2025 FA Thread: Rehkow 2y/2m | Rankins, Cappa Cut | Higgins Tagged | Hubbard Retires | Gesicki 3y/25.5m | Hill 3y/33m | Perine 2y/3.8m | Slayton 2y/15m | Ossai 1y/7m | Burks 2y/5m | Sample ?/?

[AMPHAR]

14 minutes ago, volcom69 said:

Some teams try to get better, and make good moves, and the Bengals continue to be the Bengals. It’s really sad at this point, just sign the three players that need signed and hopefully a few decent guys and I’ll be happy. 

Chiefs did it to be within cap rules.  They've already lost a couple starters.   Bengals are under the cap and there's no need to restructure at this time and at the current time have lost 0 of the big 3.

Although Hendrickson is probably going I would assume.  Colts insider says they are talking to him along with 2 other teams. 

 

[COB]

The colts?  But wait, there’s no place Trey would rather be than right here in Cincinnati!  Gosh!  Shucks!  

[HoosierCat]

49 minutes ago, COB said:

The Chiefs restructure two contracts, Mahomes and Chris Jones.  They get 50 million in cap space.  
 

The Bengals?  Burrow literally offers his contract up for a restructure, trying to improve the team.  The Brown family’s response?  Just silence.  

I mean, sure, I guess, but at the moment it doesn’t seem like they need space. Even with the signings they’ve done so far they should still have like $18 million left, plus $40 million more locked up in Chase and Trey. 

[ArmyBengal]

1 hour ago, AMPHAR said:

coconut cream pie cheesecake at the Cheesecake factory is legit and I assume it was Baker's favorite.

Ok… they had the 30th Anniversary Cheesecake and my wife brought a slice home to me and it was amazing. Unfortunately, they no longer make it.  Of course it was a limited time…

[AMPHAR]

Higgins $26m, Chase $22m and Trey $19m.    $67m in cash/cap space already allocated to those 3.    I would guess at min they have $110m planned for cash expenditure this year IF all are extended.    

Any extension/restructure of Burrow only helps IF he puts off his money.    The details of the Allen/Mahomes new deals aren't out but it probably pays them more money this year while creating cap room.   A Burrow restructure of that type is not what is needed and there's been no indication Burrow is willing to push off his money.

Fans/Media want the Chase, Trey, and Tee deals done in March.  I do too, just to move on to another topic, but there's really no requirement to have them done at the start of FA.   Start of TC or July 15th will be the critical point.   Although, I'm guessing Trey will be gone by then. 

Burrow pushing off his $25m salary planned for this year into a guaranteed 2026 roster bonus would help cash flow and cap.

 

 

[AMPHAR]

5 minutes ago, ArmyBengal said:

Ok… they had the 30th Anniversary Cheesecake and my wife brought a slice home to me and it was amazing. Unfortunately, they no longer make it.  Of course it was a limited time…

WHAT?  That's Bullshit!  I'm pissed now.  Most of the time give me basic new york cheescake, but that coconut cream version was awesome.

 

[COB]

Man, even by Bengals’ standards, their free agency period is slow and uneventful.  

[HoosierCat]

16 minutes ago, COB said:

Man, even by Bengals’ standards, their free agency period is slow and uneventful.  

So far FA has been pretty meh league-wide, imho. 

[TJJackson]

5 hours ago, COB said:

The Chiefs restructure two contracts, Mahomes and Chris Jones.  They get 50 million in cap space.  
 

The Bengals?  Burrow literally offers his contract up for a restructure, trying to improve the team.  The Brown family’s response?  Just silence.  

they refuse to do it because they dont have cash on hand

they refuse to borrow said cash, as well

[AMPHAR]

Bengals are getting slammed because the "price is going up".  This is all based on Press release AAV.   Not the greatest way to judge.

Since the Myles Garret Contract is the now the "highest non QB" you'd have to wait to see details.   However,  the Crosby contract did not move the price upward as suggested by media.

The discussion last summer was Chase had an offer to make him the highest paid WR.  Was it on AAV? Cash? Not sure.

JJ's contract paid him $39m in first year.  $96m in first 3.   Max's deal is lower in both metrics.  $33m and $94m.   CD lamb contract reworked is about the same as Crosby.   Both JJ and CD have a better chance getting to year 4, but they also will be paid more if Crosby gets to year 4.

Long story short: Chase would take the JJ or CD contract over Crosby deal. 

[AMPHAR]

It wasn't a great FA class.  

[TJJackson]

Zeitler is gone

[HoosierCat]

Kahlil Herbert moves on to Indy.

[COB]

Damn, Zeitler out of the picture.   Bring on Brandon Scherff!  He’s way younger than Zeitler anyway.  Also his strength is pass blocking per some podcast I listened to.  

[ArmyBengal]

Isn’t Scherff like 73?

[COB]

3 hours ago, ArmyBengal said:

Isn’t Scherff like 73?

Almost, he’s 33. Not optimal, but he’s far from a rent a wreck.
 

 Zeitler’s 35.  

