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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


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Posted

I really don't know why I bother posting about players that could help the Bengals.
I have no faith they will sign anyone worth mentioning.
Bunch of players that never were and never will be, but they will be cheap in comparison.

Please Bengals, shock the shit out of me.

  • Like 1
Posted

One more thing, the Bengals are thought to have around $48 million in cap space.
Thing is, there are 7 teams that have far more cap space and some are in great need of improving.
My point is, I think players are going to get paid more than their talent may suggest.
That being the possibility takes any optimism I may have and sets it to fire...

  • Like 1
Posted

On one hand, I think when Mike reads these free agent signing salaries he gets irate and shakes his fist at an uncaring universe.  
 

On the other hand, and I think this is likely the reality, he reads them and doesn’t care.  
 

I envision the following: the dark triad knows what they need in free agency and the draft.  The first thing they do is the math.  Katie was a math major at Dartmouth.  So they determine, we need FA linebacker, we’ll pay 6 million a year, we need free agent d-tackle, we’ll pay 5 million a year, etc.  I think they slot the money first, so they know their total outlay will be X number of dollars, no matter what.  Then they just wait to see who will accept the money they’re offering.  If it’s the best free agent at the position, that’s great!  If it’s the 7th best free agent at the position, that’s not great but they are still signing that guy.  
 

Duke’s job really isn’t all that involved when you look at it from that perspective.  It also resonates with having, by far, the smallest scouting staff in the league.  Why spend a bunch on scouts when you aren’t pursuing specific players you’ve identified based on talent and ability, you aren’t pursuing specific guys.  You are pursuing a position and a salary.  Other teams can jump ahead, outbid you whatever.  Doesn’t matter.  The Brown family maintains fiscal discipline to maximize their own financial return.  That’s it, that’s all.  

  • Thanks 2
Posted
1 hour ago, ArmyBengal said:

Oh yeah, the time for restructuring Burrow's deal is BEFORE free agency, so that's out.
Not that I really saw them doing something so progressive, but just saying.

Once I read up on restructuring a contract I knew it was a no go. Basically, the team converts a chunk of salary to a signing bonus.

The problem from Mike’s perspective:  instead of paying the player his money per the contract, you take a significant % of his contract and pay it to him right now.  And, that bonus you paid him is essentially guaranteed money, money you now made guaranteed on a non guaranteed contract.  

  • Like 1
Posted

Fuckers

ESPN sources: the Raiders agreed to trade five-time Pro-Bowl DE Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for 2026 and 2027 first-round picks.

Posted

Yup, some teams (Ravens) will trade for a great pass rusher like Crosby, and some teams will dick around a great pass rusher and not guarantee more than a year at a time, letting who is widely considered the #1 Free Agent available, get away, and then lie and say that Pass Rush is the biggest priority.

Sell the f'n team so the new owner can GET REAL Football people in charge.

  • Like 1
Posted

Fucking Ravens.  So now our QB gets to deal with TJ Watt twice a year, Myles twice a year, and Maxx Crosby twice a year.  Brutal.  The Ravens are pushing all their chips in here in the second half of Lamar’s career.  It’s a pretty serious window and firing Harbaugh showed they weren’t playing, they want championships.  

  • Like 1
Posted
3 hours ago, COB said:

Fucking Ravens.  So now our QB gets to deal with TJ Watt twice a year, Myles twice a year, and Maxx Crosby twice a year.  Brutal. 

Right, and Bengals will sit on their ass and ignore the Oline because "it was Burrows best line so far". That doesnt mean it was great, and 3 starters Brown, Risner and Karras are only signed through this year. They have no decent backups at Tackle so if Brown or Mims get hurt, Burrow is screwed. 

Yeah Bengals, go ahead and draft all defense, and ignore the Oline, because you made bad defensive picks recently, need to re-draft same positions, and let a double digit sack guy get away for nothing (Raiders got 2 Firsts for Crosby).

Posted

I think the Ravens gave up too much, but you can tell they know what “all in” means.

Free agency better be amazing, or the stadium might be subjected to an insurrection.

  • Like 1
Posted
12 hours ago, COB said:

Fucking Ravens.  So now our QB gets to deal with TJ Watt twice a year, Myles twice a year, and Maxx Crosby twice a year.  Brutal.  The Ravens are pushing all their chips in here in the second half of Lamar’s career.  It’s a pretty serious window and firing Harbaugh showed they weren’t playing, they want championships.  

I doubt they get it. Defense is not going to stop Mahomes and Allen from beating Lamar. 

Posted

You need to go after OL big time. Also, the receiving could use some upgrades. Bengals haven't had an elite TE since Tyler Eiffert's healthy 2015 year. Maybe could get that in draft.

Posted
4 hours ago, Stripes said:

I think the Ravens gave up too much

I would have given them 2 firsts in a heartbeat. Specifically Murphy and Stewart.

  • Haha 2
Posted

Look at the depth chart for the Ravens defense BEFORE they added Crosby. While they didn’t sport a top 10 defense, at least they had players at all levels. Them giving up 2 firsts for Crosby made sense.  They will be a very hard beat in 2026 if they all stay healthy. Have to be favorites for the AFCN crown at this point and it’s not close.

Now look at the Bengals defense and tell me what adding Crosby and giving two picks would have gotten us. Due to the absolute void of talent, they would have had to tag Trey to keep him around and they still would probably suck AND they would have given up two 1st’s.

That trade might have crippled what’s left of Burrow’s career. I’m glad the Ravens don’t have first rounders this and next year but I think they are closer to competing for a Super Bowl than we are.

We suck.

Posted

Allegedly Jamar put up a reaction thing on a social media platform, I’m not sure which.  Anyway a portion of it was him saying, “we lost this blankety blank to the Ravens?!”  The implication being that the Bengals were trying to trade for Crosby.  If true, very off-brand of Mike to try a big off season trade, very on-brand of him to not only fail but watch a division rival eat his lunch.  Lot to ruminate about while sitting in the golf cart this August.

Posted
1 hour ago, COB said:

Allegedly Jamar put up a reaction thing on a social media platform, I’m not sure which.  Anyway a portion of it was him saying, “we lost this blankety blank to the Ravens?!”  The implication being that the Bengals were trying to trade for Crosby.  If true, very off-brand of Mike to try a big off season trade, very on-brand of him to not only fail but watch a division rival eat his lunch.  Lot to ruminate about while sitting in the golf cart this August.

I suspect Ja'Marr just wanted Crosby and assumed, from some dreamy cognitive space where optimism reigns and he hasn't observed the behavior of this franchise for multiple decades, that the Bengals would be interested.

  • Like 1
Posted
55 minutes ago, HoosierCat said:

I’m told Mike was interested but his final offer of an expired Subway coupon and some pocket lint was rejected.

It is pretty hard to believe the bengals would make anything but a performative inquiry about trading for Crosby.  

  • Like 1
Posted

Yeah, seriously I doubt they were involved at all. If they were going to go that kind of big it would have made far more sense to tag Trey. Cheaper and they don’t have to give up picks.

I agree with Army that it wouldn’t have been a good deal for the Bengals. But it was for Baltimore, and moreover shows what “all in” really looks like. Zac, Tobin and Mikey are all just posers.

  • Like 1
Posted

Another thing to point out is this is another situation where you have to do well drafting if your philosophy is to build through the draft.

It makes adding players at high prices, especially when considering giving up picks, more challenging.

This organization simply fails at many levels when it comes to building a roster.

  • Like 2

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