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

[COB]

Is Tee Higgins’ mom a factor in all this?  How?

[Stripes]

She is a frequenter of the tweeterverse. She often comments about her son's various situations.

[WelshBengal]

16 hours ago, AMPHAR said:

Rapien has Higgins on a private jet to Cincinnati to sign a deal.   He's been a mouth piece for the Higgins camp all off season.  Hope its done, Bengals have a way out after two years, and the drama is over concerning Tee. 

 

 

You have misquoted Rapien, He said that he a photo was doing the rounds on the internet of Tee getting on a private plane from Miami and said he is flying to lunken airport as to what for that is unknown and he could only surmise and he did not confirm or deny it was to sign a deal, so don't get peoples hopes up as it all may be internet bullshit.  I won't believe it till I see it is done.

[HoosierCat]

So I guess both Chase’s and Trey’s price tag just went up again.

Quote

The Cleveland Browns and Myles Garrett have agreed on a contract extension that averages $40 million per year and includes $123.5 million in guaranteed money, making the star defensive end the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, sources told ESPN.

The Browns announced the four-year extension, which runs through the 2030 season, on Sunday but did not disclose financial terms.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/44178418/sources-myles-garrett-browns-agree-record-contract-extension

[volcom69]

Bengals screwed again! Should have done something about these guys sooner, now they will really pay the price. If they don’t pay the price then they will just upset the only thing keeping this franchise alive. 

[COB]

Myles just threw away his chance of ever winning anything in football.  Kind of won everything else, though.  He’s another Joe Thomas, great player but a career on the Cleveland Browns.

[ArmyBengal]

What else could the Browns do?

The guy had no desire to continue playing there. Remedy? Throw the largest non-QB contract in the history of football at him. 

It’s true, everyone has a price.

[Stripes]

DK Metcalf to PIT in a trade

5yr, $150 million deal

$30 million per

Tee is watching.

[ArmyBengal]

Davante Adams to the Rams.

[COB]

1 hour ago, Stripes said:

DK Metcalf to PIT in a trade

5yr, $150 million deal

$30 million per

Tee is watching.

DK Metcalf loses interest if he’s not getting the ball.  Not a diva, just can’t seem to stay engaged if he’s not in the middle of something.

[ArmyBengal]

Maybe that private jet for Tee was headed to Heath Ohio for potato cakes from Arby’s?

[TJJackson]

uhmmmmmmm potato cakes

[Stripes]

Statistically, Metcalf is much like Tee, but with fewer games missed. I think they’re stylistically similar too (big bodied contested catch types), though DK is faster.

I don’t think anyone is giving Tee a five year deal, but the average will be close.

[HoosierCat]

Cody Ford returns.

https://www.bengals.com/news/cody-ford-s-o-line-versatility-retained

[Stripes]

“Legal tampering” opens in six hours.

Do something that doesn’t make me want to claw my eyes out just to relieve the boredom.

[zbeaster]

10 hours ago, Stripes said:

DK Metcalf to PIT in a trade

5yr, $150 million deal

$30 million per

Tee is watching.

I'm guessing the AAV will be similar for Tee.

[HoosierCat]

2 hours ago, Stripes said:

“Legal tampering” opens in six hours.

Do something that doesn’t make me want to claw my eyes out just to relieve the boredom.

 

[HoosierCat]

1 hour ago, zbeaster said:

I'm guessing the AAV will be similar for Tee.

Yah, 30 has been the expectation.

[HoosierCat]

Exciting news for Army: he gets to watch more Sheldon Rankins!

https://bengalswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2025/03/10/bengals-cut-player-new-home-nfl-free-agency/82221099007/

[HoosierCat]

Contract details for Mike G:

Quote

Gesicki agreed to a three-year, $25.5 million deal. His cap hit for the 2025 season will be $7,666,666, the sum of his $5,400,000 base salary, $100,000 workout bonus, and one-third of his $6,500,000 signing bonus that will be prorated throughout the life of the deal. He will earn $12 million in 2025 alone.

Gesicki's cap hit for 2026 will also be $7,666,666, featuring a base salary of $3,050,000, a roster bonus of $2,000,000, per game roster bonuses of $350,000, and another workout bonus of $100,000. His roster bonus will become guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2026 league year.

There is no guaranteed money in the third year of Gesicki's contract, so the Bengals can release him in 2027 and save $8,000,000 in cap space and cash while only realizing $2,166,668 in dead cap. Gesicki's deal can essentially be viewed as a two-year, $17.5 million deal with an $8 million team option in 2027.

Ford:

Quote

Ford's deal comes out to be two years worth up $6 million. His cap hit for the 2025 season will be $2,570,588, the sum of his $1,500,000 base salary, $100,000 workout bonus, one-half of his $1,000,000 signing bonus that will be prorated throughout the life of the deal, and 94% of his $500,000 in per game roster bonuses. Because Ford played in 16 of 17 possible games in 2024, $29,411 that $500,000 is considered Not Likely To Be Earned and won't count against the cap this year. He can earn up to $3.1 million in 2025 alone.

Ford's cap hit for 2026 will rise to $3,400,000 due to his base salary increasing to $2,300,000 and his workout bonus, per game roster bonuses, and signing bonus proration staying the same as 2025. The Bengals could also release Ford in 2026 and save $2,900,000 in cap space while only eating $500,000.

This may be a two-year deal on paper, but just like Gesicki's contract, the last year can considered a team option. This is a one-year, $3.1 million deal at the end of the day. 

 

[ArmyBengal]

16 minutes ago, HoosierCat said:

Exciting news for Army: he gets to watch more Sheldon Rankins!

https://bengalswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2025/03/10/bengals-cut-player-new-home-nfl-free-agency/82221099007/

Heart be still.

Rankins was last year…

[ArmyBengal]

Cody Ford is not part of the o-line solution. 

[HoosierCat]

Bengals reportedly trying to get a deal done with Ossai. 

[HoosierCat]

Breer:

Quote

I don’t see the Bengals moving Trey Hendrickson for less than a second-round pick. It’s a tricky spot for Cincinnati to be in—finding a team to give up a premium pick and $30 million (or more) per year for a 31-year-old pass rusher isn’t easy. Hendrickson’s camp at one point told the Bengals they could bring home a first-rounder for him, but that hasn’t happened.

https://www.si.com/nfl/takeaways-inside-josh-allen-maxx-crosby-deals#_auivp5x3p 

Ah now I understand. The fundamental problem is that Hendrickson is fukking delusional.

[COB]

Cody Ford is a good depth guy, glad we kept him.  
 

Hendrickson is filled with resentment.  Sorry dude, you’re a 3rd round pick who didn’t distinguish yourself those first four seasons with the Saints.  He’s still sitting on a pile of money but he’s thinking  about what could have been.