-wide-receiver-tee-higgins-has-requested-a-trade-01hrpzpd843f
https://www.givemesport.com/nfl-rumors-tee-higgins-seeking-similar-contract-as-colts-michael-pittman/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/bengals-not-close-to-tee-higgins-contract-demands/ar-AA1nTW9D

$23.3m/yr would have been ~8th-9th highest paid WR at the time. In 2025 it'll be 18th-20th.

- - - - -
There's absolutely zero chance that Tee takes 3yr/$50m. That's not even going to be top-25 WR money in 2025. That would put him nearly $1m/yr under Jerry Jeudy and above Courtland Sutton.

[Nicomo Cosca]

(12-31-2024, 10:21 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Sources?

He’s probably talking about this:

Tee Higgins told me last week being paid as a WR1 is not necessarily his no. 1 motivator. Said, “I’m playing with if not the best, one of the best, QBs. I’m playing with if not the best, one of the best, WRs. That opens up things for me.” And: “In this offense, everyone has a… https://t.co/zsmd1odtZV

— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) December 29, 2024

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(12-31-2024, 10:35 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: He’s probably talking about this:

Tee Higgins told me last week being paid as a WR1 is not necessarily his no. 1 motivator. Said, “I’m playing with if not the best, one of the best, QBs. I’m playing with if not the best, one of the best, WRs. That opens up things for me.” And: “In this offense, everyone has a… https://t.co/zsmd1odtZV

— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) December 29, 2024

Thanks.

I feel like "not necessarily his no 1 motivator" is not quite the same as "willing to take less than WR1 money" or "no longer his goal".

The not necessarily part is already hedging and if it's still his no 2 motivator that's still pretty high on the list of motivations. Lol... just always makes me confused that people desperately want to keep Tee because they think we can't replace him, but also think that we could absolutely lowball him to keep him. 

This all just smells like the Joe Burrow contract time. There was all those "hints" that Burrow was going to take a hometown discount and "be like Brady" to keep cap space for everyone else... and then he took a record setting contract to be the highest paid QB in NFL history and then Chase said he didn't want to beat Jefferson's contract by just a dollar to be the highest paid WR in the league. Players want to get paid. If a team offers Tee $23-25m/yr and $45m guaranteed at signing we offer him $16.7m/yr and something like $20m guaranteed at signing, he's going to do the obvious thing and thinking otherwise seems like setting yourself up for disappointment. 

[Ell Prez]

Ive flip flopped so many times on this. This team needs more players to the level of Tee. Not less. Let’s say he gets $25M/year, tell me one player on FA, that also won’t just get resigned by his team, that will be as good of an nfl player as tee? If he exists and he plays DL, DT, CB, OL…then I would consider letting Tee go to get that player. We know what Tee is in a bengals uniform. We do not know if the Fa is going to show up like Hendrickson or Rankins. It’s a bit of a gamble. This is all just looking at that $25m slice of the pie. They have a ton of cap space and can create a ton more be letting go of some players. The whole “don’t spend 1/3 the cap on 3 players” is kind of a dumb point. All QB’s are now 50m. So signing two more players at 25M+ isn’t that crazy. Most teams have 2-5 really good players. Ours happen to be QB, WR1, DE, WR2.


Final thoughts. I’m not 100% sold on we must sign Tee. I just think it’s the most logical, safest, and most likely scenario. If anyone can point to a dominate FA DL, OL or CB then I’ll consider. And don’t come with 2 players. We have cap space, it’s not like we can only sign tee and then we’re done with cap space. This argument is about roster construction. Ideally does a team want to have their 3rd highest player be WR2, no. But given our options, it’s the best choice

[ERIC1]

(12-31-2024, 07:56 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Are you sure? I've seen it shown that Tee Higgins injury adjusted value is around $16.3M/per. There has been a quote from Tee on social media saying that he'd be willing to take less than WR1 money to remain on the team, as he's paired with one of the best WRs and one of, in not the best QBs in the game. I'm thinking that 3 years/$50M will keep Higgins on the team, right now.

lol@ injury adjusted value.,,,, no such thing...  quit making stuff up......his tag value alone  next year will be around 24 million....Im thinking that Tee and his agent would be laughing @ 3years /50 mill

[ERIC1]

(01-01-2025, 12:56 PM)Ell Prez Wrote: Ive flip flopped so many times on this. This team needs more players to the level of Tee. Not less. Let’s say he gets $25M/year, tell me one player on FA, that also won’t just get resigned by his team, that will be as good of an nfl player as tee? If he exists and he plays DL, DT, CB, OL…then I would consider letting Tee go to get that player. We know what Tee is in a bengals uniform. We do not know if the Fa is going to show up like Hendrickson or Rankins. It’s a bit of a gamble. This is all just looking at that $25m slice of the pie. They have a ton of cap space and can create a ton more be letting go of some players. The whole “don’t spend 1/3 the cap on 3 players” is kind of a dumb point. All QB’s are now 50m. So signing two more players at 25M+ isn’t that crazy. Most teams have 2-5 really good players. Ours happen to be QB, WR1, DE, WR2.


