INDIANAPOLIS — Duke Tobin took questions for half-hour on the podium, double that of the everyday media availability on the NFL Mix.
Tobin, the Bengals’ de facto basic supervisor as director of participant personnel, spent most of that point responding to questions on how he pays Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati’s trio of stars who’re all eligible for brand new contracts. Tobin even joked about what number of instances he was requested concerning the matter.
“I’m fairly run out right here,” he exclaimed. “The dynamic kind questions, perhaps I’ve misplaced my dynamic nature. I don’t know.”
However the confidence he exuded concerning the bold objective was obvious.
Tobin was not solely adamant that the Bengals wished to signal all three — together with making Chase the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL historical past — however he was additionally bullish about Cincinnati’s capacity to take action. In any case, the Bengals have $58.1 million in efficient wage cap area for 2025, eighth-most within the NFL, based on Over The Cap. In addition they have on their books simply $2.3 million in lifeless cash (cap costs for gamers who’re now not on the roster), decrease than all however 4 groups. That accentuates their monetary flexibility.
“We’re lucky to be able the place we are able to match all of them in,” Tobin mentioned Tuesday. “We’ve managed our cap nicely. We have now low lifeless cash. We wish a excessive payroll and low lifeless cash, so the people who find themselves in Cincinnati taking part in for us can get all the cash. That’s what we wish. And we’re able to re-sign these guys. It’s a superb place to be in. It truly is. And we’re going to assault it.
“It’s a tall activity,” he added. “We predict we’re as much as it.”
So, how can Cincinnati make it occur?
It begins with getting a deal performed with receiver Higgins, who’s scheduled to grow to be an unrestricted free agent subsequent month — in contrast to Chase and Hendrickson, who’re coming into a contract 12 months.
[Related: Top 100 2025 NFL free agents: Tee Higgins, Sam Darnold lead the way]
The Bengals have at their disposal the franchise tag, which Higgins performed on final season. The non-exclusive tender would give him a $26.2 million wage for 2025, which is 120% of his final season’s wage. But when the Bengals use the tag by the Tuesday deadline, it ought to be simply as a placeholder. If Higgins performs on the tag (once more), the total quantity would rely in opposition to Cincinnati’s wage cap, versus a considerably decrease cap quantity — and extra monetary flexibility — that might come from a multi-year deal.
Higgins needs the long-term safety, seemingly a deal that exceeds $30 million in common annual worth, which might slot him within the top-seven at his place.
“He suits with us and we match with him,” Tobin mentioned of Higgins. “It’s an incredible match. There’s no purpose to not work exhausting to proceed the connection.”
Chase’s deal ought to be north of $35 million per 12 months, topping the mark of the Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson for the best AAV for a non-quarterback ever. Chase ought to be subsequent after Higgins. And like Chase, defensive finish Hendrickson may look to reset the market at this place, regardless of being 30 years outdated. He has 35 sacks over the previous two seasons, together with a league-high 17.5 in 2024. The San Francisco 49ers’ Nick Bosa presently tops the edge-rusher market at $34 million per 12 months.
By the tip of this offseason, if every thing goes based on plan, the Bengals may have 4 gamers making north of $30 million a 12 months, together with quarterback Joe Burrow and two receivers. It’s possible, as a result of new contracts for Chase, Higgins and Hendrickson may preserve wage cap costs low within the quick future as Burrow’s cap quantity takes a major leap subsequent season. It’ll be $46 million in 2025, which is greater than 16% of Cincinnati’s wage cap, per OTC. Chase’s cap cost for subsequent season is presently slated to be $21.8 million, whereas Hendrickson is at $18.6 million.
The elevated cap flexibility from re-upping their stars would additionally assist the Bengals enhance their protection, which price the staff a number of video games final season. Cincinnati, which has missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, ranked twenty fifth in factors allowed in 2024, in comparison with sixth in scoring with Burrow & Co.
“The sooner we are able to do a few of [these contracts], the freer it provides us to construct the remainder of the staff,” Tobin mentioned. “We have now different wants that we wish to construct, so we wish to get these form of issues performed early sufficient to the place we are able to actually deal with constructing out the remainder of the soccer staff.
“We don’t wish to simply re-sign these guys and pay extra for a similar soccer staff we had final 12 months,” he added. “We wish to add to it as nicely, so we wish to re-sign these guys, reward them for his or her capacity degree and add to the soccer staff.”
An bold plan is underway.
Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Community, the place he was the Titans beat author for a 12 months and a half. He lined the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to shifting to Tennessee. You’ll be able to observe Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.
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