Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Buying and selling the latest Cincinnati Bengals rumors on Tee Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase, Mike Gesicki, and more!

Episode Date: March 2, 2025

With contract negotiations heating up, the spotlight is on Tee Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase, and Trey Hendrickson. Jake Liscow and James Rapien break down the latest rumors and news about ongoing negotiations between the Cincinnati Bengals and their star priorities this offseason. Plus, we explore news around a potential Mike Gesicki re-signing, how it may come to fruition, and why it might not make sense for Gesicki to accept an offer before free agency. Join the Locked On Bengals Insider Community! https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonbengalsFind and follow Locked On Bengals on your favorite podcast platforms:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/locked-on-bengals-daily-podcast-on-the-cincinnati-bengals/id1159723162Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7AObc0lh0WmQl5fJVgtajsGoogle Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vbG9ja2Vkb25iZW5nYWxz?sa=X&ved=0CAYQrrcFahcKEwio_sXtj8nuAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAgStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/locked-on-bengalsSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!ChewyChewy has everything you need to keep your pet happy and healthy. And right now you can save $20 on your first order and get free shipping by going to Chewy.com/LOCKEDONNFL.FanDuelRight now, new FanDuel customers can get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Bonus Bets if your first FIVE DOLLAR bet wins!Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Cincinnati Bengals were a popular topic of conversation as insiders wrapped up their week in Indianapolis with their various rumors and what they're hearing. Let's talk about what we're buying and what we've heard and reset what our expectations are for the Cincinnati Bengals after the combine. 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 Locked on Bengals Podcast. I'm your host Jake Liskow, he's your host, James Rapine, and we are Lockdown Bengals on the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. We're on YouTube. We're everywhere you get your podcast.

So if you're new to the show, you can hit that subscribe button to make sure you don't miss an episode. And what will be a very interesting time for the Cincinnati Bengals team over the next week or two as we get to free agency and into free agency and start thereafter tracking top 30 visits. I guess we can't call them top 30 visits anymore with draft prospects who are going to be. going to go to Paycourt after free agency or during free agency to visit with the Bengals as they prepare for the draft. We'll have all of that covered. And today we're going to dive into specifically some of these Bengals negotiations that appear to be ongoing, James. And a topic of conversation from insiders as they're all writing up there. Here's what we heard in Indianapolis stories that many of our listeners are reading as the combine comes to a close.

This episode brought to you by a Fandul where you can get $150 in bonus vets if your first, $5 bet wins at bandoel.com if you're a new customer. And James, let's dive into these various rumors. I think a lot of people really reacting to the most recent report as of the time of recording that has drawn a big reaction, the Diana Rusini report, where she summarized where things are for many of the Bengals' ongoing contract negotiations. Yeah, I think that's first and foremost where you start. And whether it's T. Higgins or Jemar Chase, I think on,

Saturday when she released this report, it made Bengals fans nervous, made their eyebrows go up a little bit, good, bad, indifferent. Look, the Bengals are the most interesting team in the NFL. It's where they're at right now because they have the top free agent. They have arguably the best quarterback who wants them to pay the top free agent, who wants them to play the league leader, pay the league leader in sacks, and the best receiver in football also needs to get paid, by the way. Like that's a hell of a quartet of things that they're trying to figure out. And so when Rossini drops the Bengals plan, pay everyone, and then she goes into detail. And let's start with T because I do think, I don't know about you, T is the first domino that has to fall because of the tag deadline on Tuesday. And they're going to use the tag on T, book it if they don't get a long term deal done.

but she said, quote, with the possibility of the franchise tag being placed on T, I was told the Bengals decision makers are stressing the need to get a long-term deal done with a 26-year-old. The organization has not informed Higgins' side about whether he will be tagged before Tuesday's deadline. All right. I'll inform Higgins' side, even though I think they do know. Not that I'm arguing with her report, I just think everyone should know by now. The Bengals are going to tag T by that 4 p.m. deadline on Tuesday if they don't get a long-term deal done. He will not become a free agent. But the fact that there is at least some urgency in this report, I would say, to get something done before that tag deadline.

