Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Bengals Win Day 1 of Free Agency - But JOB'S NOT DONE!

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Bengals made two big moves to bolster their defense on Monday, and there's a whole lot left to do. We break it all down now. You are locked on Bengals, your daily Cincinnati Bengals podcast. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. What up Bengals fans and welcome to another episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. Your team every day. He's James Rapine. I'm Jake Bliscoe.

Starting point is 00:00:34 We've got you covered here on Lockdown. Bengals every day, especially during this free agency period. This is our third show that we've recorded on Monday, and we're going to finish recording it on Tuesday morning because it's late at night on the East Coast of North America. And we're going to recap everything that happened today

Starting point is 00:00:51 from the deals the Bengals made, what we think about those deals, and the deals the Bengals didn't make the work that they still have to do. And make sure you check out those instant reaction shows if you haven't already seen them. We've got little mini episodes up for each of the of Bengals made on Monday, one for Brian Cook, one for Boye, Mafay, and the two big moves of Bengals made. And I just want to shout out the every day that we're locked on your team every day,

Starting point is 00:01:17 that know we're the number one sports podcast network in the land as we dive into a pretty exciting day for the Cincinnati Bengals that honestly had some ups and downs, James. It was a bit of a roller coaster ride. If you go hour by hour, if you're just tuning in now, and you're like, huh, free agency was today. I wonder what happened. Well, you didn't ride the ride with us. waited for us at the end and you get to see the picklers and understand what happened. And what happened was that the Bengals signed two of the top defensive free agents at their respective positions.

Starting point is 00:01:47 And Brian Cook, who was, I think, the consensus top safety. Maybe I'll double check that as you talk about some of your thoughts today, James. And Boyer Maffei, who was up there in the conversation, not the top edge guy available, but certainly one of them. two big contracts for the Cincinnati Bengals to pay out that they agree to on Monday. Yeah, it's exactly how you would have painted or painted the start of a successful free agency period for the Bengals. You're right.

Starting point is 00:02:20 There's more work to do. There's no doubt. There's holes to fill. There's things we're going to talk about. There were other paths. The Bengals maybe tried to take. We're willing to take. We're open to taking that we were open to.

Starting point is 00:02:32 to them going down. But this path is exactly that. For my money, the best safety that they could get. The best safety that they could get in free agency they got. And there's a bunch of reasons why we covered those. Some in our instant reaction. We're going to cover some of those now. But then you have to address pass rush.

Starting point is 00:02:55 And the pass rush market is weird right now. I mean, it's late Monday night, early Tuesday morning by the time people see. this while we're recording it's late Monday night and Tray's still out there. But Jalen Phillips, $30 million per year, Mr. 30 million dollar man with the Carolina Panthers. You have Adafay OA getting 100 million, which is probably around what a lot of people thought he would be at if it was on the slightly higher end. I know he was projected in that 88 to $90 million range, but you go up a little higher for free agency. It makes a lot of sense. And so, So that really did for my money leave one guy that the Bengals could get.

Starting point is 00:03:38 And they got him in Bollier-Mafé. And it's a three-year $60 million deal. It feels pretty darn reasonable. And it's a guy that if you told me, hey, over the next three years, he's going to be the best edge out of the guys I just named. Hendrickson, Oway, Phillips, Mafe. I don't think that's that crazy. And they got him for half of what Phillips cost.

Starting point is 00:04:08 And I get it. It's three years versus four years. But to me, it was good value. And you still have a ton of upside. I think that the moves they made are both moves that we like. I think this is the most exciting day of free agency since we've been doing this show together. I don't know that it's particularly close. Like signing Alex Kappa and Ted Karras, was that us?

Starting point is 00:04:33 Yeah. Oh, yeah. Okay. And so was the Trey, the Trey Hilton, Cheeto. That was big day. But hear me out. We didn't see Trey as consensus this high ranked of a free agent. There was some concern about Trey.

Starting point is 00:04:51 There was hand wringing over Carl Loss in that year. Like Cheeto, liked Mike Hilton. Those were also later in the day, at least Hilton was, right? And what we had this year was the Bengals signing two top guys of their positions in the middle of the day. Not necessarily right away. I think the excitement over shoring up the offensive line after watching the offensive line collapse in the playoffs. And Ted Karras and Alex Kappa was like, that was a pretty exciting moment. But in terms of the tiers that we have assigned to free agents, because we've been doing this going all the way back to, what, 20, 21, whenever you started doing the project with us, James, I think it was 20.

