2025 Opponents Set/Offseason Notes

[COB]

1 minute ago, Stripes said:

TJ Watt was just extended.

3 years, $123M  (average $41M per year). That will only make Trey Hendrickson more difficult, as the Bengals infinitely drag their feet. Save ten cents today to pay ten dollars tomorrow.

In my opinion this reduces his chances of an extension to near zero.  The bengals will offer him a raise for this season then he’ll be free to go anywhere in 2026.

[HoosierCat]

2 minutes ago, Stripes said:

TJ Watt was just extended.

3 years, $123M  (average $41M per year). That will only make Trey Hendrickson more difficult, as the Bengals infinitely drag their feet. Save ten cents today to pay ten dollars tomorrow.

Who could have seen this coming, amirite?

[Stripes]

I think there's still "hope", but those quotation marks are doing more work than ever. Trey indicated that he doesn't need to be the highest-paid, so he won't try to top Watt. But this will still make it harder for the Bengals to justify that $28M lowball. He's going to want $35M or so, and a compromise is going to be a challenge (for an organization that does not compromise).

[ArmyBengal]

Hard to say really.

TJ Watt is a 7 time pro bowler (all but rookie season), a 4 time all pro, and was the Defensive Player of the Year once. Matter of fact he’s been in the top 4 for DPOY in 5 of his last 6 seasons.

Trey is a 4 time pro bowler which is only half of his time in the league. Last year was the first time he was an all pro and has never been the DPOY as he finished 2nd last year and was the only year he was really even considered.

While I don’t think Watt’s contract helps all that much, I also don’t think it hurts all that much either.

It might even give some perspective.

[AMPHAR]

1st is likely J'mar Chase is still the highest paid Non QB.  He gets $138m over 4 and is likely to get all of it.  He might not get 2029.    Justin Jefferson is likely 2nd still as he will see all of $125m over 4.  

This remains why all the hot takes of the Bengals errors were simply trolling.    There was no massive overpay due to Garrett deal.   Willfully ignorant.  

Micah Parson is the only true threat to J'mar's standing.    AAV is not reality. 

What has happend in the aging Edge Rusher market is the top players are really around $28-$33m of real money for 2/3 years.   AAV serves a purpose for agents and media to promote transactions.  Agents/Players aren't a clueless as we are at the time of the headline.  

Quote

$28M lowball

Nah.  Using AAV to judge is like "do you even bench bro?".    Garrett makes $57m over next 2 years. ($28.5).  Crosby $62m over next 2 ($31m)    Both will see the money in year 3.  Garrett $100m over 3.  Crosby $93 over 3.    Garrett might year 4 but that would push his actual average down.   Crosby won't get year 4.   In both deals void or throw away years pushed up the reported AAV with years added to manage cap hit. 

TJ Watt is probably similar.

IF Trey has $28m on the table for 2 years.  He'd be a fool to holdout into the season.  Rumor's are there is 3 year $85m on the table but probably with incentives.    He smartly will hold TC hostage to try to close that gap.  He's working out in town already.   I doubt he misses any significant time if any of the rumored offers are close to reality.   But why would you report without pushing to close the gap with your true one last mega contract?  

 

 

 

 

[AMPHAR]

1 hour ago, ArmyBengal said:

Hard to say really.

TJ Watt is a 7 time pro bowler (all but rookie season), a 4 time all pro, and was the Defensive Player of the Year once. Matter of fact he’s been in the top 4 for DPOY in 5 of his last 6 seasons.

Trey is a 4 time pro bowler which is only half of his time in the league. Last year was the first time he was an all pro and has never been the DPOY as he finished 2nd last year and was the only year he was really even considered.

While I don’t think Watt’s contract helps all that much, I also don’t think it hurts all that much either.

It might even give some perspective.

Aging edge rushers are getting money in the $28-33m range over 2 and 3 seasons.  All deals have included void or throw away years that pushed these up to a reported $40m AAV.

Watt's deal is likely similar but would only have an impact if the 2 and 3 year raise the curve.  But its been no secret to agents or playes he's been wanting/negotiating a new deal.  So its probably already baked in negotiations. 

 

[AMPHAR]

4 hours ago, Stripes said:

I think there's still "hope", but those quotation marks are doing more work than ever. Trey indicated that he doesn't need to be the highest-paid, so he won't try to top Watt. But this will still make it harder for the Bengals to justify that $28M lowball. He's going to want $35M or so, and a compromise is going to be a challenge (for an organization that does not compromise).

I don't think this is accurate.   $28m is very much market.   But you don't know structure and no one will until it hits the web.     The market is very much in $28-33m range and that can be confirmed.  AAV is paper reporting and no basis in reality and nobody in real talks is even remotely considering paying him more than J'mar Chase at $35m annually.  AAV may say it but that's fluff. 

Trey knows his floor at $40m next 2 years. (current deal+tag).   He supposedly has either got $56m-$62m on the table for 2 years and $85m for 3.   Rumors and again nobody knows structure.    

Would you report at this time?  No.  Last chance for mega deal.   No real reps at missed (he had a ton of off days last TC).  Anyone that's smart would push this up to the edge to close the gap on year 3.  An idiot would hold out IF those rumored offers are close to reality. 

The fact the no local media/pod caster has attempt to walk through logic just proves they will troll negative fans at any chance.  Everyday he holds out they will tell you its going to destroy the season.   He'll probably sign at the last second somewhere in the above range and that was probably reality once he didn't get traded in the first round of the draft. 

 

 

 

 

[ArmyBengal]

I’m still in the camp of thinking both Trey and Stewart get done. Stewart first and then Trey, but I’m not concerned at the moment.

Stewart’s old head coach at A&M has confirmed that while he has been back at school working out, he’s not doing anything with the team and has no intent of going back to school.

Not that I ever thought that was a truly viable step for him.

[ArmyBengal]

Speaking of unsigned, we are starting to see 2nd round picks get signed as well. Knight sits 6 spots below Alfred Collins and 6 spots above Tre Harris who both have signed their rookie deals. I suspect it won’t be much longer there either.