Tee vs a NEW D

[Whacked]

I think most here would agree that:
1. Our O is anywhere from an 8 to a 10 (let's call it a "9")
2. Our D is anywhere from a 1 to a 3 (let's call it a "2")

For next season, would you rather:
A. Spend loot to keep Tee....and maintain this "9"...but not be able to rebuild this trash D
(Pray some inexpensive pieces can be found to shore up the D a hair)
-OR-
B. Lose Tee, probably slip to a 6-7
(It's not just about Tee's abilities but he commands attn and makes Chase better too)
AND
Spend loot to have a D that is mid-tier ...let's go w a 5-6

[*jason*]

I wanna keep Tee and improve the defense. Not sure why this has to be a mutually exclusive thing.

[Nicomo Cosca]

It’s not either or. They can do both if they make the right cuts.

[QueenCity]

Bengals would have to kill the draft... not likely.

Would rather they spend FA cash on defense. But if they aren't going to entertain that then go ahead and bring him back.

[Frank Booth]

yay 10 healthy games per year

[Essex Johnson]

Tee is not worth the $$ plus this year proved we cnat just win on offense, we need to invest in defense more in FA , the good thing many good young WRs in draft every year.

[*bfine32*]

Given the choices in the OP (because that's how it works). I'd take Tee.

Hopefully we'd fire Lou

[Brownshoe]

We already spend a LOT of money on the defense. Cut the dead weight and actually sign good players.

[Weazzel80]

Sign Tee. Loosing your best players is not a good way to improve the team. And Burrow had made it very clear that he wants him back and his opinion is more important than anyone else's, including the front office.

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

We are 6th in points.

We are 28th in points allowed.

Really, I don't think the D can be fixed in one go. But it can be improved.

1) Restructure Burrow
2) Extend Chase
3) Sign Tee
4) Cut some dead weight (Cappa & Rankins for sure, maybe Moss & Hubbard, possibly even Pratt & Stone). Depends on if we need the cash for FA or not.

5) FA wish list:
1) One QUALITY IOL
2) One Quality DT (BJ or another)
3) Another quality trenches guy: DE/IOL/DT. Best we can find.
4) Bring back Hilton

If we are smart, I think we have just enough. The restructure gets us to $81 in cap and the two obvious cuts to $100 mil. $25 for Tee + $8 for Chase extention + $9 for BJ/DT + $6 for Hilton is $48 mil.

That leaves $52 mil for the two more trench guys (IOL + wildcard), our draft picks, and retaining some other FAs (Gesicki, Ford, ADG, Ossai, C. Sample, Hudson, T. Brown, etc.). If we need more $$, Moss/Hubbard can we waived to save another $12-$13 mil.

If we are (finally) willing to guarantee some $$$ on the extensions/contracts, the cap hit can be reduced a bit, and we might have more room.

Then lean heavily on D in the draft. But Warren early or Tez Johnson 3rd or another IOL 2nd-5th if we only land one in FA would be on my radar. Or a late round TE/WR3/RB.

[*Go Cards*]

Will never think putting half the salary cap in a QB and 2 WR's is a recipe for success.

Heck we've barely got in or not even made the playoffs with just 2/3rd of that strategy in play. It will be much worse and others will have to be cut to make room for Chase's money as well.

Love Tee but it's time to move on.

[ERIC1]

(12-28-2024, 06:52 AM)Go Cards Wrote: Will never think putting half the salary cap in a QB and 2 WR's is a recipe for success.

Heck we've barely got in or not even made the playoffs with just 2/3rd of that strategy in play. It will be much worse and others will have to be cut to make room for Chase's money as well.

Love Tee but it's time to move on.

agree.agree agree..plus Higgins cant stay healthy

[Destro]

Both Tee and Trey had asked to be traded. Neither lost themselves money, this year. Both will want money. So in keeping with the spirit of the thread, we give one what he wants, the other runs away to a new team. Trey goes, we are left with the junior college defense. Tee leaves, we got a WR#2 spot to fill.

Looking around, having an elite #1 WR and QB trumps the offense. How badly does Burrow need someone like Tee as the #2? Plenty have issues with Tee, but how many #2 WR are as good as him? I'd say few, which is why he wants #1 money. The offense should be able to function without a possible WR#1A as the #2, especially with a genius on offense

Defense left with players that have a flash play every 4 games and trash at all other times. A player intercepts a punt pass and all of a sudden people forget they have been playing two hand touch for 4 weeks. Losing Trey, drops our sack leader. Means little to get a sack making it 2nd and 18 when the defense gives up 29 yards on the next play.

