Free Agency

[Tomcat]

(03-06-2025, 02:17 PM)Essex Johnson Wrote: My prediction is we land 3 of these 4: Bosa, Zeitler, Banks , Greenlaw

I would be good with this.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(03-05-2025, 08:38 PM)jason Wrote: I can't pretend to understand how pff does this but I'm calling bullshit on Trey's defense against the run. All I have is the eye test, but he often seems like a liability in that department.

Yeah, Trey might of been a touch better in run Defense last year but he is a liability against the run and those ratings seem off.

Mad Maxx is a great run Defender and plays nearly every snap which is very rare.

(03-05-2025, 08:44 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: ...based off the only year of his career that Maxx Crosby has been injured enough to miss games, and playing while needing ankle surgery. 

I'd like to see the numbers from 2023 or 2022 where he averaged playing over 1,080 snaps and averaged 89.5 tackles, 22.5 tackles, and <4% missed tackles.

Trey is a great pass rusher and we need to extend him, but that's a bit of a silly comparison and it's okay to accept he's less of a complete player than Crosby. Hendrickson is already puking on the sidelines playing 65-70% of the snaps. There's zero chance he gets as many sacks as he has been getting if he has to play an extra 300-400 snaps a year against the run like Crosby does.

Completely agree. We will see if we get a deal done for Trey. 35 mil per year seems steep to me for a guy who cannot stop the run well
or play 70% of the snaps though. Cannot disagree that we need to extend him over an oft injured Tee, but this is a deep DL class and it 
is a weak WR class, just a fact.

(03-06-2025, 03:04 PM)cinci4life Wrote: 49ers are going to release DT Javon Hargrave. Another option to consider?

Would like Hargrave for sure, he is healthy now as well from what I heard.

[*rfaulk34*]

(03-06-2025, 09:52 AM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Joey Bosa just got released. Could sign him right now if we wanted. I think he's slightly younger than Trey.

But if Trey expects like $35-40 million a year...I don't think we should do that.

Just say no to Bosa. And drugs. Say no to drugs too. Not you specifically. Just in general. 

[SunsetBengal]

(03-05-2025, 07:34 PM)jason Wrote: I mean Crosby is younger and a better all around DE...

Still, that's a lot of money to have tied up in your front four, when you consider the $112M they dumped into Christian Wilkins last year.

[c766]

Technically the Bengals do have Chase, Trey and Higgins all under contract for 2025.

So I guess thats positive?

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(03-06-2025, 04:39 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Still, that's a lot of money to have tied up in your front four, when you consider the $112M they dumped into Christian Wilkins last year.

Now there's the guy who got overpaid.

I guess it matters less for the Raiders, though. It's not like they're paying a franchise QB or a big money WR right now.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(03-05-2025, 08:06 PM)Bengalbug Wrote: It does happen.  But hindsight is 20/20.  I feel like if Trey stays mostly healthy, he is a 10+ sack/year guy for the next 3 years.

Cameron Wake could be a good example.  He was older when he started, but he didn’t have all the snaps in his early 20s, much like Trey.  In his age 33-35 seasons wake had 7 sacks (in 7 games), 11.5 and 10.5.  

It’s likely a decline is going to happen, but I imagine Trey will still be a very valuable piece of a puzzle for some team (bengals or others), over the next 3 ish years.

Agreed. I want Trey here honestly, I am just preparing myself for him maybe being traded if he doesn't like the offer. If the FO really 
offered Trey 32 mil per year he should of taken it. 35 mil per year seems steep to me but it isn't my dough. Trey will be a damn good 
pass rusher for another 3 years I am sure. He has great hand fighting skills and as situational pass rusher he could stay elite for all we
know. He sure hasn't shown any fall off yet, at all.

But I like Josh Sweat if we do trade Trey, he will be cheaper and is a better run stopper than Trey.

