$125 million for 3 Players

[QueenCity]

(03-16-2025, 01:17 PM)007BengalsFan Wrote: The Bengals would have the highest paid offense in the NFL.  Right now they are #2.  They need to play like it.  There is absolutely no excuses if they go into the season and have a game like New England where they score just 10 points and we miss the playoffs because of it.  No excuse for Burrow to fumble the ball and have it returned for a TD and we lose the game.  Dont count on your #22 paid defense to win games for you.  These guys on offense want to reset the market and be paid so much more disproportional to the defense?  Offense needs to carry this team every game.  Dont blame the defense

Tend to agree... if the offense came out ready last season they easily make the playoffs. Defense got better towards the end of the season.

[THE PISTONS]

(03-16-2025, 04:11 PM)J24 Wrote: You are always going to have to draft well to win a championship.

Unfortunately for us...

[Atomic Orange]

(03-16-2025, 04:18 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Don't worry, they CERTAINLY won't pass on the cost to the fans with jacked up ticket, merch, and tv/streaming subscription costs. 

My last NFL merchandise purchase was our AFC Championship gear and I get the games for free locally. The truth is I am not as invested in this new NFL era. If the Bengals moved I'd probably stop watching altogether. I prefer everything up until 2016 when Burfict put a nail in the "old NFL" for good.

[THE PISTONS]

For the Eagles, Hurts cap hit was around $22 million, AJ Brown $17.5 million, Smith around 7 million. He did sign a 3 year, $75 million extension that hasn't kicked in yet.

Burrow is going to be $55 million soon, Chase $40 million, Higgins $30 million.

For last season, with Tee on the franchise tag we already had the highest paid write tandem in nfl.

[Luvnit2]

(03-16-2025, 12:55 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: IF these extensions for Chase and Higgins happen, we'll have $125 million in 3 offensive players.

That's new ground in the NFL by far.

It's going to put a premium on drafting.

What are your thoughts on team building?

If it were true, it would be an issue. Don't fall into the maximum per year averages,as they are never a true reflection on actaul cap space.


In 2025 if Chase is entended, his cap hit of 21.6 million likely goes down to around 10 million even those his overall contract is for 40+ million per year. Chase's cap hit in 2026 will likely be around 16 million maximum.

Higgins may get 30 million per year or 120 million. But look closely at the cash guarantee. He has an injury history. My guess is his guarantee has a max value of 60%. If so, his cap is based off of 72 million and not 120 million.
Tee is slated to count 26.2 million against the 2025 cap. His cap number will also lower in 2025 to likely no more than 15 million and 2026 to nor more than 22 million.

To recap we gain cap space in 2025 by signing Chase and Tee to long term deals.
2025 cap after deals for Chase and Tee
Chase - 10 million + Tee 15 million + Burrow 46 million = 71 million, a far cry from 125 million. That number will not be hit for years and over those years the cap will go up.

This does not include restructuring Burrow. In 2025, we would have an additional 22 million in cap to spend on fixing the trenches.

[PDub80]

Bengals are looking to be the Phoenix Suns of the 2000s

[*rfaulk34*]

(03-16-2025, 05:29 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: If it were true, it would be an issue. Don't fall into the maximum per year averages,as they are never a true reflection on actaul cap space.


In 2025 if Chase is entended, his cap hit of 21.6 million likely goes down to around 10 million even those his overall contract is for 40+ million per year. Chase's cap hit in 2026 will likely be around 16 million maximum.

Higgins may get 30 million per year or 120 million. But look closely at the cash guarantee. He has an injury history. My guess is his guarantee has a max value of 60%. If so, his cap is based off of 72 million and not 120 million.
Tee is slated to count 26.2 million against the 2025 cap. His cap number will also lower in 2025 to likely no more than 15 million and 2026 to nor more than 22 million.

To recap we gain cap space in 2025 by signing Chase and Tee to long term deals.
2025 cap after deals for Chase and Tee
Chase - 10 million + Tee 15 million + Burrow 46 million = 71 million, a far cry from 125 million. That number will not be hit for years and over those years the cap will go up.

This does not include restructuring Burrow. In 2025, we would have an additional 22 million in cap to spend on fixing the trenches.

I think a possible reason we haven't seen a Burrow restructure yet is because they're going to wait a year or two until Chase and Tee's base salary goes up, then they can redo Burrow and get a lower cap number for a couple more years. 

Burrow's cap hit is only 46 and 48M for the next 2 years before it goes over 50. That's about the time the WRs bigger money will start to kick in. 

