Tee vs a NEW D

[*rfaulk34*]

Something to keep in mind.

Burrow is finishing his 5th year in the leauge. Five. This isn't his 2nd year anymore as we are heading to the SB. He's starting year 6 next season. That's likely 1/3 of his career, hopefully. 

Stop ***** around and put pieces around him that will help them get to SB contender status again. You've got some guys in place. Figure out how to add to it without any more subtraction bullshit.

[jj22]

(01-03-2025, 12:23 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Nah. You lost me with the bold. We should be going all in while Burrow is still in his prime. Not bargain hunting, not “hopefully finding unrecognized talent”, not overvaluing draft picks. Teams like the Eagles and Rams don’t operate like that, and they both won Super Bowls. This franchise will never have a better chance than they do right now. And we have a very good, young, homegrown player who WANTS to be here. It really shouldn’t be that hard to make it work. Especially now with the agent change.

I wouldn't consider all of the 2020 -2021 bargain hunting FA's. Reader was the highest paid NT at the time. They just weren't FA's on anyone around here's wish list. 

and if they were bargain FA's then how can we complain given the successful FA classes and what those players brought to the team and championship runs?

[Nicomo Cosca]

(01-03-2025, 12:29 PM)jj22 Wrote: I wouldn't consider all of the 2020 -2021 bargain hunting FA's. Reader was the highest paid NT at the time. They just weren't FA's on anyone around here's wish list. 

and if they were bargain FA's then how can we complain given the successful FA classes and what those players brought to the team and championship runs?

The fallacy is that they can’t do both. We’re just conditioned to believe that because of the miser who runs things.

[*Synric*]

(01-03-2025, 12:29 PM)jj22 Wrote: I wouldn't consider all of the 2020 -2021 bargain hunting FA's. Reader was the highest paid NT at the time. They just weren't FA's on anyone around here's wish list. 

and if they were bargain FA's then how can we complain given the successful FA classes and what those players brought to the team and championship runs?

Reader was the top NT, Trey Hendrickson was the top edge along with Carl Lawson, Mike Hilton got paid like a top slot corner (slot corner is a bargin), Vonn Bell was one of the top safeties in his FA class, and of course Trae Waynes fiasco.

I would say the only really good bargin FAs were Chidobe Awuzie and Ted Karras... Maybe add Eli Apple to that list.

[jj22]

(01-03-2025, 12:45 PM)Synric Wrote: Reader was the top NT, Trey Hendrickson was the top edge along with Carl Lawson, Mike Hilton got paid like a top slot corner (slot corner is a bargin), Vonn Bell was one of the top safeties in his FA class, and of course Trae Waynes fiasco.

I would say the only really good bargin FAs were Chidobe Awuzie and Ted Karras... Maybe add Eli Apple to that list.

Right. And most around here wanted Lawson and Alexander ( I think that was the Vikings slot we signed in 2019) back, Bell came to us as a bargain because safeties didn't get paid that year if I can remember. 

The issue is people don't trust the FO (and coaches now that they don't have fresh eyes and aren't form other teams with a wider familiarity of players). Which I get. But the argument that there isn't any FA because we don't like the known named one's isn't a good approach. We should be hoping they can find some of those gems (bargains or not) that can contribute as they did in 2020-2021.

We should also be hoping as Eric said that the real change in approach can be a rebuild of the scout(ing) department.  That will go a long way with maybe establishing better trust in the process. 

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(01-03-2025, 12:07 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: I have ***OFFICIALLY*** flip flopped. Before i was on board with trading Tee for picks last year. Since the Bengals are so bad at drafing, for the most part, i've now swung to 'keep the known quantity'. 

Salary cap is going to keep going up and as long as Joe, Tee and Ja'marr have gotten together and they're not gonna try to be the highest paid at their respective positions--the Bengals should be able to pay them and still upgrade other positions.

It's not like they're weighed down with a few other massive contracts already. 

Same here Rfaulk. With Joe also saying Tee is a need I find it to be the most likely scenario as well. Keep the known quantity and with 
Tee's injury history he should not break the bank. Cut ties with Rankins, Stone, Hubbard, Cappa etc and that will free up the money to 
upgrade the IOL and the DL.