Said all the blah blah to say let Tee go. Offense can score and win without him. Defense needs a lot of help.

[*bfine32*]

2 big-time WRs are becoming more of a things in the NFL, but it seems more a NFL thing than an AFL thing.

DET: ST.Brown/ Williams

PHI: Brown/Smith

MIN: Jefferson/Addison

LAR: Puka/Cooper

TBB: Godwin/Evans

SFF: Samuels/Aiyek

One thin we know for certain. The current staff and personnel can be/ has been among the best in the NFL. The D has yet to do it. Don't kill the one thing your teams is good at.

Cowher said it at halftime during the Browns game. You do whatever you must to keep Tee.

Give Ja'Marr 4 @ $150 Give Tee3@ $90 and worry about other things for the next 3 years

[Clark W Griswold]

(12-28-2024, 01:01 PM)bfine32 Wrote: 2 big-time WRs are becoming more of a things in the NFL, but it seems more a NFL thing than an AFL thing.

DET: ST.Brown/ Williams

PHI: Brown/Smith

MIN: Jefferson/Addison

LAR: Puka/Cooper

TBB: Godwin/Evans

SFF: Samuels/Aiyek

One thin we know for certain. The current staff and personnel can be/ has been among the best in the NFL. The D has yet to do it. Don't kill the one thing your teams is good at.

Cowher said it at halftime during the Browns game. You do whatever you must to keep Tee.

Give Ja'Marr 4 @ $150 Give Tee3@ $90 and worry about other things for the next 3 years

Should we tell bfine about the merger? Nah he will figure it out eventually!

I think the D should improve with the starting CBs being healthy next year and year 2 improvements from Jenkins and Jackson. Get Wilson healthy and definitely spend draft capital on that side of the ball. As much as I would like a DL guy in the first round I think my first option would be Starks - the safety from Georgia. He would help with coverage and tackling. I believe the D can be good end the without having to sign a bunch of expensive players. But how much will Chase Young cost? (Asking for a friend)

[Whacked]

(12-28-2024, 11:07 AM)Destro Wrote: Both Tee and Trey had asked to be traded. Neither lost themselves money, this year. Both will want money. So in keeping with the spirit of the thread, we give one what he wants, the other runs away to a new team. Trey goes, we are left with the junior college defense. Tee leaves, we got a WR#2 spot to fill.

Looking around, having an elite #1 WR and QB trumps the offense. How badly does Burrow need someone like Tee as the #2? Plenty have issues with Tee, but how many #2 WR are as good as him? I'd say few, which is why he wants #1 money. The offense should be able to function without a possible WR#1A as the #2, especially with a genius on offense

Defense left with players that have a flash play every 4 games and trash at all other times. A player intercepts a punt pass and all of a sudden people forget they have been playing two hand touch for 4 weeks. Losing Trey, drops our sack leader. Means little to get a sack making it 2nd and 18 when the defense gives up 29 yards on the next play.

Said all the blah blah to say let Tee go. Offense can score and win without him. Defense needs a lot of help.

Preach!

I share your sentiment 100%

[Destro]

(12-28-2024, 02:16 PM)Clark W Griswold Wrote: But how much will Chase Young cost?  (Asking for a friend)

Chase Young is fool's gold, in my opinion. Saw it up close and personal in Washington. If available super cheap, sure, but any contract of a large cap hit, I would pass. Bengals need to have a great draft this time around. No early picks, so will need smart picks/luck this draft. Lower paying rookie contracts will help pay our stars. Not going to place bets on big FA signings happening.

[*Synric*]

Tee Higgins is the top free agent in this class.

[FormerlyBengalRugby]

Happy to let Tee walk if the FO has a plan to use the money.

Let him go if they can sign any or the below and extend Trey,
A DE who is a legit menace to the QB
A lock down CB
A prime IOL
An enforcer, playmaking LB.
A top tier safety.

If they let Tee walk and sit on the money, we know the Brown family are not in it to win it.

[J24]

The question I have; is who are you going to pay on the defensive side of the ball that is = to Tee?

Maybe Milton Williams or Osa Odighizuwa but that's about it and even those guys are probably much cheaper and less valuable.