Drop Burrow down to 19 and 29M for '27 and '28 and the WR hits will be easier to stomach.

[sandwedge]

(03-16-2025, 06:14 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: I think a possible reason we haven't seen a Burrow restructure yet is because they're going to wait a year or two until Chase and Tee's base salary goes up, then they can redo Burrow and get a lower cap number for a couple more years. 

Burrow's cap hit is only 46 and 48M for the next 2 years before it goes over 50. That's about the time the WRs bigger money will start to kick in. 

Drop Burrow down to 19 and 29M for '27 and '28 and the WR hits will be easier to stomach.

These 2nd contracts will also be expiring when these players are hitting 30. Maybe a 3rd contract won't be so expensive.

[THE PISTONS]

(03-16-2025, 06:33 PM)sandwedge Wrote: These 2nd contracts will also be expiring when these players are hitting 30. Maybe a 3rd contract won't be so expensive.

A lot of wrs are done producing at a high level at that age. AJ Green basically was when his rookie contract expired.

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(03-16-2025, 08:15 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: A lot of wrs are done producing at a high level at that age. AJ Green basically was when his rookie contract expired.

AJ Green 3 years after rookie contract (age 28-30): 35 games/2,736 yards
Tee Higgins last 3 years: 40 games/2,596 yards

[CJD]

Here's the deal.

Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase are givens. Every team in the entire league would sign these two players to whatever contract was required. In this case, they could have probably gotten Chase done for 36 or 37M AAV last year. Now they'll probably need to do 40.5 or 41M AAV. It's a shame and a waste of money, but not catastrophic in terms of building teams.

So that's 96 million of that 125 million is already pretty much set in stone.

Higgins is really the only player that is controversial.

Early reports are that Chase and Higgins, combined, are approximately 70M AAV. We don't know the exact split of that or how close to 70M it is, but let's just assume it's 29M for Higgins, 41 for Chase.

The top defensive free agent in this year's free agent class was Milton Williams, who signed a 4 year 104M contract with the Patriots. That's 26M AAV. So, in order for us to get him, we'd probably have to pay him 27M AAV. And that's assuming New England was topped out. It could have easily gone up to 28 or 29M AAV if we were fighting NE for his services.

Milton Williams is a good player. He is considered a quality pass rusher from the defensive tackle position, with a 90.4 PFF grade, second in the NFL behind only Chris Jones.

He also is a horrendous run stopper, with a 43.1 PFF grade against the run. Combined, his overall grade is 70.1, which is good for 31st among defensive tackles.

He was also surrounded by the most talented defensive line in the entire NFL, with Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham, and Nolan Smith all creating a fantastic rotation of pass rushing talent that allowed Milton Williams to thrive.

I think most NFL analysts and fans would have nodded in approval if, instead of signing Higgins to 29M AAV, we signed Williams to 29M AAV.

But we know Higgins works here. We've seen it. In 2024, he was the 5th rated WR per PFF in the entire NFL.

We have no idea how Williams would acclimate to this defense. We already know he's a bit niche given his bad run defense. So we'd be relying on him meshing with Hendrickson (if we even keep him) and becoming a super star defensive tackle for the length of his contract. It could very easily blow up in our faces.

I think there's merit in questioning whether it is ideal that we have so much money wrapped up in 2 WRs and a QB. But the problem is we can't rewind time and draft different players or change who our free agents are.

With the state of the team and the status of this free agency period, I don't think any player improved our team more than Higgins on the free agent market. Signing him was the best choice among the choices we were given in this off season.

And I'm glad the Bengals FINALLY did it... If only they did it two years ago.

[phil413]

(03-16-2025, 12:55 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: IF these extensions for Chase and Higgins happen, we'll have $125 million in 3 offensive players.

That's new ground in the NFL by far.

It's going to put a premium on drafting.

What are your thoughts on team building?

The most important part of building the team is keeping Burrow & then Chase.  90% of sane fans would trade Tee for a good defender in a heartbeat.  Tee seems like a package deal to keep them happy, so I'm happy to be built "wrong" in order to be built with Burrow and Chase, especially with nobody else worth paying short term and the downside of overpaying FA. 

So, you build by hitting on drafts as others have mentioned.  You take BPA leaning even more on need now, but if enough guarantees are back loaded or Burrow restructures then you land the Guard you need before the draft.  Then hopefully you get a pass rusher in RD 1 or 2, maybe another guard or they sign a leftover or vet yet to be cut. 

