Bengals' biggest concern entering the season isn't much of a concern at all
A roster is in a great place when the biggest concern regarding it comes down to contract negotiations. It's a realm the Cincinnati Bengals haven't lived in for a while, but they are certainly in it now. Head coach Zac Taylor says this is the deepest the team has been since he arrived four years […]
A roster is in a great place when the biggest concern regarding it comes down to contract negotiations. It's a realm the Cincinnati Bengals haven't lived in for a while, but they are certainly in it now.
Head coach Zac Taylor says this is the deepest the team has been since he arrived four years ago. But the bill comes due at a certain point, and it's up to the front office to try and keep the core intact.
Time to do so, however, is ticking.
The Bengals have Joe Burrow under contract for the next two seasons, and have roster control over him for the next four seasons if you include the possibility of using the franchise tag twice after that. But it's in the Bengals' best interests to get a deal done with their franchise quarterback before this season begins in September so they can move on to other extensions for Tee Higgins, Logan Wilson, etc.
It's the long-awaited domino piece to fall, and it's the team's biggest concern right now according to The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr.
The expected Joe Burrow extension hangs in the balance as the top priority. Once the Bengals can put those organization-altering numbers in the balance sheet they can start the rest of the unfinished financial business. Will Tee Higgins get an extension? Logan Wilson? What becomes of Joe Mixon’s non-guaranteed $12.8 million cap number? The Bengals’ biggest business items have been waiting for the franchise QB contract to put the moves in motion. They’d like to minimize how many moves leak deep into camp and traditionally wrap extension and cut matters by the opener. They’ve done well avoiding off-field distractions recently, but these would qualify if they drag toward September. The clock is ticking. — The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr.
While the process of extending Burrow and his fellow 2020 draft mates began months ago, actual results weren't realistically expected until the start of training camp. A simple look into the Bengals' history tells you when to expect the biggest contracts to be signed.
In Burrow's case, he has the luxury of waiting until the market is at its peak before putting pen to paper. That means he may not want to sign a deal until after Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert signs his long-term extension. And no one should blame him for taking that route of patience.
Said patience, however, does elongate this process a tad. The longer the Bengals' core isn't locked in for the foreseeable future, the door remains open for the plan to not happen.
Is it a concern right now? Not really. But nothing else really comes close in terms of potential long-term impact on the team.
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