I’m sure Bengals folks on social media will have a reasonable, measured reaction to this headline.
Don’t get me wrong.
Extending Joe Burrow is the obvious top priority for the Bengals.
Without him, nothing works.
Until he wasn’t.
It’s a pretty loaded class of free-agent safeties.
As I said, Rams standout Taylor Rapp and former Chiefs second-rounder Juan Thornhill top my wish list.
On a scale of 1-10 Panic Meter, we’re at about a 4 with those options.
Tailback Samaje Perine is also gone.
Perine is one of many free-agent acquisitions by the Broncos.
Their ownership is LOADED with cash.
Two years, $7.5 million was beyond what Cincinnati felt it could afford.
Pratt isn’t quite on Edmunds' level.
Still, what a bargain he is at that price.
BUT THEN, we get to the tight end situation.
Hayden Hurst had 52 catches in his first year as a Bengal.
Or as we now know, his only year as a Bengal.
(*Richest single owner, Panthers' David Tepper.
The Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group in Denver is even more well-off).
Tell me where the upgrade for Hurst is on the open market in terms of cost-effective productivity.
And as for the Waller bit of my quote tweet, you might be saying, “You idiot.
Darren Waller isn’t a realistic target.
He has such a pricy contract.
Why the hell would the Bengals trade for him?”
Maybe because the whole hang-up about acquiring or retaining veteran players for Cincinnati is all about guaranteed money.
And guess how much guaranteed money Waller has on his deal after this season?
I don’t think you would.
And look at them both go.
He’s not due to hit free agency again until 2026.
Waller’s contract is a year longer.
Both deals had easy outs.
I would’ve rented the shit out of Ramsey and/or Waller for what they were given up for.
Ask the Rams if they regret burning a second-round pickin the middle of the seasonto rent Von Miller.
And here’s the thing.
you’re free to say hindsight is 20/20.
you’ve got the option to say there’s still a ways to go in free agency.
you might say it’s easy to make these recommendations from the outside looking in.
you’ve got the option to say the whole draft has to play out.
It can be all of those things…and.
All indications are he’ll do whatever it takes to be a Bengal for life.
I fully understand there’s a bigger picture to bear in mind here.
They can’t afford to lose Higgins.
“Oh you’re just playing fantasy football!”
“THIS ISN’T MADDEN, YOU DUMBASS!”
Go ahead I’ve heard it all before.
Tell me I’m crazy or unreasonable.
kindly, be my guest.
These aren’t the pipe-dream moves you’d think they are on first glance.
Cincinnati players understand they can’t get the guarantees they would with most other teams.
The draw is playing with Joe Burrow and, football gods willing, a sustainable winner.
I’m not losing faith yet whatsoever, and I’m not trying to overreact.
It’s just hard to stare down these seemingly obvious missed opportunities and wonder what could’ve been.
Let’s hope a beacon of hope is set ablaze in the coming days.
