2025 FA Thread: Rehkow 2y/2m | Rankins, Cappa Cut | Higgins Tagged | Hubbard Retires | Gesicki 3y/25.5m

[AMPHAR]

It really helps if you realize they are winning team under Tobin.  Things aren't perfect but it really helps to avoid the absolute panic. 

I could be wrong but trading Trey leaves them 4 DL.  They keep 10.   Bengals are going to walk into draft weekend needing 6 DL having 70m of cap room?  Doubtful.

 

 

 

 

[COB]

I was glad to see Carl Lawson go, and though I’m not glad to see Hendrickson go, it seems inevitable with trying to pay two huge receiver deals.  Just seemed unrealistic to be able to pay the league’s sack leader what he wants on top of 3 offense skill guys who have giant contracts.  
 

 

[AMPHAR]

Eh, shit hits the fan this time of year every year.   It helps to realize Tobin era Bengals are a winning team that has challenged for a Superbowl. 

This might be the all time high in shit meter.    Just off the top of my head: 

1. Sapp - rebounded added several pieces to a 2005 Div Champ

2. Shaun Rodger trade fall through. - rebounded to add several guys on the way 2009 Div Champ

3. Carson Plamer retire threat/Chad Johnson trade - 5 straight playoff appearances.

3A. J. Joe wants gatorade - rebounded to have the entire secondary room former 1st round picks, I think.  Drug Andy's ass to the playoffs and multi Div Champ 

4. Lawson/William Jackson III - I assume everyone remembers what happened.

If they trade Trey.  That leaves them 4 DL.  Sure Mike Brown from the 90s can sweep in at any minute and have them go into the draft needing 6 DL and enter TC with a pool of 5th round picks and UDFA diamonds in the rough along with $70m unused cap room.

I doubt any of that happens and at the same time knowing that it isn't guaranteed Superbowl appearance either.  

[HoosierCat]

45 minutes ago, COB said:

I was glad to see Carl Lawson go, and though I’m not glad to see Hendrickson go, it seems inevitable with trying to pay two huge receiver deals.  Just seemed unrealistic to be able to pay the league’s sack leader what he wants on top of 3 offense skill guys who have giant contracts.  
 

Well, we will see what kind of offers Trey gets. I'm not sold that teams are going to rush to break the bank and cough up picks for a 30-year-old DE, especially with a draft coming that's absolutely loaded with pass-rushers.

[HoosierCat]

Tanner Hudson back for a year.

https://www.bengals.com/news/tanner-hudson-contract-extension-2025-bengals-roster-update

[TJJackson]

2 minutes ago, HoosierCat said:

Tanner Hudson back for a year.

https://www.bengals.com/news/tanner-hudson-contract-extension-2025-bengals-roster-update

SUPERBOWL

[HoosierCat]

Good article from Denher, who taps some of the Athletic beat writers for possible trades for Hendrickson. Here are the offers:

Quote

• Bears: No. 41
• Packers: No. 87 and Lukas Van Ness
• Commanders: No. 29, 2026 second and Jonathan Allen for Hendrickson and No. 49
• Falcons: 2026 second and 2026 fifth
• Colts: No. 45, 2026 third

Paul picks the Colts.

Quote

That leaves the Colts. Trade accepted. The pick at 45 with a 2026 third tossed in hits Cincinnati exactly where it needs it. That would give the Bengals three of the top 50 picks in this draft and two of those would likely be defensive linemen to go along with three top 100 picks from the previous two draft classes. The money saved with Hendrickson’s departure also clears $16 million to be more aggressive in landing a starting defensive tackle and edge in free agency.

Just to play out one vision of the entire scenario of the two-deep in this theoretical complete line rebuild:

Edge: Malcolm Koonce (FA, Las Vegas), Myles Murphy, Landon Jackson (R2, 41, Arkansas), Joseph Ossai

Defensive tackle: Levi Onwuzurike (FA, Detroit), Derrick Harmon (R1, 17, Oregon), Kris Jenkins, McKinnley Jackson

This also likely bridges the gap to finish off negotiations with Higgins and Chase and then allows the Bengals to grab a guard to compete to start the opener with pick No. 49.

I could live with something like that.

[AMPHAR]

Koonce has been getting some Bengals heat.   Maybe there's something out there in the rumor world?   

I like Ossasi coming back.   Draft picks impossible to say pending on who was on the board at the time.   I have believed they need to get younger on DL since 2023 so 2 picks in a deeper DL vs. last year that had multiple guys I would have loved is a plus.

Then the Onwururike FA?  Upside and durability concerns.   Koonce and Onwur like because former top 100 picks. 

I don't think Golden would have an excuse not to bump this defense up with all this plus the potential he's selling with the returning guys.

I would expect Sample to get a shot at a return as well.