Final thoughts. I’m not 100% sold on we must sign Tee. I just think it’s the most logical, safest, and most likely scenario. If anyone can point to a dominate FA DL, OL or CB then I’ll consider. And don’t come with 2 players. We have cap space, it’s not like we can only sign tee and then we’re done with cap space. This argument is about roster construction. Ideally does a team want to have their 3rd highest player be WR2, no. But given our options, it’s the best choice

we know what tee is in a Bengals uniform ..an often injured number 2 receiver..that sometimes has a very good game..and many times does not play with his head in the game and drops easy passes..the most logical..is to spend alll the money available to address our needs @ IOL ..DL...DBS ..Safeties..Linebackers etc

[Ell Prez]

(01-01-2025, 01:08 PM)ERIC1 Wrote: we know what tee is in a Bengals uniform ..an often injured number 2 receiver..that sometimes has a very good game..and many times does not play with his head in the game and drops easy passes..the most logical..is to spend alll the money available to address our needs @ IOL ..DL...DBS ..Safeties..Linebackers etc

I totally get the later half of your point. But I’m not sure there are actual legit options in FA. Everyone here thought Rankins would be so good bc he provided an interior pass rush. Total bust. If we take that 25M and go sign a corner for 13M and an edge for 12M, and lose Tee, are we winning more games?

In a perfect world, I agree and would rather have a pro bowl or fringe pro bowl DL. But I’m not sure there is a legitimate option.


And the writing is on the wall. The browns want Tee, burrow wants tee, Chase wants tee. Tee wants to stay. ill actually be shocked if we dont bare minimum FT him.

[*Synric*]

(01-01-2025, 03:19 PM)Ell Prez Wrote: I totally get the later half of your point. But I’m not sure there are actual legit options in FA. Everyone here thought Rankins would be so good bc he provided an interior pass rush. Total bust. If we take that 25M and go sign a corner for 13M and an edge for 12M, and lose Tee, are we winning more games?

In a perfect world, I agree and would rather have a pro bowl or fringe pro bowl DL. But I’m not sure there is a legitimate option.


And the writing is on the wall. The browns want Tee, burrow wants tee, Chase wants tee. Tee wants to stay. ill actually be shocked if we dont bare minimum FT him.

Bengals have plenty of cap space and moves they can make to free up more. They didn't really sign anyone so they have room for Tee and some of these tier 2/3 free agents along with the Chase contract (which is already on the books for 22m in 2025). It's less about cap space and more about guaranteed money and signing bonuses.

[Luvnit2]

(01-01-2025, 01:05 PM)ERIC1 Wrote: lol@ injury adjusted value.,,,, no such thing...  quit making stuff up......his tag value alone  next year will be around 24 million....Im thinking that Tee and his agent would be laughing @ 3years /50 mill

Sunset did not make anything up. Check out Spotrac, his value according to them is 16.3 million. I think it is low, but Spotrac is not a bad source for contract info.

I have said it in other threads, I have been back and forth, but 2 high paid WR's who are still young is a lot different than one being under 25 and the other being over 30. Higgins and Chase are very young so less risk for us to sign the to long term deals.

[*Synric*]

The Senior Bowl could help with the the Bengals Tee Higgins decision. Looks like most of the larger framed receivers in the draft class will be in Mobile.

Jayden Higgins Iowa State
Pat Bryant Illinois
Savion Williams TCU
Da'Quan Felton Virginia Tech
Bru McCoy Tennessee

[Luvnit2]

(01-01-2025, 03:27 PM)Synric Wrote: Bengals have plenty of cap space and moves they can make to free up more. They didn't really sign anyone so they have room for Tee and some of these tier 2/3 free agents along with the Chase contract (which is already on the books for 22m in 2025). It's less about cap space and more about guaranteed money and signing bonuses.

  
This is an overlooked point; Chase 2025 salary is on books, and we still have 59 million in cap space excluding some likely cuts to create more cap space.

A Chase extension could create cap space in 2025 depending on how they structure his long term deal.