Offseason according to Crash

[CrashDavisSports]

Cuts

Geno Stone ($1.5 million dead cap) (Gain $6.075 million back)
Sam Hubbard ($2 million dead cap) (Gain $9 million back)
Sheldon Rankins ($2 million dead cap) (Gain $7.45 million back)
Zack Moss ($1.5 million dead cap) (Gain $3.075 million back)
Drew Sample (Gain $2.45 million - no dead cap)
Vonn Bell (Gain $1.21 million - no dead cap)
Jermaine Burton ($800,000 dead cap) (Gain $500,000 back) - Just because I am tired of his ass already.


Don't resign following guys:
BJ Hill, Davis-Gaither, Hudson

Restructure Burrows contract to help sign guys.

Sign Chase (5 years / $180 million - $120 million guaranteed) and Higgins (4 years / 80 million with $35 million guaranteed) to long term deals.

Give Hendrickson a 2 year / $60 million dollar extension with $40 million guaranteed - spread over next 3 years.

Resign Gesicki, (go with Gesicki, All, McLachlan, Grandy)

Resign Hilton and make him a safety.

FREE Agents: DE/EDGE (Malcolm Koonce from Vegas), Safety, LG

Draft #1 - DT from KY - Deone Walker (Between Jenkins, Walker and Jackson that will make one hell of a DT front)

 

[Cincyfan78]

Cuts

Geno Stone ($1.5 million dead cap) (Gain $6.075 million back)
Sam Hubbard ($2 million dead cap) (Gain $9 million back)
Sheldon Rankins ($2 million dead cap) (Gain $7.45 million back)
Zack Moss ($1.5 million dead cap) (Gain $3.075 million back)
Drew Sample (Gain $2.45 million - no dead cap)
Vonn Bell (Gain $1.21 million - no dead cap)
Jermaine Burton ($800,000 dead cap) (Gain $500,000 back) - Just because I am tired of his ass already.


Don't resign following guys:
BJ Hill, Davis-Gaither, Hudson

Restructure Burrows contract to help sign guys.

Sign Chase (5 years / $180 million - $120 million guaranteed) and Higgins (4 years / 80 million with $35 million guaranteed) to long term deals.

Give Hendrickson a 2 year / $60 million dollar extension with $40 million guaranteed - spread over next 3 years.

Resign Gesicki, (go with Gesicki, All, McLachlan, Grandy)

Resign Hilton and make him a safety.

FREE Agents: DE/EDGE (Malcolm Koonce from Vegas), Safety, LG

Draft #1 - DT from KY - Deone Walker (Between Jenkins, Walker and Jackson that will make one hell of a DT front)

Bell is a F/A - no need to cut.

I'd keep Stone, as I'd like to think a new DC can get him back to a solid player. I'm not sure he was a great fit under Lou.

I'd cut Pratt instead.

I'd also look to cut Cappa and Volson. It's time to reshape the IOL. Karras is fine, but I'd also like to see some Lee to see what he can do.

Not sure I'd re-sign Hilton - but at 31, I don't want to move him to safety. I would take a look at CTB there, as he played there in college...and he has ball skills - he needs better DB coaching and better confidence, but I think he'd make a better safety than I do DB - or maybe he's a nickle guy?

I'd look into re-signing Gesicki as well.

Agree that DE is a position of need, both in F/A and in the draft.

Agree on Moss, but I'm keeping Sample. Best blocking TE in the NFL and worth his contract.

NFL may take care of Burton - so - let that play out...lol

Other F/A that may need to be re-signed: Adomitis (LS), Rehkow, Ossai (depth if nothing else), Gaither-Davis (Depth/ST), Kirkland (backup depth had good showings).

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Forgot about Rehkow, he was great. I think Ossai and Murphy would make great rotational backup ends to Hendrickson and Koonce. I think Koonce is about to break out like Hendrickson was when we picked him up. That is why I am interested in him obver others. Could be affordable and ready for a break out. Adomitis wasn't even a question to me, he should be here as long as Harris was.

