HoosierCat

Trey doesn’t suck, but he didn’t matter. He put up great individual stats…and the defense was still one of the most horrific in memory. If you ever need evidence that sacks are over rated as a statistic, there it is. As to not bleeding talent, I agree. I’ve loooooong complained about it using exactly that language. But Trey is 30, he’s not a building block for the future, and the d is 100 percent in rebuild mode. To be clear, I would prefer to keep him, even for just one more season. And as volcom said, a real FO gets all these deals done. But if we have to lose one, my preference is Trey.

Like I said a while back, I'm fine with it. I'd like to keep all of the big 3, but if I had my choice Trey is the one I would deal.

Exactly. There are a billion ways to structure contracts so they generate the requisite headlines. Really, I am pretty confident that the top line numbers like AAV and total value aren't the issue. It will be the guarantees and how they are structured. That's what ultimately stymied the deal with Chase last year.

I'd agree that 30 is steep, but if they're going to keep him, that's the number. Re a trade, I doubt anyone is offering a top 50 pick either. But if the "multiple teams" rumor is true then you might be able to get a little more than a better comp pick. New England was supposedly hot for Tee. I'd take their third (69) and fifth (145). Again I'd rather keep him but if they aren't going to bite the bullet on the cost, then take the best offer and fuk the fan tears.

Chatter in my bookface group that a Gesicki deal is done, 2 years, $16 million. Hope it’s true!

And on the Trey Hendrickson comps front... Now Crosby is three years younger, but still. Also holy carp, 91.5 out of 106.5 guaranteed? Crazy.

So it appears things on the Tee front can be best described by that old military acronym, SNAFU. First, we have a report from Ari Meirov, relayed here: At the same time, we have this from The Athletic's Dianna Russini, relayed here: Come on, Katie. Either suck it up and give him his number, or take the best trade offer. What you can't do is neither.

Jaxson Kirkland inked for one year. https://www.bengals.com/news/jaxson-kirkland-contract-extension-2025-bengals-roster-update #CHAMPIONSHIP

Cappa gets 2 years, $11 million from the Raiders. Bad bet by Vegas, I’d say.

So…we are five days out from the effective start of free agency. With Cappa, Rankins and Hubbard resolved, and Tee tagged, the big moves cap-wise have been made. Factoring everything in, the Bengals have $51.8 million in cap space headed into FA. Note that Higgins, Chase and Hendrickson combined count $66 million against the cap right now. So all three could be extended without touching any of that $51.8 million. Should they somehow need more space, Pratt ($5.8 million in potential savings) and Stone ($6.5 million) are the two most obvious possibilities. Just setting the stage before the curtain rises.

Hubbard retires. https://www.bengals.com/news/sam-hubbard-announces-retirement-from-pro-football So long, Sam.

I think Banks will be an attractive option if he’s there at 17. Remember, Brown’s deal is up after next season (2026) and he will be two months shy of 31 when he potentially hits FA in March 2027. And we all know how the Bengals feel about giving big money deals to guys over 30. They could draft Banks, put him at LG where he should be an instant upgrade over Volson, then move him to LT in 2027 and still have 3 years left on his rookie deal.

Joe’s first mock. https://youtu.be/GEPy5BMceKo?si=ZCFazfNYe_v6PAgu Pearce, Starks, Ratledge 1-2-3. I’ll take that.

I would guess the signing bonus is included in that 58 guaranteed. Still big tho. Apparently the second highest guaranteed amount for a d lineman.

Schefter: Cowboys and DT Osa Odighizuwa reached agreement today on a four-year, $80 million deal that includes $58 million guaranteed and a $20 million signing bonus. Odighizuwa’s agent Sam Leaf Ireifej negotiated and confirmed the deal.

My bookface group passed along a report sourced to something called @uSTADIUM that the Bengals are trying trade Hubbard and will release him if there are no takers. I have no idea if the source is credible but this scenario wouldn’t be surprising.

Tee officially tagged.

“New opportunities always present themselves.” (Thanks emoji) — Mike Hilton tweet today. I pretty much figured he was gone after Golden’s comments about moving Dax to the slot, where he played in college.

Cappa released.

Jets trying to trade Davante Adams, will reportedly cut him loose if they can’t find a partner.

Wilson’s post-Combine mock over at cbs goes with Loveland at 17. Talent is there but I’m not a huge fan of a first round TE this year. But I can see it if they don’t get Mike G back. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2025-nfl-mock-draft-giants-pass-on-quarterback-jets-replace-davante-adams-in-post-combine-edition/ Texans get Nolen so Army will be happy.

If they can’t get Tee extended I would entertain both scenarios.

Chase is going to get a giant SB. If you are the Bengals you are going to wait as long as possible before you give him that money because right now it’s sitting in your account earning interest. I doubt Chase is extended until August at the soonest.

Dehner predicts that Tee is extended by the 12th. https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/3/2/24375520/bengals-insider-tee-higgins-contract-extension-nfl-free-agency

Joe plugs the DE and LB numbers into the spreadsheet. https://youtu.be/YBTmSglfP8c?si=QXCRvz7Ev1fMODN0