[2MinutesHate]

This will be a painful lesson in not giving your QB the opportunity to dictate personnel wants and needs out in the open.

Joe did us no favors by going public with his desires.

[Frank Booth]

Yea it’s not ideal but what can you do

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

Using APY salaries to figure it is not accurate. Or likely will not be, depending on the structure.

I had trouble believing it at first, but Chase's cap hit will likely come DOWN significantly for the first two years compared to the $21 it was gonna be this year. Jefferson's did. Ditto for Tee.

These moves will open up cap space, not cost it. At least in the short term. By year 3, the cap will have gone up another $30/$40 mil. And you can always resteucture.

It can ne a cash problem mire than a cap problem, especially for Brown. But the shared distribition the NFL gives each team was well over $400 mil a couple years back when the cap was $225. I'll eat my hat it it isn't $450-$475 now, if not $500 mil. And that is before team specific revenue.

Also, remember, we don't really have anyone outside our Big 4 making big money, ir looking like they deserve big money anytime soon. OBJ is locked up. Mims too for 3 more years, 4 when we exercise the option. Pratt & Stone likely come OFF the books after this year. Karras is not a big money guy even if he stays. Ditto Logan Wilson.

But Trey is the other side of 30 and so is Burrow. Chase & Tee are prime. If thos isn't the time to push all your chils in, IDK what is. Maximize the next 2-3 years. Period.

[BenZoo2]

Well look at the bright side (ahem) and all the money the bengals have saved by not having to extend some of their recent first round picks. Here are the last 10 as a reminder.
Cedric o
W Jackson
Ross
Price
Burrow, extended
Chase, soon to be
Hill, highly doubtful, at least picking up his option.
Murphy, see hill
Mins, here’s to hoping

[Essex Johnson]

(03-16-2025, 12:58 PM)Whacked Wrote: My take on the 800-pound gorilla in the room

Maybe I’m being a negative-Nancy here but …

Let’s say we pay all this money to keep Trey and Tee and break the bank on Chase. Awesome. They deserve it. I hope we keep them all!

That said, some on this board will consider these extensions as the be-all-end-all and label this as a successful off-season.

Problem. We had all 3 last year….lol

Unless and until we make some BIG splashes on D…. why would it make sense to expect any discernible change in our record….let alone, an increase in our chance of getting to the SB?

Also, keep in mind, JB, Chase and Trey — all had their best seasons. So at the very least, we “need” them to repeat this, just to hope we get in the playoffs!  Clearly it wasn’t enough last year. That alone is a big ask as all 3 lit it up.  

Anyone else concerned that our desperate need for a revamped D is not on the priority list?

JB had a prolific season with a mediocre OLINE so as much as I’d love to see them address too, he managed just fine. Yes, not exactly wise to risk his head getting ripped off but there is only so much loot Mikey will spend as we know.

The line was better than previous years but avg. at best but thar is problem the norm with all $$ invested in burrow chase higgins you have pretry much cancelled a solid line for now .and with talent plus Brown as RB we will score..  but so will opponents

[CottonHill]

lol we are cooked. I knew Jamarr would get his but that much more than Jefferson is idiotic.
Tee is an often injured, under 1,000 yard receiver and we are giving him 30 a year? Are you kidding me? They caved to outside pressure and now we haven’t gotten better at all, and are now spending 125 mill on 3 guys, none of which make the team any better and this hasn’t been a playoff team in 2 years.
I see no path to getting much better now, which we had to do. Oh well, at least those 7 games a year that all 3 play will be fun.The offense still isn’t even the best in the division.

[NotBigzo]

Our defense is gonna be so ass

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(03-17-2025, 12:31 AM)CottonHill Wrote: lol we are cooked. I knew Jamarr would get his but that much more than Jefferson is idiotic.
Tee is an often injured, under 1,000 yard receiver and we are giving him 30 a year? Are you kidding me? They caved to outside pressure and now we haven’t gotten better at all, and are now spending 125 mill on 3 guys, none of which make the team any better and this hasn’t been a playoff team in 2 years.
I see no path to getting much better now, which we had to do. Oh well, at least those 7 games a year that all 3 play will be fun.The offense still isn’t even the best in the division.

(03-17-2025, 01:16 AM)NotBigzo Wrote: Our defense is gonna be so ass

Cry babies that don't believe in coaching or a possible good draft. We drafted Geno Atkins, we can draft other studs with new Defensive coaches.