2026 FA Thread | S Bryan Cook 3/40m | DE Boye Mafe 3/60m | DT Jonathan Allen 2/28m | QB Josh Johnson 1/1m | S Kyle Dugger 1/?m | DT Dexter Lawrence 3/70m

[Stripes]

They've dramatically overestimated their ability to draft (probably as a product of a moderate Tobin hot streak during the Dalton era). So, they've let good players walk and assumed they could draft cheaper replacements effectively, and it has detonated in their faces repeatedly (Whitworth, Bates, and Reader at minimum).

So this time they cut the shit and tried something else. They can't do that every year, but this draft kind of sucks so I'm in.

[Stripes]

I would have liked four years for an investment this huge, but the annual average is certainly agreeable. I'm sure we'll have some excruciating drama two years from now, but that's a two years from now problem.

[Prophecy]

Lawrence is better than anyone they would have drafted at 10. Really like it. My question is, how much do the Bengals have to eat, to cut Johnathan Allen now? Don't need him.

[Stripes]

Allen is definitely expensive for rotational depth, but that DT depth chart is juicy.

Lawrence - Slaton
Hill - Allen
Jenkins

Gotta be the most expensive IDL in Bengals history (obviously in raw dollars, but probably also percentage of the cap). However, if we remember the last two successful iterations of the Bengals, they relied heavily on strong IDL rotations anchored by Atkins/Peko or Reader/Hill.

[HoosierCat]

If they cut anyone at DT it will probably Slaton. Would save $6-7 million vs the cap.

Allen got $7.5 million guaranteed. If they cut him, still stuck with $7.5 million in dead cap. No real point.

[Prophecy]

3 minutes ago, Stripes said:

Allen is definitely expensive for rotational depth, but that DT depth chart is juicy.

Lawrence - Slaton
Hill - Allen
Jenkins

Gotta be the most expensive IDL in Bengals history (obviously in raw dollars, but probably also percentage of the cap). However, if we remember the last two successful iterations of the Bengals, they relied heavily on strong IDL rotations anchored by Atkins/Peko or Reader/Hill.

Agreed. This also HUGELY helps LB's Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight. 

[glasgowbengal]

This is the era of bold front office moves - see Rams, Eagles, Chiefs, etc. 

Join in or get left behind 

[COB]

They added one year to his deal?  And kept his original money for the first two years?  This seems almost too good to be true.  We paid 28mm for his third year and didn’t have to give him a raise over what he was making.  It’s a huge win for this FO.  I’m hard on them because they truly are idiots, but I’ll give them credit on this one.  

[HoosierCat]

12 minutes ago, COB said:

They added one year to his deal?  And kept his original money for the first two years?  This seems almost too good to be true.  We paid 28mm for his third year and didn’t have to give him a raise over what he was making.  It’s a huge win for this FO.  I’m hard on them because they truly are idiots, but I’ll give them credit on this one.  

I would bet it’s the main reason the trade happened. If Lawrence had insisted on a big new deal, say 4 years, $120 million, he’d still be a Giant. But the $28 million is just giving him the money they would have given 10, which was already factored into the budget anyhow. 

[ArmyBengal]

Everyone talking shit about how we gave up #10 and allowed the Giants to have two top 10 picks in the draft.

just to show how nothing is guaranteed and how short memories are, the Giants have had two top 10 picks in the recent past and neither of them did shit.

They had #5 they picked DE Kayvon Thibodeaux and OT Evan Neal. While both are still with the team, clearly there is nothing set I stone in having picks.

Seeing as how the Bengals have sucked at drafting recently, I will smile and say thank you for the best Nose Tackle in the league.

Bring on pick #41 !!!

[HoosierCat]

OTC:

Dexter Lawrence signed a one year contract extension with the Cincinnati Bengals after the trade from the New York Giants. The contract includes a $10 million roster bonus, and a $8.125 million option in 2027. Lawrence can earn up to $1.0 million each year, through per game active bonuses. Initial details courtesy of PFT.

cap hit/dead cap:

2026: 15m/10m

2027: 24/7 (w/option 15)

2028: 30/3

https://overthecap.com/player/dexter-lawrence/7808

Hard to ask for a better deal, team-wise.

[volcom69]

1 hour ago, ArmyBengal said:

Everyone talking shit about how we gave up #10 and allowed the Giants to have two top 10 picks in the draft.

just to show how nothing is guaranteed and how short memories are, the Giants have had two top 10 picks in the recent past and neither of them did shit.

They had #5 they picked DE Kayvon Thibodeaux and OT Evan Neal. While both are still with the team, clearly there is nothing set I stone in having picks.

Seeing as how the Bengals have sucked at drafting recently, I will smile and say thank you for the best Nose Tackle in the league.

Bring on pick #41 !!!

Yea it’s funny how everyone is talking shit about this, how could they give up the number 10 for 28/29 year old DT, he is not even that great anymore. However I guarantee you if this was the Eagles making this move it would be the greatest thing ever. Some shit just amazes me anymore reading what dumbasses say on the internet. Stupid! 

[COB]

So essentially we are getting Dexter Lawrence for what we would have paid our draft pick?  We drafted Dexter Lawrence?  

[Stripes]

It appears to be a little more than year 1 of #10 would have cost, but comparable. Years 2 and 3 will certainly be a lot more than a draft pick.

[ArmyBengal]

Maxx Crosby = two 1st round picks

Dexter Lawrence = one 1st round pick

Pretty good deal on the one year extension as well.

Color me pleased.

[ArmyBengal]

The Bengals weren’t getting this in the draft.
Good watch…