[TJJackson]

https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/3/12/24383688/cam-sample-bengals

S U P E R B O W L

[TJJackson]

gimme risner

[COB]

I found that quote from new o line coach Scott Peters that I thought indicated Volson has an inside track to starting:

 

"I was impressed with him when I was with the Browns," said Peters. "I thought we should love to draft this guy, because he had all the intangible things, too. He’s a tough kid. Really loves the game. Just kind of helping him along in his career, take his next step is the goal. I really liked the kid coming out of college. He’s a tough guy. He’s physical. He’s got length. I think just helping him find ways to utilize his tools better is one of the areas of (improvement). You can do that through drilling and kind of emphasis on certain things where we think we can help him, but I think there were some things where hand placement was something that was difficult. Some of the set angles and just having the ability to capture cloth with his hands. It’s something that we put a big premium on. I'm optimistic about all the guys we have. I think that sometimes it's a good change of pace. I know when you get a new coach in, sometimes it's a new, fresh start. Definitely optimistic. I look at it like, I see the issues, but are these things we can address and correct? Yeah, in many ways you probably can walk in with a clean slate, and I'm optimistic for sure."

 

After reading that again, I think Peters  kind of leaves himself an out on Volson.  He says Volson’s issues are fixable through drills, etc.  It’s a lot more than hand placement, dude was one of the most ineffective pass blocking guards in the league.  We’ll see.

[ArmyBengal]

Cam Sample? Ok something is better than nothing.

I honestly wasn’t aware he was still on the roster.

[COB]

Sample tore his Achilles and missed all or almost all of ‘24.  Kind of a prove it deal to see if he can play after that injury.

The Brown family seems to have suffered the football management version of a torn Achilles as well.  They certainly can’t find free agents to fill these holes in our roster.  
 

 

[AMPHAR]

1 hour ago, ArmyBengal said:

Cam Sample? Ok something is better than nothing.

I honestly wasn’t aware he was still on the roster.

He would have been the starter.   I can't remember when he got hurt but he was running with the top team in TC.  Myles Murphy was doomed to the scrub squad.   Although I believe Hubbard was also recovering. 

I'm glad they brought him back.  At least give him a chance to beat somebody out even if its for depth.

[AMPHAR]

5 hours ago, COB said:

I found that quote from new o line coach Scott Peters that I thought indicated Volson has an inside track to starting:

 

"I was impressed with him when I was with the Browns," said Peters. "I thought we should love to draft this guy, because he had all the intangible things, too. He’s a tough kid. Really loves the game. Just kind of helping him along in his career, take his next step is the goal. I really liked the kid coming out of college. He’s a tough guy. He’s physical. He’s got length. I think just helping him find ways to utilize his tools better is one of the areas of (improvement). You can do that through drilling and kind of emphasis on certain things where we think we can help him, but I think there were some things where hand placement was something that was difficult. Some of the set angles and just having the ability to capture cloth with his hands. It’s something that we put a big premium on. I'm optimistic about all the guys we have. I think that sometimes it's a good change of pace. I know when you get a new coach in, sometimes it's a new, fresh start. Definitely optimistic. I look at it like, I see the issues, but are these things we can address and correct? Yeah, in many ways you probably can walk in with a clean slate, and I'm optimistic for sure."

 

After reading that again, I think Peters  kind of leaves himself an out on Volson.  He says Volson’s issues are fixable through drills, etc.  It’s a lot more than hand placement, dude was one of the most ineffective pass blocking guards in the league.  We’ll see.

Volson will get his chance in TC.   He doesn't cost much and there's not much cap savings.  I think he got too long a leash under Pollack.  I think he has a very low ceiling.  

[AMPHAR]

Zeitler has been a FA at least 2 offseasons in a row and maybe 3.   So you got to wonder why?   But anyway the Bengals and Z have never been linked to each other once he got cut out of his big contract in each of those seasons.  So I'm guessing there's a reason why.  I think he's off the market now anyway.

Schreff would be my choice out of any.  He's been the top RG while in Washington.  Lost some of luster in Jax, but was it really the RG the problem there? 

Jenkins - Every fan is all over him.  Great.  Something about being available makes people over rate you.  La'el Collins vibes with this one.  At one point people were wanting to trade a 1st La'el then they were following him around in the Mall.  WTF? For that guy?  Then of course couldn't practice all summer.  Pollack decides to start him off 2 practices and he gets whooped bigger than shit the first half of the season. 

Becton - They took him to Ruby's.  Never offered a contract?  I think Tier Tart was there too.  Afterward it was references as personality fit or whatever.  Becton couldn't play one side or refused to or something because of his knee.  I think he played LG with Eagles.

Tier Tart thing, I'm guessing it was because he dropped the peoples elbow on Karras's kneck after a play.  Surprised nothing ever became of that.  Dangerous as hell.  Becton, I guess they weren't too impressed.

 

 

Probably better off drafting at RG at this point.   Maybe two.

 

[AMPHAR]

1 guy to watch on the RG front would be Wyatt Teller.   Browns don't have much cap space but are QB shopping.  He's due $10m on the 18th.    So potential cut.   However, he's a dead cap casualty so any cut/trade would have to designated post 6/1.    I'd take him over any FA that was available at any point this off season.

Other starting G is in similar spot.  $10m due on the 19th.