[*jason*]

(03-06-2025, 04:39 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Still, that's a lot of money to have tied up in your front four, when you consider the $112M they dumped into Christian Wilkins last year.

That's why they're the Raiders... They can move to whatever city they choose. They're just spending money and spinning wheels til they get that QB.

[samhain]

I'd like them to land a guard and 2 DL. Maybe 3 if Trey gets dealt.

Mekari is the OL I want the most. Zeitler is another decent option, but age will catch up with him at some point.

The DL needs better players and lots of them. Koonce is a good option, but I don't think he'll be as affordable as some think. Poona Ford would thrive in the North and I'd prefer it be in Stripes. I hear a lot of the podcasters throwing out Levi Onwuzurike's name. Maybe could be had for 10-12 mil per? To be really honest, if they lose 91, I want them swimming in the big kids pool. No reason Milton Williams or Sweat for that matter shouldn't be on the table.

[Joelist]

Get ready as the lack of cash results in our signing zero A or high B list Free Agents. If they have to let Trey seek a trade then the cash situation is pretty slim.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(03-06-2025, 06:40 PM)samhain Wrote: I'd like them to land a guard and 2 DL.  Maybe 3 if Trey gets dealt.

Mekari is the OL I want the most.  Zeitler is another decent option, but age will catch up with him at some point.  

The DL needs better players and lots of them.  Koonce is a good option, but I don't think he'll be as affordable as some think.  Poona Ford would thrive in the North and I'd prefer it be in Stripes.  I hear a lot of the podcasters throwing out Levi Onwuzurike's name.  Maybe could be had for 10-12 mil per?  To be really honest, if they lose 91, I want them swimming in the big kids pool.  No reason Milton Williams or Sweat for that matter shouldn't be on the table.

Yeah, would love Poona Ford in stripes. Liked this guy when he was on the Longhorns and wanted him in FA just lately before he got 
real good in the NFL last year. Becton, Fries, Daniels, Tevin Jenkins all seem likely players for us to add. Thinking Zeit and Scherff are a 
touch old as you note.

Onwuzurike would be nice or Milton Williams if BJ Hill leaves.

Sweat for sure at End, he will be cheaper than Trey and he is younger with upside.

[Clark W Griswold]

(03-06-2025, 04:47 PM)c766 Wrote: Technically the Bengals do have Chase, Trey and Higgins all under contract for 2025.

So I guess thats positive?

Under contract?
Yes

Will any of those 3 play under their current contract in 2025?
I don't think so



They have to sign the guys they want to keep because they can’t have another hold in by Chase (and Tee would probably join him this year).
No way Trey is playing under his current contract. I can see him holding out Palmer-style if he has to.

[cinci4life]

Jags cleaning house. First Kirk was traded to Texans and now they are releasing Even Engram and Devin Duvernay.

[Frank Booth]

(03-06-2025, 08:05 PM)cinci4life Wrote: Jags cleaning house. First Kirk was traded to Texans and now they are releasing Even Engram and Devin Duvernay.

Engram is a very good and underrated receiving TE. But alas, he will be 31 when next season starts

[Housh]

(03-06-2025, 04:47 PM)c766 Wrote: Technically the Bengals do have Chase, Trey and Higgins all under contract for 2025.

So I guess thats positive?

Chase ain’t playing without a deal

He almost crashed out last year 2 years out from his out date


1 year out it would almost be dumb for him to play

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(03-06-2025, 08:15 PM)Frank Booth Wrote: Engram is a very good and underrated receiving TE. But alas, he will be 31 when next season starts

Just 1 year older than Gesicki. 

I'm admittedly a little curious as to how Engram would do with a real QB even though it may be a bit late to find out now. Late-30s Eli Manning, Geno Smith, Daniel Jones, Colt McCoy, Jake Fromm, Mike Glennon, Trevor Lawrence, CJ Beathard, and Mac Jones are the QB's who have started for him in his career.

I do still lean towards getting a younger TE who can be the solution for 3-5 years, though, rather than just keeping the rotating door.

