Higgins for one year makes sense. But when we’re paying our number 1 top of the market money, it makes sense to do everything we can to get our number 2 guy playing on a price controlled rookie contract. Especially since after next season Burrow’s cap hit gets real.
Let’s assume going all in for a championship next season is the philosophy that drives their decision making in the draft and FA. And I assume that is the case, just makes sense with Burrow in his prime and with a decent cap number. In that case you play Higgins.
But if all in for a championship isn’t their philosophy, what then? Tag him and look for a trade partner. Presumably his agent would be involved because he’d be getting a new deal once he was traded. He already called out the Titans as a good landing spot. Do teams even do the oft-referenced tag and trade anymore? And what would Higgins value be?
I foresee Higgins playing, Jonah Williams gone in a huff, and we sign a good free agent to play right tackle. Volson gets pressured via either the draft or a mid level free agent who, if he doesn’t take Volson’s job, is versatile enough to be depth at more than one spot.
Our defense will be improved. We had a lot of young guys just getting up to speed. I think the bengals, rightfully, expect big jumps from DJ Turner, DJ Ivey, and Myles Murphy. Dax Hill could get a lot better, Battle is good.
Also I’m sure the Bengals have an ad on Indeed.com looking for a new punter. Our guy from Michigan had better show up with a new leg or he’s going to get beat out.