All eyes are on the Bengals’ front office. From Mike Brown to Katie and Troy Blackburn to Duke Tobin on down.
Among the most impactful decisions of the Joe Burrow era are at hand and there is nowhere to hide.
The league is watching. The players are watching. Burrow is definitely watching.
The fans are watching through the gaps in the fingers covering their eyes. At least, according to all the questions sent to me last week about what comes next for the Bengals.
Latest Balds Don’t Lie w/@MoEgger:
😡 How much do distractions really matter for #Bengals?
⚖️ Burrow vs Mahomes right now?
🏀 Scenes from the Sharonville Rec Center
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Fans are on edge, frustrated and judgemental after last year. They stand largely in solidarity with Burrow and his call to keep this cast of stars together. They are done with the constant bickering and haggling between the team and its stars. They want peace, harmony and a fast start.
Will they get it? We’ll all find out together.
In the meantime, I’ll do my best to answer some of your questions (lightly edited for clarity and length) about the most fascinating offseason path of any organization in the NFL.
Is the front office aware or cares that the fanbase is extremely frustrated with the way they operate? Lack of communication on contracts, delaying extensions which end up costing the team more money, lack of guaranteed contracts, I could continue … Do they care that we are fed up? — Who Dey K.
Well, OK, we are off and running. I placed this first because it had the most likes and comments in the mailbag discussion.
In regards to the state of the fan base, I’ll often quote the famous fake marine biologist George Costanza, “the sea was angry that day, my friends.”
Coming off one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history, there will always be a storm surge. The Bengals are well aware. Without question, their social media admins don’t need any more evidence.
I believe they very much care that you are fed up for the same reason you actually are fed up. They want to win as badly as you do. Their strategies and ability to execute the plan deserve the critical eye. It was not long ago the front office was being lauded and winning executive of the year awards. Then they suffered two subpar seasons and people are livid over wasting Burrow’s prime.
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A 10-step path to Super Bowl 60: How the Bengals can get back to the big game
Fandom is about feelings and emotions; you are entitled to feel and emote as you wish. The front office needs to do a better job of executing a modern roster build with a franchise quarterback. They do not need to do a better job placating the fan base.
They need to win. That needs to be the basis of all their decisions. I think listening to angry fan mobs, overly optimistic supporters or even the smartest collection of beat writers on the planet (you can’t prove it’s NOT true!) would be a mistake.
Paul Brown wasn’t wrong. Winning makes believers of us all.
Now, about those strategies …
There has been so much talk of the modernization of the Bengals franchise over recent years. Despite that, it seems that Duke Tobin and the Brown family are not good at developing relationships and communicating with their players. While I understand they can’t promise players what will happen, it seems to me that steady and consistent communication would improve team morale and reputation. What reason is there for the Bengals’ approach in handling players like this? — Mark M.
I think battles with players about contracts are part of having success in the NFL.
I’ll say this, there’s a need for distance between the front office and players in this business. It’s harsh. Negotiations are tough. Offers (or lack thereof) can lay waste to relationships. The coaching staff and the rest of the organization can be there to help mitigate those issues.
Unexpected twists sometimes occur in free agency and the draft. You can’t forewarn every potential player impacted. And you wouldn’t want to, especially if those don’t come to be.
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Bengals 2025 mock offseason: Choose your own adventure to building the roster
There’s an important difference between silence and distance, though. From my seat, that’s been the problem in so many of these situations that have gone sideways in Cincinnati. A.J. Green, Andrew Whitworth, Jessie Bates, Jonah Williams, DJ Reader, Trey Hendrickson, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, among others, have voiced criticisms of the lack of communication they’ve felt about their situations with the front office. Or there’s been back-and-forth about fights with agents. Some eventually got deals done. Others didn’t. I’ve had players ask me personally what I know about what the team will do on major decisions, feeling lost in the dark. The Bengals must evaluate how they handle these discussions, specifically those with their best players. Perhaps a more communicative run-up on expectations or an approach that features more competitive offers to kick off the negotiations could go a long way to keeping the conversations more positive and less combative.
By any stretch, this offseason will be a test of that strategy and one they need to analyze and learn from mistakes of recent years.
Why does it seem like the Bengals front office tries to win every contract negotiation, with the exception of QB? Perception or reality? — Matt C.
I think this is reality. There’s nothing wrong with wanting the best deal for the team. But there is something wrong with not making the move the team desperately needs at the expense of at least a push in the negotiation. Or sticking by a value placed in free agency/extensions instead of bending a little in the player’s direction just to get the right guy in to fill a need.
You don’t have to win every contract. It’s OK to lose or push a couple if the situation dictates. Landing at a tie is supposed to be the point, isn’t it?
A massive contract extension for Ja’Marr Chase is expected to be at the forefront of the Bengals’ offseason. (Cooper Neill / Getty Images)
Katie Blackburn and the Bengals’ front office will never be viewed as a pushover. Nor should they have any desire to be. I think the biggest aspect that could make a difference is more willingness to break their own rules in specific spots beyond the franchise quarterback to get high-priority deals done, whether that’s with guarantees, void years, (re)structure, or what have you. There are levers at play that incur risk but allow more players to get paid (hello, Eagles). The time may have arrived to embrace those to a larger degree.
Seems to me the best thing to do is sign Tee Higgins and trade Trey Hendrickson. The defense needs to be reset and having extra draft capital and money for middle-tier free agents is the way to go with so many holes to fill. — Thomas K.
Given Trey’s comments and the likelihood of a trade, what would be his trade value? — James B.
To be clear, the Bengals can keep the entire band together, as Burrow has lobbied. He’s not speaking out of turn in speaking about cap space, the expected increase in the cap and if they are willing to structure their contracts in ways to make the cash distribution work for the Bengals, this can be done. Especially considering all the contracts they can clear off the books with under-producing veterans.