[Bilbo Saggins]

I wonder what sort of comp pick they might get if Higgins were to play out his last year on the tag and get signed elsewhere after the season. They could maybe pull something where they try to get a lot of cash out the door this year and they go in knowing that Tee will test free agency and probably get a bag next year. It'd be a shame, it'd sort of be doing him dirty, but I think that might be the direction that I'd lean with this FA period. Try to lock down Chase and Hendrickson. See if Tee can be persuaded into signing for something reasonable. 

Beyond comp picks the other curveball is guaranteed money. The only way to get these guys to sign for less APY would be to offer a higher percentage guaranteed. I'd be offering Chase multiple options based on the Jefferson deal plus 9% inflation. I'd tell him he can have more APY but it'll cost an extra year of his rights. I'd tell him he can have the same APY x 1.09 with a slightly higher guaranteed %. Or he can have a substantially higher % guaranteed for the same contract with less than 9% inflation. If he just won't sign anything along those lines...yikes.  Hendrickson I don't know. There isn't a cookie cutter template like the Jefferson deal to go off of. I stand by my assessment from last year: Trey Hendrickson is currently the second most important player on the team in terms of value over replacement. 

[Bengalbug]

(03-06-2025, 08:27 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Just 1 year older than Gesicki. 

I'm admittedly a little curious as to how Engram would do with a real QB even though it may be a bit late to find out now. Late-30s Eli Manning, Geno Smith, Daniel Jones, Colt McCoy, Jake Fromm, Mike Glennon, Trevor Lawrence, CJ Beathard, and Mac Jones are the QB's who have started for him in his career.

I do still lean towards getting a younger TE who can be the solution for 3-5 years, though, rather than just keeping the rotating door.

I’d imagine he would be around a 60 catch, 700 yard and 5 TD guy. This is based on his previous season highs, excluding 2023 where he saw a ridiculous target share, which he would not see here as the likely 3rd option.

Engram and Mike G are similar from a pass catching standpoint.

[Bengalbug]

(03-06-2025, 09:20 PM)Bilbo Saggins Wrote: I wonder what sort of comp pick they might get if Higgins were to play out his last year on the tag and get signed elsewhere after the season. They could maybe pull something where they try to get a lot of cash out the door this year and they go in knowing that Tee will test free agency and probably get a bag next year. It'd be a shame, it'd sort of be doing him dirty, but I think that might be the direction that I'd lean with this FA period. Try to lock down Chase and Hendrickson. See if Tee can be persuaded into signing for something reasonable. 

Beyond comp picks the other curveball is guaranteed money. The only way to get these guys to sign for less APY would be to offer a higher percentage guaranteed. I'd be offering Chase multiple options based on the Jefferson deal plus 9% inflation. I'd tell him he can have more APY but it'll cost an extra year of his rights. I'd tell him he can have the same APY x 1.09 with a slightly higher guaranteed %. Or he can have a substantially higher % guaranteed for the same contract with less than 9% inflation. If he just won't sign anything along those lines...yikes.  Hendrickson I don't know. There isn't a cookie cutter template like the Jefferson deal to go off of. I stand by my assessment from last year: Trey Hendrickson is currently the second most important player on the team in terms of value over replacement. 

Unless the bengals signed a tier 1 FA, most likely a 3rd.
Same for Trey Hendrickson.

[lone bengal]

If Trey is traded then we should have more money to spread around in FA. On offense they should sign a high level starter at guard along with bringing back Cody Ford and Mike Gesicki. On defense I’d be looking to sign both Chase Young and Pona Ford think they can be had at reasonable deals then add a starter at linebacker opposite Wilson and a possibly a safety. Hopefully you can get something out of Jenkins, Jackson and Murphy along with the FA ‘s and drafting DL early in a good D-line draft. I’m just rolling with the CB’s we have got to many high picks invested there need to see how it shakes out.