I think that would be the best case scenario for all involved, just to get it done, not have to go the tag route, not have to extend the negotiations. Plus getting it done before free agency, I think is a huge, huge job though. That would be nice. Whether or not it gets done by Tuesday, that really isn't a huge deal for me. might annoy T if he gets tagged, but if you get it done before free agency, it's certainly beneficial. We've talked about all of the reasons

that it would make sense from T side, from the agent's side to force the tag to happen and then agree to an extension, perhaps afterwards. Getting to the point where there's a franchise tag means you can technically talk with other teams if the teams want to put offers in writing and try to put the Bengals in a situation where they match

or get two first round picks. Technically, that becomes possible if your franchise tag. but from the agent's perspective, and we've talked about this, Dave of Malageta is going to be out there after T signs whatever deal he signs, unless he goes and makes $35 million on the franchise tag and a tag and trade or something like that, saying, I would have done better for T. And Rocky Arsenal, who is representing these guys,

wants to at least make it look like he put up a fight, right? He wants to get future clients. That's part of his angle. So I do think there's incentive for the agent. I think there's incentive for T to wait as long as possible until you know exactly what your options are and then assess. I think that he is still motivated to remain in Cincinnati. The agent change certainly tells you that. I don't know if I even buy that the Bengals haven't told his representation whether or not they plan to use a tag.

Maybe they haven't been explicit about it. But I think everyone with common sense expects it at this point. I also agree, James. I don't know if this gets done by that franchise tag deadline, which is now imminent, but I do still think that there is some fire under their butts to get this done before free agency opens because they, as well as us, are aware that that franchise tag number is immovable in terms of the cap hit. That puts $26 million of a cap hit on your books and doesn't give you that free wiggle room.

to negotiate around or move that money around as you will with the normal contract extension or contract agreement and have that flexibility in this year's free agency period. So I would still be surprised if it's done before the tag deadline. I'm not ruling it out. I think it's possible. But then it's can they get it done before free agency? And that's really the important deadline here for the Bengals in terms of all that cap flexibility. I think they'll still be able to operate in free agency if they do still have the tag on the books.

it just makes it a little bit harder, a little bit more uncomfortable, and there's more projection involved with figuring out where that deal may eventually fall if they eventually do get it done. And let's be honest here, from a T. Higgins standpoint, and you hit on this, you absolutely want to make them tag you. It's hard to, whether it's your agent or not, like you're this close to free agency. If you can get there, then you know you're going to be one of the highest paid receivers in the league and you still very well could be but make them tag you make them go through that formality

if it is that once that happens there is no reason why the bengals and tea shouldn't have all of the the motivation to get something done until then you could argue if you're tea you're the number one free agent make them do it um or try to get you know try to get the free agency but once that happens why wait if you're tea why wait if you're the bengals you you're the bengals you You want him. He wants you. All of the above. Get it done.

And so it should, let's say they tag T Tuesday because it doesn't get done. And who knows, maybe it does before then. But just get it done this week. Let's do the Bengals signed T. Higgins to a three or four year contract extension this week. Get that done and move forward. And that's where I think a lot of fans are. They understand that the Bengals want to keep these guys. but until you see it, it's much different in their skepticism,

especially because of Jesse Bates, because of the sour taste of very clearly creating a hole by letting DJ Reader leave, even though he had the injury issues and there's age and all those things. Guess what? T. Higgins is someone that you clearly want, and he wants to be here. Will they get it done?

This week would make a ton of sense and I really think that there is Duke to, we're going to talk about Jamar in a second. Duke Tobin talked about a blueprint for Jamar. I think there's a pretty good blueprint for T. There are teams that paid the Jalen Waddles and the Devante Smiths of the world. Guess what? Give him a bit more.

Get to that $27, $28 million range. And then he's going to feel really good. If you have to get to 30, it doesn't really matter as long as he was willing to structure it a certain way. You've done this. It's not going to hurt that much. if they go from 28 to 30 on an average annual value basis, and it makes T feel good because it's a three instead of a two eight.

So they can certainly make it happen. We'll see if they do. But yeah, this is the, you want to see some urgency when the tag gets done from both sides to get something done. Yeah, I think there is some incentive to get it done sooner than later unless the options presented to T after the franchise tag when it is legal for him to talk to other teams are very compelling.