Starting point is 00:05:27 these are the highest ranked guys that they've signed in a single day ever. And you can go back and look at the previous guys they've signed. And we're sometimes wrong about some of these things. But the external guys that they've signed in the past, like Ted and Alex Capo were both threes. Trey Hendrickson was a 2.7. So, you know, call it a 2.5 if you want to round it up. But Mike Hilton was a three.

Starting point is 00:05:52 Chinobei was a three. So there's some excitement there. But today they got a tier two guy. for us and we're pretty strict graders. There's no tier one guys this year, if you're wondering, no tier one guys. And boy, A mafay,

Starting point is 00:06:05 who's a two and a half. And that goes with getting Dalton Riser done before this week, before today on a deal that will, I think, continue to look like a great deal for the Bengals. So I think it's just a really exciting day for them to go take two big swings at positions of dire need that could really raise this defense if they get the rest of the work done.

Starting point is 00:06:25 And that's going to be the caveat. Like what's next? What are the next? because it didn't get it done with Devin Lloyd, who they may or may not have been a finalist for. They didn't have any of the other big-name linebackers that signed on Monday. They didn't get a second defensive lineman on Monday. So there's still things that we would like to see them do. They were apparently in on John Franklin Myers, right?

Starting point is 00:06:50 So they pivoted, I think. It's reasonable to assume that happened. But the two guys they did get, I think, it's fair to be pretty. excited about based on the information we had available to us going into free agency. For sure. It's a good argument and I get it because you're right. They haven't part of it I think is they haven't been in this like this is a really unique position because they have so many holes and yet the pressure is on to find the right pieces for all of these holes because they have to win or the staff is gone or else who knows.

Starting point is 00:07:29 knows what's going to happen. Like major changes are coming. So it's a really unique spot to be in because you're 6 and 11, but it's not like you're building. You have to build it. Like, not building. It needs to be built. And a lot of that is going to have to happen this week. And so, yeah, like, it's okay that they didn't stretch to get a Devin Lloyd, even though the linebacker market was down a little bit. It's okay as long as they fill these needs. Hopefully, we're coming back. Who knows? Maybe I'm doing it solo in doing a Leo Chanel instant reaction Tuesday morning. You never know. That would be ideal because you need to, if you're sticking with the plan and you're not swerving completely off of one of the paths that you predicted, well, then you're going to

Starting point is 00:08:18 fill these holes. You need another edge. You lost Osai. You need another edge, even though you got Boye-Mafé. But if you would have told me a week ago, you're going to start free agent. agency and you're going to get the top safety, the safety that you want. And you're also going to get a guy in Boye, Maffa, who may end up being the best edge that you can get in this class and you're going to get them at reasonable contracts. Would I take that? Of course, I would take that.

Starting point is 00:08:47 So that's a heck of a place to start. There's a lot that the Bengals have to do. And so let's dive into that a little bit and discuss, man, an eventful day one for the Cincinnati Bengals where they had Boyer Maffei and Brian Cook. We will continue the conversation coming up next. Today's show is brought to you by TurboTax. It's tax time, but for a lot of us,

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Starting point is 00:09:59 insider group but you can join at join settex dot com slash locked on bangles If you don't want to be staring at your phone all day, checking the social media updates, you will let you know when the moves happen. We will let you know if we have indications of moves that they may be interested in. You'll get the instant analysis, and you can obviously chat directly with us. Again, join subtext.com slash lockdown bengals.

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Starting point is 00:10:43 And you can, again, get all those details at locked on bengals.supercast.com. James, we have talked a lot about the guys they did sign. Obviously, we're big fans of those guys. We'll have to see how they fit in, obviously. That's how it always works with free agents. You pay a lot of money because you think it's going to work. You think it's going to be a fit.

Starting point is 00:11:01 we've talked about the leadership qualities that they should get with Brian Cook and the tackling ability that they should get with Brian Cook. We talked about how Boyet Maffei can win with his hands, can win with power, can be a good run defender, a three-down player. And that being a big part of the appeal, I think, to the Cincinnati Bengals at the price point that they got him done. But they were also in on John Franklin Myers. And they may or may not. I couldn't exactly track down their interest in Devin Lloyd. I can tell you for sure that they were interested in a couple of other players of these positions at linebacker and on the edge. And those deals did not come to pass for better or for worse, depending on who those guys were in some of the cases.