 

 

[ArmyBengal]

Alright I’m settled now with knowing the Bengals are not going to meet his contract expectations and the Crosby deal doomed all this with one fatal blow.

Got it. Had no idea people were actually thinking they could get a 3rd, let alone 2nd rounder for him. That helps ease my mind if that pans out.

Still not happy, but peace with the reality of the situation. Golden and the scouts better hit with the draft picks and the front office needs to be ready to add some free agents.

Regarding Carl Lawson, he was never a player that generated more than 8 sacks a season. As a matter of fact he only had 18.5 total over 4 years with the Bengals. Not really an apples to apples comparison but I get the heart ache that existed back then. It was ill founded in my opinion.

[WelshBengal]

Well at least this is good news, we don't have to put up with JJ watt to come out of retirement to play for the Bengals anymore as James Trafford conceded his first goal of 2025 on Tuesday.

[AMPHAR]

Number of sacks is what it is.   But Trey was easily the most clutch pass rusher I've seen in a Bengals uniform.  It seemed like whenever they need a pass rush he either was hitting the QB, sacking the QB, or getting a holding call.  That's not replaceable by a singular player.  

So I would think Al Golden would love to have him back but also knew he was there to get young players to mold together and support Joltin Joe and there was a chance Trey wouldn't be back.

[ArmyBengal]

I’m just going to have to trust that Golden will be, well, Golden when rebuilding this defense from last year’s abortion.

[AMPHAR]

Maybe Lou turns out to be a Dick Lebeau.  Go on to become a legendary DC after taking so many arrows for a bad D in Cincy. 

However, Lou's playoff run in 2021, 2nd half 2022 is the outlier of his Bengals career.   The D sucked ass most of the time he was here from a stats standpoint.    1 week Mike White is carving him up months later Mahomes can't figure him out.

Al gets to pick up the pieces and probably holds the future of Tobin and Zac in his hands.    Basically you are going see first hand whether or not Tobin drafted quality players spoiled by Lou or if he handed Lou a basket of cobras.

 

 

[AMPHAR]

Bengals have or had a $30-32m a year offer on the table.  Trey also did an interview unrelated to the leak and said there's no place he'd rather be.

Doesn't sound absolute he's gone yet.    Sounds like they did the proactive thing and let him seek his market.   My thought is if they got that kind of money on the table no matter the structure a team is going to need to have a significant trade package and if they do a trade it then there's a combo of players getting that money if Trey don't want it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[AMPHAR]

Anyone notice a difference between Trey and Tee trade rumors?  Trey has actual teams named, with projected trade packages.   Tee - its some teams called, they don't listen.     I'd guess Tee's market isn't what they want and the subsequent rumors are the last chance to play hard ball before they sign the extension.    IMO, if Tee's agent is smart.  Tee should sign first hours of FA.   Once the money starts going his leverage melts down to a holdout which doesn't help him improve a depressed market.    If his market was $30-35m a year no doubt.  Some team would talk offer sheet at least then maybe try to talk down the 2 1st.   There's no rumors of that even happening.

 

 

[COB]

“No place I’d rather be.”  Right.  That’s why for two years in a row your agent, while you were under contract, asked for you to be traded.  
 

Trey is playing the fans and media.  

I understand the strategy of using your platform to leverage yourself into a sort of quasi-free agency status wherein you can get competitive bidding going for your next deal.  
 

What I don’t understand is the Eagle Scout act.  This bullshit about wanting to play in Cincy.  What he wants is a pile of money.  That’s normal.  At this stage in his career he SHOULD have a mercenary outlook.  I don’t need to be gaslighted by millionaire professional athletes.  

[HoosierCat]

Mike G 3 years $25.5 million

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2025-nfl-free-agency-bengals-re-signing-te-mike-gesicki-to-three-year-deal-worth-25-5-million-per-report/amp/

[ArmyBengal]

Really happy to have some stability at the TE position and loved when Gesicki signed here to start !!

Well done Bengals !!

[Stripes]

Glad the TE rentals are over.

[AMPHAR]

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. 

 

 

[AMPHAR]

Gesicki done is great news. 

[TJJackson]

I like Gesicki, but I think 8.3M/year is too high

[COB]

Agreed TJ, but look at it this way: Gesicki  masquerades as tight end.  He’s really a receiver and his stats, where he lines up, the routes he runs, all bear it out.  He’s a hard nosed possession receiver who will go over the middle.  If you look at it that way, that contract is a bargain.

 

And I’m excited to hear the Higgins deal is nigh.  That’ll be awesome.

[ArmyBengal]

Hey we are signing everyone now.

Money be damned.

Let free agency start !!

[HoosierCat]

7 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. 

 

 

Gawd that would be nice, wouldn’t it? Might shut his whiny assed mom up too.