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(01-03-2025, 12:07 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: I have ***OFFICIALLY*** flip flopped. Before i was on board with trading Tee for picks last year. Since the Bengals are so bad at drafing, for the most part, i've now swung to 'keep the known quantity'. 

Salary cap is going to keep going up and as long as Joe, Tee and Ja'marr have gotten together and they're not gonna try to be the highest paid at their respective positions--the Bengals should be able to pay them and still upgrade other positions.

It's not like they're weighed down with a few other massive contracts already. 

Was this written in the past? Burrow was the highest paid QB in the league last year and was going to be again this year until Jerry Jones lost his damn mind.

Chase said he wanted to beat Jefferson "and not by a penny" and then took a $50m insurance policy rather than sign a contract he felt wasn't enough.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(01-03-2025, 03:24 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Was this written in the past? Burrow was the highest paid QB in the league last year and was going to be again this year until Jerry Jones lost his damn mind.

Chase said he wanted to beat Jefferson "and not by a penny" and then took a $50m insurance policy rather than sign a contract he felt wasn't enough.

Ja'Marr definitely isn't going to take a discount, that is for damn sure. Joe said he will help to keep Tee here which sounds like a restructure...

We will see...

[*rfaulk34*]

(01-03-2025, 03:24 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Was this written in the past? Burrow was the highest paid QB in the league last year and was going to be again this year until Jerry Jones lost his damn mind.

Chase said he wanted to beat Jefferson "and not by a penny" and then took a $50m insurance policy rather than sign a contract he felt wasn't enough.

Pure speculation on my part. Unless they're saying "pay us all what we're worth and figure the rest out", the only way has to be that they're each willing to give up a couple mill in order to do it. That's the only rational explanation i can conceive. 

The way they've been talking lately and Tee switching agents is the catalyst for my switch.

Fact of the matter is, i could be completely wrong and they all still want the bag. But, as i always say...

You can't eat your cake and have it too. 

[*rfaulk34*]

The current top paid duo is the Dolphins. Then the Eagles and 49ers.

Hill/Waddle - 58M
Brown/Smith - 57M
Aiyuk/Samuel - 54M

Waddle is currently the highest paid #2, followed by Smith


Waddle - 28M
Smith - 25M

Realistically, you'd be expecting Chase to ask for 35M+ annually and Tee 28M+ annually. 

That's 63M. Who can see that happening? 

If they do the "couple mill" discount that i spoke of earlier, that puts them about 59M. The top duo, but not by much. 

So...let's see how it plays out, eh?

[*Synric*]

(01-03-2025, 03:55 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: The current top paid duo is the Dolphins. Then the Eagles and 49ers.

Hill/Waddle - 58M
Brown/Smith - 57M
Aiyuk/Samuel - 54M

Waddle is currently the highest paid #2, followed by Smith


Waddle - 28M
Smith - 25M

Realistically, you'd be expecting Chase to ask for 35M+ annually and Tee 28M+ annually. 

That's 63M. Who can see that happening? 

If they do the "couple mill" discount that i spoke of earlier, that puts them about 59M. The top duo, but not by much. 

So...let's see how it plays out, eh?

The most in one season by cap Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill will cost is about 63m and that is ONLY 2026. The Dolphins could move on from Tyreek after 2025 (free up 40m in cap) or restucture so they will never see a large cap % in the same year. 

[*rfaulk34*]

(01-03-2025, 04:14 PM)Synric Wrote: The most in one season by cap Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill will cost is about 63m and that is ONLY 2026. The Dolphins could move on from Tyreek after 2025 (free up 40m in cap) or restucture so they will never see a large cap % in the same year. 

Good news is, Chase/Higgins are noticibly younger than the other duos. Throw in some static 'outs' and the ability to restructure down the line and it makes the job "easier". Maybe even see if they're willing to get paid on a different sliding scale. Pay Ja'Marr early and make later years smaller, do the opposite for Tee. That would allow for the out if Tee continues to get injured, since his big money wouldn't be for a coupe/few years. 

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(01-03-2025, 03:55 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: The current top paid duo is the Dolphins. Then the Eagles and 49ers.

Hill/Waddle - 58M
Brown/Smith - 57M
Aiyuk/Samuel - 54M

Waddle is currently the highest paid #2, followed by Smith


Waddle - 28M
Smith - 25M

Realistically, you'd be expecting Chase to ask for 35M+ annually and Tee 28M+ annually. 