Starting point is 00:11:43 But the linebacker need is kind of glaring now. And I think that is what's next because if you, again, look at consensus rankings or what have you, Devin Lloyd was seen as the consensus best linebacker. He goes for just a $45 million deal over three years, probably a deal that I would have been interested in, probably a deal that the Bengals didn't get there on guarantees. And now we're looking at Caden Ellis, Bobby Wagner, as one-year options, Leo Chenal, as a potential multi-year option. I think that the best option remaining out there. And then you're looking at maybe a couple of cut players, Bobby Akerke or the Dre Greenlaws of the world. I'm not sure what the interest would be from the Bengals,

Starting point is 00:12:30 but that's now what we're talking about at linebacker, where you're looking for a piece at this point, not necessarily a stud who's going to be the centerpiece. If there was a spot, I would be willing to do that with coming into this. It would have been linebacker. Like, I'm fine. Like, if you go light on linebacker,

Starting point is 00:12:54 but you're giving me Logan Hall and you're giving me another edge, Arnold Evacati is still out there. by the way. You know, like if you're doing that, Jadavian Clowny, which I really love the idea of it, man. I really do. I wish they would do it. I don't know.

Starting point is 00:13:11 I don't know what it looks like or if they would. But if you do those things, and I feel pretty good about your edge room, and you get a guy who can give you some interior pass rush. Maybe it's Trayvon Hargrave, right? Maybe it's someone else. Then I'm okay with, all right, well, that's why we didn't get that big dollar linebacker,

Starting point is 00:13:32 even though the linebacker market was a little less than we anticipated and we were kind in on it, but we didn't know if we wanted to be all in on it. And we thought it would prevent us from doing this and this and this. Fine. I get it. It's a balance. You got to plug a lot of holes. But Leo Chanel is the one.

Starting point is 00:13:47 And that's kind of what's scary when it's down to the one. You're going to be able to offer him a heck of an opportunity. Like, walks right in can help be a dude. Like if, because if I'm, if I'm cook or Maffa, I'm just like, man, I get to be the face of a defense with Joe Burrow and Jamar on offense. Like you can be the dudes and your star power can really go to another level. And Chanel would be that as well. But if you miss out on him, yeah, I think like Ellis is fine. Some of these other guys like, you know, been there, done that, but they're older.

Starting point is 00:14:23 Not to say that I'm not open to him, but it's certainly a different. a different level. It feels different than this young second contract, face of the franchise on defense, of course, but face of the defense type of player that could emerge. So it would feel a bit different. Doesn't mean that they can't find a productive player there, but if they were going to go like anywhere coming into free agency,

Starting point is 00:14:47 I would have picked linebacker, not safety. I was sick of it, sick of watching everything that happened. And obviously the trenches. I'm trench man for a reason. I do think they still need to address linebacker, right? I think you agree. Sure. I think that we would like to see that level raised.

Starting point is 00:15:04 And one of the big points of emphasis for the Bengals that you can point to with the two players they signed is serious playoff in Super Bowl now experience for both guys. The Super Bowl rings that they have won. It's going to be a talking point that you hear about any time these players are mentioned in the next couple of days. The couple of championships in Kansas City that the Seattle Super Bowl that Boyet Maffei is coming off of. And so they get guys with playoff experience that have been around that were successful, first contract players that they see a very clear role for. And hopefully those are deals that work out, right? Because anytime the Bengals are spending this quantity of money on a free agent, they are banking on that guy to fill a pretty big role, right? The last time they spent money like this, I mean, you had the Trey Hendrickson deal, the DJ Reader deal, the Trey Wains deal.

Starting point is 00:15:53 Wayne's was a miss. And that was the one that we liked the least. I recall at the time where we were like, man, they're really paying Tray Wayne's that much money. We don't have that reaction to either of these players. These are both players that we saw as primary targets for day one. I would have been in on Devin Lloyd at the price point for him, I think, James. Would you have done that if that meant no other edges or no other defensive tackles in free agency? Like noteworthy.

Starting point is 00:16:24 Yeah, I mean, I think that they probably are going pretty low dollar for the next edge they sign anyway if they go and get another one. Like maybe you're talking about a Josh Uche type of player. Maybe Arnold Evacati. Maybe that's the guy that we're much higher on than the NFL. Like looking at the ringers list of top 150 free agents, for example, they don't have Arnold Evacati on there at all. But that's the guy that we like as a situational pass rusher. So hopefully there's some alignment there with the Bengals, right? but you might be talking about a lower-end guy at that point looking at, you know,

Starting point is 00:16:57 the interior defensive line spot, like you're mostly looking at mid to low dollar guys at this point at that position. So yeah, I would have been in on Devin Lloyd because I think there would be enough money to go do those other two things at the level that even at this point, I expect the Bengals to go do them. Yeah. And that's the balance, right? and I'm open to, I want as many good players as possible.

