The 2025 Free Agency Thread

[Discobob]

The bengals are also feeding every reporter they can that 12 teams are interested.

Which might be true.

Here’s the key: whoever trades for Hendrickson has to agree on a new deal first. So in a way he gets to pick his new team.

He’s not going to 20 of the teams no matter what.

We are now a really attractive destination.

That might matter if the money is comparable.

True - If we come in with the most attractive contract offer, it turns the player into an advocate on our behalf. It would eat at a player to know that there was more $$$ with us, yet accept a deal elsewhere. We have the cap space - be willing to overpay the player, but hard negotiate the trade deal and see if you can push down the compensation.

 

[DWinzit]

Not sure where the conversation about Worthy went, but he was arrested for domestic abuse last night, so I guess he'll be a chief for life.

They are beginning look like the Ol' Cowboys. hey may need to bring in a few new receivers since theirs like hanging in he pen

 

[skinsinparadise]

Dont know how valid it is

 

[Discobob]

Dont know how valid it is

A lot of these reports just seem like informed speculation based on our team needs.

 

[RWJ]

In that mode too. I mentioned Crosby because of how relentless they both come off.

Digesting that Rapoport report, I gather Cincy is holding out for more draft capital.

While, I trust this FO, for me personally I wouldn't like giving up a first. The FO will make mistakes like any other will -- but where I trust them 100% is understanding their needs and how it fits their scheme. They will get some players wrong. Every FO does. But Quinn and Peters are workaholics and I'd put money they've already studied the last season to death and know what type of players they feel will fill in the gaps.

The other teams interested so we have heard: Bears, Falcons, Colts and more have better 2nd round selections. They are at an advantage along with the other picks (i.e., 4th or 5th this year or next). I don't want to see us include our 1st but if we did we would need to at least get a 3rd this year back as part of the deal.

 

[Conn]

Per the article, Cincy willing to give Hendrickson $30 - $32 annually. If true, he should be willing to stay in Cincy.

Bengals have reportedly offered Trey Hendrickson $30-32 million annually; ‘There’s nowhere I’d rather be’

A very interesting update...

www.cincyjungle.com

Then that means they’re cheaping out on guarantees, or he’d already be signed imo. They are notoriously cheap, even with their own stars. Those are funny numbers they’re floating, in all likelihood

 

[RWJ]

Dont know how valid it is

Too much money for Mack. If he was the same age as Hendrickson, sure.

 

[skinsinparadise]

A lot of these reports just seem like informed speculation based on our team needs.

Could be. Thats why i said not sure how valid that one is because I know Standig is doing his own mock FA thing and his last one he had them signing Mack. So not sure if he said seperately that he heard they are interested in this dude or he is confusing Standig’s mock FA as fact

A lot of these reports just seem like informed speculation based on our team needs.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[Hail Raiser]

Was our pass rush really that bad last year? I know we weren't the Eagles, but it seemed average at worst.

Not that I don't want to improve on that.

Stopping the run and our CBs seemed to be our issue.

CB2, SS another ILB (unless Magee is legit and healthy), OLB unless Fowler comes back and whatever to set an edge and stop thew run.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[RWJ]

It'd be nice if AP were able to make the trade for TH and sign Stanley. Two $$$ players that are needed. The big question will he. I think so and both on 3 or 4 year deals.

 

[burgold]

Was our pass rush really that bad last year? I know we weren't the Eagles, but it seemed average at worst.

Not that I don't want to improve on that.

Stopping the run and our CBs seemed to be our issue.

CB2, SS another ILB (unless Magee is legit and healthy), OLB unless Fowler comes back and whatever to set an edge and stop thew run.

I think the concern with our draft was that we rarely got pressure without blitzing. That's why so many want to improve at edge. Also, we were terrible at defending any stretch play or outside run (not to mention any inside run or every other type of run.)

 

[actorguy1]

Recent interview with Ertz. He sounds like he is still in love with the Commanders.

 

[RWJ]

You know, Ertz had a phenomenal season last year, yes but at his age he had to sit out most of the practices to be ready for the next game. That to me is concerning especially with his checkered injury history the last 2 years in Arizona. Dude's, good but given him more than the $3 mill we gave him last year is not worth it. We need to go younger, I think. Hey, AP brings him back at more so be it.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Was our pass rush really that bad last year? I know we weren't the Eagles, but it seemed average at worst.

Not that I don't want to improve on that.

Stopping the run and our CBs seemed to be our issue.

CB2, SS another ILB (unless Magee is legit and healthy), OLB unless Fowler comes back and whatever to set an edge and stop thew run.

Pedestrain pass rush. Below average at creating turnovers. From what I've read about Quinn those two things are more important to him than run defense.

Using a food analogy, Quinn likes to major in having great pizza. He's unlikely satisified with mediocre pizza. Even if the salad is even worse. He will fix the salads. But everything I've heard about Quinn, he's not happy being considered the pizza guy and offering so so pizza.

I think they can conquer both things this off season. But I doubt Quinn is for example only mildly interested in improving the passing rush. He talked to death about turnovers. This team had one less picks than the previous wretched defense had. Pass rush and picks go hand in hand.

Not saying you are saying otherwise, I don't think Quinn going for someone like Hendrickson is misguided. I would bet he really really really wants to improve the pass rush and I suspect even more so than the run defense. But I am gathering he's trying to slay both dragons.

Logan Paulsen talked up the value of adding an elite pass rusher to this defense -- he thought it was a key missing ingredient.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[RWJ]

More money spent on another Bengal player not named Trey Hendrickson. DE/Edge Armstrong disappointed last year. Hoping he bounces back this year. We need help on both sides and Hendrickson would be a huge get.

 

[Boone]

Was our pass rush really that bad last year? I know we weren't the Eagles, but it seemed average at worst.

Not that I don't want to improve on that.

Stopping the run and our CBs seemed to be our issue.

CB2, SS another ILB (unless Magee is legit and healthy), OLB unless Fowler comes back and whatever to set an edge and stop thew run.

We were:

11th in team sacks (43)
17th in sacks/game (2.4)
8th in sack percentage (7.58)

That doesn't totally define the quality of the pass rush, it's just the readily available stats that give some idea as how ultimately effective the pass rush was.


Draw whatever conclusions you want from that. Those rankings probably argue we were just about average overall.

 

[bowhunter]

Pedestrain pass rush. Below average at creating turnovers. From what I've read about Quinn those two things are more important to him than run defense.

Using a food analogy, Quinn likes to major in having great pizza. He's unlikely satisified with medicore pizza. Even if the salad is even worse. He will fix the salads. But everything I've heard about Quinn, he's not happy being considered the pizza guy and offering so so pizza.

I think they can conquer both things this off season. But I doubt Quinn is for example only mildly interested in improving the passing rush. He talked to death about turnovers. This team had one less picks than the previous wretched defense had. Pass rush and picks go hand in hand.

Not saying you are saying otherwise, I don't think Quinn going for someone like Hendrickson is misguided. I would bet he really really really wants to improve the pass rush and I suspect even more so than the run defense. But I am gathering he's trying to slay both dragons.

Logan Paulsen talked up the value of adding an elite pass rusher to this defense -- he thought it was a key missing ingredient.

That makes Hendrickson less likely to be dining in Cincy. He'll be limited to Happy Meals