Feel free to look here and here for more information on the entire Hendrickson topic, which I wrote about in-depth last week and in my “10 Steps to Super Bowl 60” piece. I also listed the trade comps there.
Of note: No defender older than 28 has ever been traded for a first-round pick. If the Bengals could manage a first for Hendrickson, that should be an instant yes. He’s likely in the range of a second-round pick and throw in a touch more depending on the number of that pick.
Take into account a number of edge rushers who could potentially be on the trading block (Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby, Micah Parsons) and one of the deepest defensive line classes in recent memory and that could water down the offers.
The Bengals’ willingness to eat the distraction and force Hendrickson to play out the current deal is always in play (we’ve certainly seen that show before) and would serve as the alternative to signing off on any trade or extension they deemed unworthy.
Trey Hendrickson heads into his age-31 season as the NFL’s reigning sack champion after posting 17.5 for the straight campaign. (Sam Greene / Imagn Images)
Is tagging Tee a second time on the table? It seems like it should be but I feel like all I hear is extend him or let him walk as the options. — Michael C.
I’ve gotten the sense neither side has interest in forcing Higgins to play on the franchise tag again. It’s within the Bengals’ right, of course, but I think trying to force him to do it again would cause irreparable harm to the culture and dynamics of the team. I think everyone is aware of that.
Do you foresee any offseason moves happening before a new Ja’Marr Chase deal gets inked? Is that the first domino that must fall this winter? — James J.
I think Chase will be the last move that happens, actually. We’ll see how long this drags out. Tobin talking with The Enquirer in Mobile about having the “framework” is important here. They know generally where this thing is going to land. Plus, the fact Chase and Higgins share an agent only makes it that much easier to have an understanding of how to fit them both together.
There’s certainly a chance this overflows into training camp again. The earlier the better in all respects. Justin Jefferson signed his extension with the Vikings on June 3 last year and that would be a welcome sight. Considering the history of what went down last year, how major negotiations traditionally go with the Bengals’ extensions and how massive the deal will be, anything concluding before camp should be considered a win. Replicating the extensions for Green (boarding the team bus for the opener) and Burrow (at kickoff of a Thursday opener) is undeniably in play.
The good news here is I haven’t encountered anyone doubting this will get done. Tobin and the Bengals are looking to get deals done, not the opposite, and Chase is at the top of that priority list.
The Bengals have never put much value on the guard position, from letting Max Montoya leave to Eric Steinbach and Kevin Zeitler. Any chance this changes and they actually try to fix the line play? — Thomas F.
I think in replacing Alex Cappa, whom the team will likely let go, you don’t need to look further than when they signed him. The front office targeted a solid, high-floor guard entering his second contract. They felt he was a fit and went aggressively after him and Ted Karras immediately to open free agency.
That was an investment like we hadn’t seen at the position in Bengals history and feels like what to expect here. They aren’t going to pay Trey Smith the top of the guard market. That’s not going to change. And look around the best offensive lines in the league and you’ll see it isn’t always about paying big money.
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Bengals positional priority draft big board: Pinpointing needs and targets
The top six graded offensive lines by Pro Football Focus this year featured four total guards making more than $8 million per year and two of those are on the Denver Broncos (Quinn Meinerz and Ben Powers). Most are a collection of Day 2 picks from recent years and mid-tier free agents/reclamation projects.
The Bills spent a second-round pick in 2023 on O’Cyrus Torrence and paid David Edwards $3 million. Buffalo’s line allowed just four sacks this year, according to PFF. Tampa Bay was second in pass-blocking efficiency and did so with 2023 second-rounder Cody Mauch and $1.8 million for Ben Bredeson, on his third team in five years. The Eagles plugged the spot opposite star Landon Dickerson with Mekhi Becton, signed after visiting the Bengals for one year and $2.8 million.
Yes, you can throw money at the problem like the Rams did with major free-agent splashes at both spots, but then find out neither works. There is no consistent precedent to suggest great guard play can be bought. That’s not to say paying for quality is bad, just real success is mostly found and developed. Enter new offensive line coach Scott Peters and the hope that he can generate more development and less regression. Hitting on the occasional mid-round guard once every decade wouldn’t hurt, either.
What would be the one “splashy” signing you’d make as the Bengals front office this offseason? — Tyler C.
Milton Williams looks like exactly what the Bengals could use in the middle of the defense. The Eagles’ disruptive defensive tackle was a force in the Super Bowl and all season long. How much of his production came from playing next to Jalen Carter and the rest of the Eagles’ dynamic pass rushers? Some, for sure. But he sure does win a ton of one-on-ones. You know what the Bengals defensive tackles haven’t done in the last two years? Win many one-on-ones. That would be one hell of a splash and Williams will be one of the largest contracts signed in free agency, but if there were ever a spot that feels worth it, that’s where it should be going.
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Bengals free agent rankings: Tee Higgins headlines list of intriguing pieces
If you could choose a large jump in production for one Bengals player next year, who would you choose? — Paul M.
Myles Murphy would be an obvious choice. Also, a large jump in production wouldn’t require much after zero sacks in 2024. The first-round pick wasn’t as bad as the lack of sacks suggests if you look at underlying win and pressure rates. He needs to figure out how to finish better, but I don’t think his story is written considering the lack of snaps he received through two seasons.
I’d throw in an honorable mention for Cam Taylor-Britt, living up to the No. 1 corner potential he’s flashed during his career. Also, add Evan McPherson to the mix. I know you weren’t asking about more veteran players, but they desperately need him to re-find the kicker from early in his career and the playoffs to get back to finishing off close games.
(Top photo of Tee Higgins: Joseph Maiorana / Imagn Images)