Starting point is 00:17:23 It's a very simple thing. And so I was open to it. When you see the rumors, I came into today like, I don't need them to spend big online back or like the same logic. But then he was out there and the market wasn't that. And it's like Lloyd's still out there. And then you see these deals go and Anzolone and DiMario Davis and, you know, it keeps going.

Starting point is 00:17:46 And then Devin Bush. And it's like, Lloyd's still out there. And Lloyd's still out there. And if you would have told me you can get Devin Lloyd for a little over a million dollars more per year, a million and a half more per year than Quay Walker. Would I have signed up for that in free, you know, coming in? I would have I would have said, well, yeah, I would rather that. And so would we be having a different conversation? Would I be excited about that?

Starting point is 00:18:12 I would have. But now it's up to them to deliver and stick to whatever plan that. they had and that might mean getting the ocean all done and maybe it's three for 33 yeah and and you were at 28 now you get to 33 and now you get him done fine but uh that that's where they're at and if they do that you're right they're still going to have the money and maybe even a little extra to go get whoever and i'm i'm really hoping they get whoever it is i don't care about the money add guys that are going to be able to help you because they need more depth there. It's going to get tested. They have two edges they're losing and Hendrickson and

Starting point is 00:18:52 Osai. And it'd be really big if they could get two proven guys to raise the floor of that room. Yeah. When you think about that way and taking the money that they had for Hendrickson and Osai last year, and obviously they spent some of that on safety is probably how they see it. But you need to reinforce the trenches with that money. There's another guy probably coming there. and maybe two, because we would still like to see them at a defensive tackle. We still expect them to be active. We can update the cap situation because we got a surprising amount of details about the cap and cash flow for these players for day one or free agency.

Starting point is 00:19:28 Usually takes a few days for this sort of thing. But just to put a bow on linebacker, because we need to talk about the trenches a little bit more, like the Devin Bush deal, three for 30, I probably would have been interested there. DeMario Davis got paid more than I thought even. And maybe there's a jet sacks going on there. gets back with Aaron Glenn. I thought he did get like one for eight. Yeah, that's what that's what the projection was, two for 22 for DeMarie Davis.

Starting point is 00:19:54 I think DeMier Davis is still good. But that's a chunk of money for him. Nicopi Dean goes to the Raiders, three years, 36 million. You know, I might have considered that for Nacobody Dean thinking there's maybe some upside there. Bobby Wagner still out there. Leo Chanel obviously still out there. We've talked about him a lot.

Starting point is 00:20:12 Caden Ellis, another guy we've talked about. But the linebacker market did get fairly picked over on Monday. The Bengals still trying to find their answer there. And I think they'll still be looking around on the defensive line. And let's discuss their financial situation, the defensive line, our expectations for day two of free agency to wrap up this day one, a free agency recap coming up next. Today's show is brought you by Fandul.

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Starting point is 00:21:37 We saw a bunch of folks praising the Bengals first two free agent signings today. We are among those people. But if you were on social media, you saw a variety of people saying, yeah, man, they're doing well. And then there's a caveat of like, okay, well, yeah, they're doing well. It's a great start. They had Leo Chanel. Yeah, them are really cooking.

Starting point is 00:21:57 And so that's what we're talking about, you know, the linebacker position. We're also going to have to talk about the defensive interior where DGR Veter's name's going to come up. We'll mention Callais Campbell again, even though I think he's going to stay somewhere in the south. And they will be searching for answers there. Is it Javon Hargrave? Is there something that they think they can get on a job? Jonathan Allen that he hasn't shown for a few years now. Where do they go next on the defensive line?

Starting point is 00:22:26 Because again, there weren't a ton of guys out there. Logan Hall is a young guy that makes sense for a multi-year upside kind of guy to me. Yeah. But that doesn't mean the Bengals see it that way. I will say. I know you've mentioned Tampa and the return. This is where Trey needs to help us out. Hmm.

Starting point is 00:22:48 This is where Trey Hendrickson needs to take up some of that money that they have free because Mike Evan signed with the 49ers or agreed to terms with the 49ers. All right now. Trey, go to Tampa. Get your Florida. Get your Florida payday. And Logan Hall come ball in Cincinnati. How about Trace will be up there, by the way. That's something that we won't get to talk about a ton today, but a little surprising.