I am okay with Pratt leaving, but if we did, I wonder how much money Greenlaw would asking for. Greenlaw and Wilson would be a force. How much dead money would we have to deal with on Pratt though, didn't we just sign him to a 4 year deal last year?

I had actually thought of Taylor-Britt at safety as well, but Hilton is just so good at rushing, tackling, good vision, he is just starting to lose a little speed, so not having to cover a slot receiver 1-1 could really help him prolong his career. However, I think Brott would be a good candidate for that too.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Forgot about Rehkow, he was great. I think Ossai and Murphy would make great rotational backup ends to Hendrickson and Koonce. I think Koonce is about to break out like Hendrickson was when we picked him up. That is why I am interested in him obver others. Could be affordable and ready for a break out. Adomitis wasn't even a question to me, he should be here as long as Harris was.

I am okay with Pratt leaving, but if we did, I wonder how much money Greenlaw would asking for. Greenlaw and Wilson would be a force. How much dead money would we have to deal with on Pratt though, didn't we just sign him to a 4 year deal last year?

I had actually thought of Taylor-Britt at safety as well, but Hilton is just so good at rushing, tackling, good vision, he is just starting to lose a little speed, so not having to cover a slot receiver 1-1 could really help him prolong his career. However, I think Brott would be a good candidate for that too.

According to over the cap if you cut Pratt, you have roughly $2M in dead money, and free up roughly $5M.

You can go here and play around with this - I've done some "extensions" and signed 1 F/A (Sweat at DE to a pretty solid deal) but the contracting part is kinda rough unless you really know how to breakout the contract - it's a lot of guessing.

Cincinnati Bengals Salary Cap Calculator | Over The Cap

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But it works great for just cutting guys as you can see where the cap ends up.

If you just went off cutting guys (no re-signs, extensions, free-agents)...

Bengals have $57.5M in cap space.

Cuts: Rankins, Hubbard, Cappa, Pratt, Moss. That alone moves the cap space to $93.6M. You could add Volson, as I think he's been terrible, but the savings is only about 1M-1.5M...but you get the gist. Bengals with those moves not only get younger, more athletic (I hope), but they also save a TON of money...roughly $36M.

That is more than enough to sign Chase. Re-sign Higgins. Extend Hendo. Add a guy like you said at DE and re-sign some of the veteran depth pieces that you need. That's all without any real need for trying to adjust other contracts (re: Burrow). All they really need is to get through 2025, because currently they look to have $170M in cap in 2026, and over 230M in 2027...now that will OBVIOUSLY change, but what it means is - you can push some of that money in contracts off and take big hits in year 2/3 of extensions or re-signs...or back-load a 2 year extension to someone like Hendo.

Bengals are in a good spot - but they need to start playing the cap game a bit more aggressively - not to a faulty point where they are hurt in 2-3 years, but certainly a bit more in order to truly keep some of these guys around AND surround them with some talent.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

According to over the cap if you cut Pratt, you have roughly $2M in dead money, and free up roughly $5M.

You can go here and play around with this - I've done some "extensions" and signed 1 F/A (Sweat at DE to a pretty solid deal) but the contracting part is kinda rough unless you really know how to breakout the contract - it's a lot of guessing.

Cincinnati Bengals Salary Cap Calculator | Over The Cap

Become the fantasy general manager for the Cincinnati Bengals using the OTC salary cap calculator and roster management system

overthecap.com

But it works great for just cutting guys as you can see where the cap ends up.

If you just went off cutting guys (no re-signs, extensions, free-agents)...

Bengals have $57.5M in cap space.

Cuts: Rankins, Hubbard, Cappa, Pratt, Moss. That alone moves the cap space to $93.6M. You could add Volson, as I think he's been terrible, but the savings is only about 1M-1.5M...but you get the gist. Bengals with those moves not only get younger, more athletic (I hope), but they also save a TON of money...roughly $36M.

That is more than enough to sign Chase. Re-sign Higgins. Extend Hendo. Add a guy like you said at DE and re-sign some of the veteran depth pieces that you need. That's all without any real need for trying to adjust other contracts (re: Burrow). All they really need is to get through 2025, because currently they look to have $170M in cap in 2026, and over 230M in 2027...now that will OBVIOUSLY change, but what it means is - you can push some of that money in contracts off and take big hits in year 2/3 of extensions or re-signs...or back-load a 2 year extension to someone like Hendo.