I still think that that's trending toward resolution. I think that it will still take a little bit of time, but negotiations, as I understand it, are ongoing. I think they've been trying to get something done. They've been talking. The parallel paths Duke Tobin talked about for Jamar Chase and for T. Higgins are, I believe, certainly in progress.

And you mentioned Jamar Chase, James, We can discuss this next because Diana Rusini's report there is that the Bengals and Jamar Chase are not close, which I don't think matters at all. And we can talk about why that might be coming up next. When the game tips off, you got to get to Fandall because NBA action is just getting started. And there's no better place to get in on all the fun than with Fandle, America's number one sports book. With Fandle, you can place live bets throughout the game. So even if you miss the opening tip off or you want to bet on a fourth quarter comeback, you can stay in on the action. And that's the beauty of betting on NBA is you can live bet it.

And if a team that was favored going in is down by 20, let's say the Celtics are up on the Cavaliers, 25 to 3, might be a live bet the Cavaliers. And, well, we saw what happened in Boston the other night. That's the fun of NBA basketball. That's the fun of America's number one sportsbook fan doing. You better believe that they have NFL future bets as well. So if you think the Bengals are going to keep the big three

and add some pieces and be a legitimate Super Bowl contender, get in on all the action. right now with Fandall where new customers can get $150 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins. Just visit fandle.com to join today. That's fandle.com for your shot at $150 in bonus bets. Make every moment more with Fandall, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. The Bengals and Jamar Chase, James, far apart, according to Diana Rusini's reporting,

I think this is an embellishment. I don't think it matters. What do you think? I think that if I'm Jamar, I would ask for $45 million per year initially. Fort and if I'm the Bengals, I would offer him $35 and a half million per year, slightly more than Justin Jefferson. Right. And so it could really easily be something like that where you know it's going to be between 38 and 40.

And I think that's your point. And that's my point. And pretty sure that's why Duke Tobin mentioned the blueprint. it's pretty clear where they're going to end up. And to me, that's why you want to get T done, because then you can focus on Jammar. I think in a perfect world, Jake, and the world isn't perfect. Spoiler, shocker, hot take, whatever you want to say.

You have both star receivers done before free agency. I don't know how realistic that is. I think T is the one at this point that feels the most likely to get done first. But Jamar is right there behind him. there's there's a blueprint there is like whether it's 38 or 40 that's the range the guaranteed money you you have it you understand it and we've seen whether it's justin jefferson cd lamb these top receivers after their fourth season they're going into that fifth year option season sign a four-year contract extension so the blueprint is there and i don't think these things aren't

as complicated as they may sound it shouldn't take that long to get something done if both sides are motivated to do so. Yeah, I think this idea that they're far apart is probably an allusion to the number that we've seen reported over and over in the last month or so, the $40 million number, right? We've seen numerous outlets talk about Jamar Chase's $40 million. Sure. And where do you think that's coming from? I think that there is a push that is certainly not coming from the team that Jamar She

would like to be or would like to see that that he's the first non-quarterback in the NFL to eclipse or touch 40 million dollars and there will be some other deals this year that that could go crazy micha parsons miles garrett edge rushers non-receivers and duke tovin has said that they're ready to make jimar chase the highest paid non-quarterback in the NFL so in terms of incentive to get things done sooner than later if you're really worried about those edge markets that the edge really going crazy. Well, that's also an argument for Trey Hendrickson, which we'll talk about here in a few minutes. But it also applies to Jamar Chase with Duke Tobin committing to making Jamar Chase the highest paid non-quarterback in the NFL.

So I think that when you're talking far apart, that might mean it might mean something as crazy as 35 and 45. It's probably more like, you know, maybe 41 and 37 and talking about guarantees and cash. flow and where certain money falls and what money is guaranteed. And I don't really think it matters right now. I think honestly, while I agree that it would be certainly better than not to get this done before free agency, I don't think that these, their far apart reports matter until after the draft. Like it would be very uncomfortable if it gets there, but I don't think it really tangibly matters. And maybe even in the summer.

Like as long as you get Jamar Chase done and happy before training camp, this isn't a Thursday before the first regular season game situation again. But that's far from ideal at that point. It's just to me not the biggest deal. Yeah, I get that. I also think knowing their history that you want them to spend an ad and then spend some more. And just having Jamar done without them in the back of their mind being like, yeah, we still got to get Jamar done.