That's 63M. Who can see that happening? 

If they do the "couple mill" discount that i spoke of earlier, that puts them about 59M. The top duo, but not by much. 

So...let's see how it plays out, eh?

(01-03-2025, 04:14 PM)Synric Wrote: The most in one season by cap Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill will cost is about 63m and that is ONLY 2026. The Dolphins could move on from Tyreek after 2025 (free up 40m in cap) or restucture so they will never see a large cap % in the same year. 

Miami used some void years on both WRs and on most of their paid players to soften the blows, but even then they still bled talent last offseason.

The Eagles despite drafting very well are using every cap manipulation trick in the book and are set to implode in about 2-3 years because they just seemingly don't care about the future at all. They have 14 players under contract for 2027 (6 guys + their 2024 rookies) and with just 14 people they already have $228m in cap space allocated because of void year money. If the Eagles don't win a SB this year or next, it's going to come crashing down HARD on them. Hell, even if they win a SB it'll come crashing down hard, but I guess they'll care less. They're playing the same game as the 49ers, and it seems to be starting to fall apart for SF like it has for the Browns and Saints.

The Bengals FO simply isn't going to do that. They won't aggressively manipulate the cap and set themselves up for massive dead cap hits and huge void year totals. They got "adventurous" with Burrow's deal by adding a whopping $9m in void years of his $275m deal which I believe is the first and only time they've done it. Hurts and AJ Brown alone meanwhile have over $151m in void years.

[Nicomo Cosca]

We heard the Rams future was going to be ****** too when they sold out for that Super Bowl a few years ago and yet here they are division winners and right back in it.

[Frank Booth]

(01-03-2025, 05:59 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: We heard the Rams future was going to be ****** too when they sold out for that Super Bowl a few years ago and yet here they are division winners and right back in it.

Turns out they know how to draft

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(01-03-2025, 05:59 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: We heard the Rams future was going to be ****** too when they sold out for that Super Bowl a few years ago and yet here they are division winners and right back in it.

Key word is a few years ago. They went 5-12 following their SB win. That said they got out of it quicker than normal because they crushed the draft despite not having high picks for a couple years.

In the last 3 years they got a 2nd Team All-Pro RB in the 5th round, then a 2nd Team All-Pro WR in the 5th round, and used two 3rd round picks on an OLB and DE in 2023 and they proceeded to have 15 and 17 sacks nearly 2 seasons later. They have a rookie 2nd round DE with 8.0 sacks this season. A rookie 3rd round DB with 4 INT.

So yes, you have a much better recovery rate if you absolutely crush the draft (and your division becomes weak). I don't know the odds, but I still wouldn't take them to make it out of the first round of the playoffs.

[Nicomo Cosca]

Florio is saying Tee should sit out if we make the playoffs.

***** guy will never change.

[*jason*]

(01-03-2025, 06:14 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Key word is a few years ago. They went 5-12 following their SB win. That said they got out of it quicker than normal because they crushed the draft despite not having high picks for a couple years.

In the last 3 years they got a 2nd Team All-Pro RB in the 5th round, then a 2nd Team All-Pro WR in the 5th round, and used two 3rd round picks on an OLB and DE in 2023 and they proceeded to have 15 and 17 sacks nearly 2 seasons later. They have a rookie 2nd round DE with 8.0 sacks this season. A rookie 3rd round DB with 4 INT.

So yes, you have a much better recovery rate if you absolutely crush the draft (and your division becomes weak). I don't know the odds, but I still wouldn't take them to make it out of the first round of the playoffs.

Even if the Rams were hot garbage to this day, I'd say it's worth it if you get that one championship. We've never seen one, and those of us that assumed there'd be many after 2021 are finding out how hard it is to even get there. Even harder when the organization is inept.

[*jason*]

(01-03-2025, 06:01 PM)Frank Booth Wrote: Turns out they know how to draft

We're great with WRs... That's why we took Fizzle a round ahead of Puka.

[*Wyche'sWarrior*]

(12-28-2024, 12:35 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: It’s not either or. They can do both if they make the right cuts.

Exactly, and all indications point to Tee WANTING to stay. "Make it ***** happening" as Tony Beets would say.