Bengals are in a good spot - but they need to start playing the cap game a bit more aggressively - not to a faulty point where they are hurt in 2-3 years, but certainly a bit more in order to truly keep some of these guys around AND surround them with some talent.

Agreed. I just think it is important to keep your 5 top players. In our case, I guess those top 5 players would be:

Burrow, Chase, Higgins, Hendrickson, Brown Jr.

I am not sure I agree with cutting Cappa, as I would let him play on his final year as he is a bargain right now and you can't deplete that much on t he line in one year. Definitely Volson, work Lee into the lineup a bit to see what he has even if that means playing LG a little to get a taste of NFL defensive fronts coming at him. As a natural center, he should be able to communicate well with Brown and Karras and be used to be stuck between two guys on the line.

 

[cincygrad]

Agreed. I just think it is important to keep your 5 top players. In our case, I guess those top 5 players would be:

Burrow, Chase, Higgins, Hendrickson, Brown Jr.

I am not sure I agree with cutting Cappa, as I would let him play on his final year as he is a bargain right now and you can't deplete that much on t he line in one year. Definitely Volson, work Lee into the lineup a bit to see what he has even if that means playing LG a little to get a taste of NFL defensive fronts coming at him. As a natural center, he should be able to communicate well with Brown and Karras and be used to be stuck between two guys on the line.

I'd get rid of Cappa - His pass blocking numbers are so bad that it's hard to justify keeping him. He might be more serviceable on a team that runs it more. I think the Bengals need to invest in at least one guard in free agency. I'd also draft one in the first 3 rounds. Bring back Ford for his flexibility. Evaluate Lee. But, this will also have a lot to do with whoever takes over as line coach, so stay tuned.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Agreed. I just think it is important to keep your 5 top players. In our case, I guess those top 5 players would be:

Burrow, Chase, Higgins, Hendrickson, Brown Jr.

I am not sure I agree with cutting Cappa, as I would let him play on his final year as he is a bargain right now and you can't deplete that much on t he line in one year. Definitely Volson, work Lee into the lineup a bit to see what he has even if that means playing LG a little to get a taste of NFL defensive fronts coming at him. As a natural center, he should be able to communicate well with Brown and Karras and be used to be stuck between two guys on the line.

I can get on board with that. However, I think I would have Lee at C, and move Karras to LG...Fine on keeping Cappa, but you still have to bring in another IOL somewhere. He REALLY struggled this year.

Need to identify guys that fit this offensive approach a bit better, and need to find an OL coach that knows how to scheme up the blocking to improve the run game.

Regardless, though - Taylor needs to really re-evaluate how they approach short yardage because without big boys in the middle with true strength - this team is not very good at the POA in any way. If they are going to lean more into pass-pro, that is fine, but then you also can't have guys giving up 40+ sacks a year. Just can't happen.

 

[Cincyfan78]

I find this quote to be interesting, and supporting the idea that Taylor seems to think the early season stuff isn't nearly as important as the late season stuff.

While I agree, you want to be playing your best ball at the end of the year - and the Bengals have done that under Taylor - you simply cannot rely on going on 7-8-9+ game win streaks to dig out of early season holes. Things happen, the ball doesn't bounce your way, etc...

In short - I read this as "The early season fire isn't quite there like it is for the middle/end of season fire"

x.com

x.com

 

[cincygrad]

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Wow. Holy shit! Jackson Carmen could have done as well.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Wow. Holy shit! Jackson Carmen could have done as well.

Yeah - when you watch him play - it was bad. I had seen some PFF grades, and knew it was really bad. At one point Cappa was rated something like 63rd of 67 IOL, and Volson was like 66th...LOL
.
I think maybe a part of the problem has been a lack of direction. Seems like guys like Volson and maybe Cappa would be better served on a team with a power running game. They were good signings at the time, but really - they don't fit the direction of the offense. They need to find guys that can be strong enough in the run game, sure, but ultimately - they need to be in the top tier of pass-protectors with Burrow leading as QB.