Having the clarity of the financial situation. Yeah, I think that that is huge for how they will operate in free agency. And so, again, perfect world. To your point, I don't think it's panic button time. I mean, I'll look it up right now as for Jefferson extension. When did? So Justin Jefferson agreed to an extension in early June last year. So it's not like it was done in March.

And so to your point, it can happen and it can be fine. And as long as it's done before training camp and you have full on Jamar Chase from the moment they report in late July for training camp, great. But it would be nice. And it would be nice to have some clarity because then they could be much more, I think, aggressive in who they're targeting with a clearer mind. Just because I know, you know that it'll be like, yeah, we still got to pay Jamar. Yeah, we're calling this guy, but we still got to pay Jamar. Which is crazy because they know what that contract is going to look like. No doubt.

They know within a million, a million a half dollars what the cap impact will be, what the cash flow will be. Like they know those things, even if they're not there on the detail. So it shouldn't matter. And the cap should go down. His cap hit should go down when that happens too. At least a little bit. Yeah, because he's on the books right now for 21 and change for 2025 in terms of a cap hit.

That's a fifth year option. They can increase his cash flow. they can get them $40 million in cash and have that cap hit go down because of the way cap accounting works. And so if they need that cap flexibility, early in free agency, that's another reason to get it done. If they need another few million dollars in caps based in 2025 to fit in some more players that they want to bring in an unrestricted free agency, that that would be another reason to get it done for sure.

But as I understand it all along, until something really goes off the rails, this is essentially a when not if situation with Jamar Chase. And that doesn't mean that the when doesn't matter. But I think that hearing that they're far apart, if that is triggering alarm bells for you, I'm just not there yet personally. I think that there's plenty of time for them to close that gap and get this done comfortably.

But where the when starts to matter is if Jamar is holding it again. in any way, shape, or form. Don't want to deal with that at any point in the last season. No, not at all. I mean, that's a huge, huge thing that impacted the early part of last year. We know it. Then it does matter for sure. They know it, no doubt.

And so it can't happen. Got to get it done. If it's June, fine. Just don't let it impact you in free agency. That's what it comes down to, really. Don't let it impact you in free agency. If you get T done, then that would be great because, That will impact you some in free agency if you don't.

If you're just tagging T and that's it, I do think that that will matter a little bit for them. So hopefully, hopefully they can get both of these done. And then obviously you have the lingering Trey Hendrickson one. But you've said this a few times, Jake, the big four. And in the back of my mind, I've always dismissed it. Because there's a very clear gap between the big three and Mike Gisicki. and the big three is obviously T. Higgins, Stramar Chase, and Trey Hendricksson.

But Joe Burrow wants Mike Gassicki. We will discuss the latest with Mike and much, much more coming up next. We go on Mike Gassicki next? We go on Trey Hendrickson next here, Trey. James, I called you Trey. Trey. Blackout Trey's about to come for you, man. You better watch out.

That's the best compliment you ever gave Trey. All right, no, I'm just kidding. All right, let's go with Trey. He's part of the big three. the Mike Gissiki stuff is the most recent element. So I at least wanted to tease that since apparently it is a big four. But let's get to Trey. So Trey Hendrickson, as I understand it, still actively working on that extension.

That's what we were told last week. I think that that is true. I do not think that there is a great incentive for the Bengals to trade Trey Hendrickson. I think they understand that his value would be depressed at this point because any team that acquires him would have to get an extension done. I think that we didn't mention this with T. The Debo Samuel trade probably pretends that I know they're different players in different situations and all those things, but T would need a new contract too that would probably be similar to Debo's. And I think that that is not necessarily a good sign for what the Bengals would be able

to get in terms of return for T that would actually cause them to be willing to make that trade, knowing how the Bengals are when it comes to their own players. But specifically, on Trey. I don't think that they want to trade Trey Hendrickson, but Duke Tobin's rhetoric that he's under contract that he mentioned multiple times last week is the one big difference between Trey and and Jammar and T.