Starting point is 00:23:15 Perhaps the market not immediately there for him. and a lot of guys paid edge rushers today. So it's possible that they're working out a deal somewhere. Their negotiations are ongoing with a couple of teams. It's also possible that there's musical chairs. And it happens for free agents too. Yeah, I wonder. I will say this, if that's the case, the former of he's just kind of looking around,

Starting point is 00:23:39 like my market isn't what it's supposed to be. That agent, you know, maybe it's not. Maybe Dallas is in on him at 30 million and Tampa is and Jacksonville isn't. he said, guys, I'm going to sleep on it. Give me your best offer. I'm sleeping on it.

Starting point is 00:23:52 And I'll tell you 6 a.m. in the morning. Like, you never know. But my goodness, if it's the other way. Yeah. You cannot put your client in that position.

Starting point is 00:24:04 And so we will see, my friend. But in the bridge with the Bengals is burnt because like on paper, if you just, I'm just, yeah, it's not going to happen. But like on paper,

Starting point is 00:24:17 if you were like, oh, well, Trey fits right in. It's like, yeah, he kind of does. He kind of fits in right. Like then you're talking about the restructure for Joe Burrow and having that whole conversation, which is not happening.

Starting point is 00:24:30 Yeah, it's not happening. The Trey thing is not happening. Right. Yeah, agree. But in terms of updating the financial picture and that potential restructure for Joe Burrow, we do, I think, have a pretty good idea of cap hits for both of these guys. So Brian Cook is going to be an $8 million. year one cap hit and that is a relative like I'm somewhat happy with the way to structure this

Starting point is 00:24:55 deal. It's a 13 million per year deal like a lot of teams would go lower here on the cap hit by maybe a million or one and a half million cheaper. But eight million is for the Bengals a pretty reasonable number. That's going to go up to 15 million next year, 16 million in 2028 and he's got some roster bonuses in addition in those years. And, Based on Kelsey Conway's reporting, I think Kelsey found out the year one numbers for Boy A Mafet because she got the salary or got the total money in the signing bonus for Mafay. Based on that, I have him at a $13.7 million cap hit, which again, out of that $20 million, that's about the same ratio, I think. That's heuristic math. I didn't even try to do the math, but based on that and rookie exonerated.

Starting point is 00:25:48 expenses and all the other expenses that the Bengals are currently thinking about like the practice squad and additional cap expenses that are going to come up at points. I've got the Bengals at about 18 million in cap space right now, but we believe that they are still interested in several more defensive additions. And that being the case, I come back to the Joe Burrow restructure because if they are going to spend all that cash and then explore those extensions potentially for their corners, then they're going to spend more cash than we projected them for this year, which I have at about 26 million remaining dollars in cash for players this year. I think they'll go above that number based on today. Now, we'll see what the next few days bring. That will bring us a lot of clarity

Starting point is 00:26:32 here, but I do think that they have more significant moves coming based on the way that they approached today and the other players that we heard at times they were at least in the conversation for at various points of the first day of the negotiating window. Yeah, look, they have to. They have to. And it's because of everything that's on the line. Like the Jamar, we haven't talked about this. And it was after the Max Crosby deal that Jamar chased like viral crash out that I thought was AI.

Starting point is 00:27:08 I did. I just thought I was streaming it. I went to his Twitch and looked. Oh, you found it. Oh, that's very, it's 100% real. Yeah. We better have a great package. protection plan man you know what I want to know he was streaming again tonight

Starting point is 00:27:23 after they had signed the guys I want to know where my clips are Jamar tonight where's my Jamar happy clips but people people are going for the crash out clickbait you know not clickbait but you know no no doubt I mean and that's how I found it's I've never really watched Jamar like you you know how it is like with those so look I the players are watching Joe is obviously watching he's the one texting Jamar there was that Albert Breer report that the Bengals had at least kick the tires or inquired about Max. That would never have happened for two ones.

Starting point is 00:27:56 We know better. But, and it probably shouldn't. But you have to keep adding. Joe's willing to restructure. You have to keep adding. Everything in that building is sponsored. The door I walk in is sponsored by, no, I'm kidding. But you get my point.