I think what we've seen are the results of mixed approach. Thus, we don't really run block super well as LT/RT and mostly C are geared towards passing sets, and LG/RG are geared towards running sets. So, we end up not running it well, and not pass-protecting well. The worst of both worlds...

 

[cincygrad]

Wow. Holy shit! Jackson Carmen could have done as well.

Yeah. About the only thing you can say in Capp's favor is that he doesn't jump offsides much - Something Carmen had some issues with. Regardless, the guy has had a nice career, but given that he was very limited athletically any slippage with age, wear and tear will be significant. I think that's where he is at this point. Seems like he got banged up last season and never really made it back to form.

 

[Cincyfan78]

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A couple of thoughts:

1 - Bengals need to find a guy and pay him from this list
2 - I am not opposed to looking at a C (especially a younger one) if that means Karras moves to LG/RG, but I do want to see Lee
3 - I am not usually on board with such a move - but 1 year deal for Zeitler would be...probably pretty good in my book. Would still hedge on his age/availability as he is older - but you simply cannot deny the guy is simply ageless at this point. If he wants to play, I think he would bring in a lot of really good experience...especially at RG next to Mims, and maybe next to Lee at C......

Bengals still need a round 1-3 IOL...likely not round 1, so round 2-3. They have to stop looking for these diamond in the rough guys and just land someone from a big time conference that has some juice. I know the last time they did that was the C from OSU, Price, who failed...but those things happen. Give me a guy from Georgia, Alabama, LSU, etc...


Most importantly - figure out what it is you want this OL to be able to do....zone, gap, pass, run...whatever it is...you have to have an area of true strength. I'd say I'd lean to zone/Pass - but really the 1st thing this OL has to do is keep Burrow upright.

Also - A thought I had when Mims was drafted...I could see him at LT...Maybe a chance at some point to flip Brown/Mims as Brown ages and slows, and Mims is young and growing.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Bengals defense was 27th pass-rush, per PFF - with the NFL sack leader...

Let that sink in for a moment....

 

[CrashDavisSports]

NFL Free Agent Rankings

NFL free agent rankings with analysis, projected salaries, PFF grades and PFF WAR.

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A couple of thoughts:

1 - Bengals need to find a guy and pay him from this list
2 - I am not opposed to looking at a C (especially a younger one) if that means Karras moves to LG/RG, but I do want to see Lee
3 - I am not usually on board with such a move - but 1 year deal for Zeitler would be...probably pretty good in my book. Would still hedge on his age/availability as he is older - but you simply cannot deny the guy is simply ageless at this point. If he wants to play, I think he would bring in a lot of really good experience...especially at RG next to Mims, and maybe next to Lee at C......

Bengals still need a round 1-3 IOL...likely not round 1, so round 2-3. They have to stop looking for these diamond in the rough guys and just land someone from a big time conference that has some juice. I know the last time they did that was the C from OSU, Price, who failed...but those things happen. Give me a guy from Georgia, Alabama, LSU, etc...


Most importantly - figure out what it is you want this OL to be able to do....zone, gap, pass, run...whatever it is...you have to have an area of true strength. I'd say I'd lean to zone/Pass - but really the 1st thing this OL has to do is keep Burrow upright.

Also - A thought I had when Mims was drafted...I could see him at LT...Maybe a chance at some point to flip Brown/Mims as Brown ages and slows, and Mims is young and growing.

What about a guy like Fries from Indianapolis to replace Cappa?

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Bengals defense was 27th pass-rush, per PFF - with the NFL sack leader...

Let that sink in for a moment....

Hendrickson had 17.5 sacks. The rest of the defense had 18ish?

 

[Cincyfan78]

What about a guy like Fries from Indianapolis to replace Cappa?

Could be good. Seems to be a bit more on the run side of things, which can be fine as he was still better in PFF grading in pass-pro than anyone else the Bengals would have at IOL..

That being said - he's also got to be the right fit for whatever scheme it is that is going to be implemented for this offense. You can get a lower tiered guy if you get him in the right system, but conversely, you can hinder a guy by getting him and putting him in the wrong scheme. So, for me - whoever it is they may target - I want the right scheme fit first and foremost. Then the rest will play out.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Hendrickson had 17.5 sacks. The rest of the defense had 18ish?

Hendrickson - 17.5

Rest of team - 18.5

I mean...LOL

 

[DanBengalfan]

I find this quote to be interesting, and supporting the idea that Taylor seems to think the early season stuff isn't nearly as important as the late season stuff.

While I agree, you want to be playing your best ball at the end of the year - and the Bengals have done that under Taylor - you simply cannot rely on going on 7-8-9+ game win streaks to dig out of early season holes. Things happen, the ball doesn't bounce your way, etc...

In short - I read this as "The early season fire isn't quite there like it is for the middle/end of season fire"

x.com

x.com

some of the early season stuff, to be fair, in 2024 was due to injuries and trouble with the front office screwing with contracts.

also trying to force feed certain free agents into starting rolls that they weren't physically capable of.

there was some bad play calling too. also, cutting a lackluster punter and not realizing that he was also the holder. was a complete gaffe.

 

[DanBengalfan]

Burrow: will request a raise, he will contemplate holding out to become the highest paid QB again. prescott is making more money, and that will piss off joe's agent. he will not take less money. yes, it seems out of character, but he's coming off a career year where he had to throw a lot and put up a lot of stats that won't be repeated if we have a defense and/or running game. There will be a trade narrative, and talk about how the Bengals don't appreciate him enough. "poverty franchise" will be used a lot. fans will grow tired of it, pointing out how Mahomes makes less money. At some point during the season, Joe B will get injured because some of the new OL we bring in will be slow and out of shape, our backup QB will play well, and the negative narrative will simply go away as Joe will tell his agent to chill out. Joe's contract will remain the same, but not until we nearly miss the playoffs again due to zac taylor chicanery.

Chase: same. if he is not the highest-paid WR he will NOT be playing for the Bengals. They should have signed him up for 36 million a year to surpass JJ. now, it's going to cost them. Chase will ask to reset the market at 50 million. the Bengals will simply just say "out of your damn mind" and offer him 30 million. Chase will be insulted and ask to be traded. they will settle at 40 million, but not until he misses several weeks of camp and a few games the trade narrative will be a huge distraction." The Bengals will lose the first 2 games of the season, and zac taylor will be blamed.

Higgins: with the investments to keep Burrow and Chase happy, he will likely sign somewhere else. there's always some team willing to spend stupid money. his market value is around 20 million, the Bengals sorely need to rotate some talent in and out at OL and in several defensive positions. you can't win if the other team is allowed to pummel your franchise QB, and you can't win if the other team is allowed to score at will.
y
OL: expect some shakeups at OL. some of the players we brought in to help, have gotten a bit worn out and this division and our schedule exposes a lot of players who might have otherwise looked good. more of the same though. we will bring in players who look poised to help, and they will likely disappoint us. it's a repeating pattern.

Defense: a lot of shakeups, it will help if we can bring in a defensive coordinator with some experience, contacts, and a network of people who believe in him. if we bring back paul geunther I'm going to vomit. Anyway, expect some improvements, but not too much. a lot of dent fixing and slapping lipstick on a pig and drywall hole patching. the defense has nowhere to go but up, we had the worst defense in the NFL until the late season surge. they will sign Hendrickson.

End result: after another slow start, we will return to the playoffs as things will sort themselves out. we will miss higgins, but the development of Jones and Iosivas will surprise many. we will likely also bring in another weapon to replace Burton, Burton will leave via trade and his new team will put him on the right meds and he will do much better, exposing zac taylor once again. Gisecki will continue to play a roll. in the end, we will miss Higgins, but not much. he will be playing for another team but will be injured half the year, so the people who will cry "shoulda signed higgins" will seem kinda stupid when he's on the bench over half the year.

2025 playoffs: we will win our first game, but after that we will be the road warriors once again due to the slow start. The Bengals will dominate the Chiefs or Bills in the afc playoff game or divisional game, but the refs will throw a record high number of flags to push the other team forward. people will protest the fix, but quickly move on.