Starting point is 00:28:12 Like, they've sponsored everything. It's a cash cow. You can't tell me about cash anymore. you have to push the envelope and for whatever it means for them because not restructuring Joe in saying, oh, well, we spent a cap space or we ran out of cap. Like, no, that's unacceptable. You have to pull the levers if you need to pull those levers. And they can restructure Jamart.

Starting point is 00:28:35 Like, they could free up another 30 million in cap space. You know this. But I'm just making it clear to everybody else because if you do that, well, then, yeah, like the Devin Lloyd thing. It could be anything. Like anything is still possible. And I'm not saying be unresponsible, but be responsible and understand that part of being responsible is making sure that these holes are filled with quality players

Starting point is 00:29:02 that give you a real chance to win. Looking at the Bengals history, they're not very active on day two of free agency, James. Now that obviously could change this year. But they've been pretty active over the last few years on day one with like at least a deal or two. The only player they've signed in the last couple of years on day two of free agency was Mike Keseki in 24. They got Mike Thomas back, safety Mike Thomas back in 23.

Starting point is 00:29:29 In 2022, after signing Ted Karris and Alex Kappa on day one and BJ Hill on day one, I think they got an extension or re-signed BJ Hill on day one. No action on day two that year. In 21, Mike Hilton and Chinobe-Auzzi were actually day two after Trey had to. So I was late day one. And going all the way back to 2020 when we started tracking this stuff, it was DJ Reeder and Trey Wains on day one and Xavier Suafilo on day two. So what do you think? Do you think they're bucking that trend this year?

Starting point is 00:29:59 And for the first time since Mike Gaseki, 2024, we're going to be talking about a player that Bengals are signing tomorrow. Yes. Yes, I do. And I wouldn't be shocked if it's Leo Chanel. I think it would be. It makes sense. and sometimes like it's very much like Brian Cook like it just makes so much sense

Starting point is 00:30:21 mafei makes sense you never know with with Eddrushers like makes so much sense you could see it from a mile away and if you could take man you want to talk about the Super Bowl they just added another guy that's been in these it will be such a narrative but guess what give me that narrative I would love it so yeah I think whether it's him, whether it's a defensive lineman, they're going to add another piece. And maybe tomorrow we'll have time to talk about the offense because there's one or two things that I would certainly enjoy if they could find a way to get done as well. Yeah, we've alluded to it and hit out it a couple of times, like the wide receiver depth, the tight end depth. I know that's what you're thinking about.

Starting point is 00:31:06 Maybe you're thinking about a swing tackle as well. Those are the things that are certainly on the mind, not necessarily top of mind. though, right? Like we're still thinking about the defense. We're still thinking about the holes on defense. They didn't go out there and have a day like, who was it? Who signed five defensive free agents today? Is it the Raiders?

Starting point is 00:31:25 The Raiders signed a bunch of guys. The Jets signed a bunch of guys. The Bears signed a few guys. Carolina signed a couple of big fish, but I think it was only two, Jalen Phillips and Devin Lloyd. Both players that, I wonder where the Bengals were. I think

Starting point is 00:31:41 Carolina paid a lot. But, for Phillips, 30 million. I wouldn't have paid that. Totally. It's a big contract where there's some injury risk. If you knew he was going to be healthy, I would pay that. Because I think he was healthy, then he could be a Trey Hendrickson level player. But just such a big question that is generally taken into account.

Starting point is 00:32:01 Like generally, teams are taking into account the injury stuff. So understand that. Devin Lloyd deal, I probably would have done. But honestly, like, as the crashouts were beginning today, James, because we were streaming, Joe Goodberry and I were doing a little live. stream. And as a crash out was beginning, I was looking at the deals that had been done. And I was like, man, I don't really think I would have necessarily jumped at any of these deals. Sure. Because early on, and I hinted at this earlier in one of our shows, I was like, man,

Starting point is 00:32:29 Jalen Phillips signed for 30 mil, going to be that kind of day. And then the Bengals got guys to agree to their structure at like pretty much the, the projected market rate, like a little bit over it for Mafei, but pretty much the projected market rate for it for both Cook and and Maffa. So I think it's a good day for them to find good players that were willing to take their structure that can come in and be big contributors right away and help solidify this thing on the defensive side of the ball again, certainly a higher level of competency than we saw from them in 25 and 24.

Starting point is 00:33:02 So good start for the Bengals, but more work to do. And we will have you covered when the rest of that work goes down. Of course, you're going to be kept up to date in the insider group. but join subtext.com slash lockdown Bengals as well. But that's going to do it for us today here on the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Until next time, thanks for listening. Ho-Day and have a go.

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