Like Jammar technically under contract too, but they're not messing with that again. Trey, that one year under contract is something that they'll have to work through. That being said, Trey has agreed to the Bengal structure twice and I think that they are comfortable working together, Trey's agent and the Cincinnati Bengals last year's bliff, notwithstanding. The fact that they've been able to get a deal done twice, including an extension at one point,

suggests that they should be able to come to a resolution. But I'm less certain that they will get something done there. I think that one is a little bit lower probability, but I do think things are progressing, or at least they're negotiating. I guess I should say, and working towards something there. Yeah, I agree. I think, Trey has zero leverage, to be quite honest. Already went with the trade route, rescinded that thing so quickly.

It was like he was running the 40-yard dash. It was so quick. And so, yeah, he deserves a raise. Yes, the Bengals agree to that. And I think they want to give him a bump in years. I would be surprised if they go past 28-ish million in base. Maybe you get him some incentives if he's really worried about that three mark, give him some incentives that he can potentially hit.

But I think it's that two-year. It's going to be a two-year extension, 28-ish million, and incentives that might get it closer to 30. That would be, if I had to predict today, that would be what I think it is. and that's educated speculation, I would say. And I'll just reiterate, well, I agree. I'll reiterate that the Bengals should not be afraid to put that third year on there because of the way NFL contracts work.

No money is ever guaranteed outside of the first two years. So you're not worried about guarantees. The Bengals are obviously worried about dead money. Duke Tobin just told you how proud they are and how little dead money they have. And spoiler, there's more coming. There are more cuts coming. I think most of the expected cuts that we've talked about will be a right. and they might not happen until free agency

until some replacements are lined up. But the Bengals have this dead money aversion, but again, we're talking in four years from now. So you've got 25, 26, 27, 28, if you do a three-year extension for Trey Hendrickson. You're worried about a little bit of a dead cap hit in 2028, and that's what's stopping you from getting the deal done

if he wants a third year on the extension. He's never asked. I don't think it's that. I think they wonder if Trey will be good in 2027. 27's forever from now. Oh, yeah, for sure. And by the way, I don't blame him. I think he'll be really good this year.

And that he's 31. And then he could be really good again. And then he's still got a year. If you give him three, you're talking about a whole other year after that. That third year, if you give a two-year extension, that third year, he might be an eight-sat guy. My only point here is from a cap perspective, from a cash perspective, there's no concern, right? if they need to cut him going into that third year, if they were to do a third year on the extension,

that would be the same cap impact as using an extra void year. That's it. It would be the same cap impact. That year is such a fake year at the back end of these sorts of deals. You're focused on that year. He may suck in 2027 is what I'm trying to say. And that's probably how the Bengals view it. I know that sounds crazy.

But then you have to deal with the, sure. But then he sucks in 2027. Like, yeah. So the reason you do too is because you get this year, probably another prime year, close to it. You have 26 where maybe he's showing signs and you can make a call. And then there you go. Like I think that would be their logic, just knowing them.

So I don't think that they're, I would be really surprised if they gave him three. I think I would also be surprised. But from like a financial perspective, there's almost no downside to doing three. Except having a highly played player in 2027. Yeah, but they can cut them before 27 if they need to too. Sure.

Even if they have an extra year. Sure. You could, but are they likely? Just think about how quickly Sam Hubbard kind of just hit his wall. And he's younger than Trey. So again, differences here, right? So we don't want to be drawing the comparison between Trey Henderson and Sam Hubbard as a pass rush ride.

That's not your intent. I would expect a gradual decline with Trey Hendrickson. Agreed. players performing at that level for as long as he has, unless there's significant injury, you should expect to see gradual decline, not Cliff, coming from Tray Hendrickson. I would sign him. I'm not saying that. I just, I'm not, I wouldn't love the idea of, oh, we have Tray Hendrickson for the next

four years, let's say in May 31st. I like the idea of the next three years much better. The only point I was trying to make there is that the third year is essentially immaterial, like two or three years. It should be essentially no difference to you if you're the Bengals. There's like a little bit of dead money difference to worry about. That's it. Yeah.

And so we'll see. I do think that that has as much of a chance to be the hang up as any of it, whether or not it should be or not is another story, of course. We've seen Tray to agree. We've seen Tray agree to their structure. So hopefully guarantees aren't an issue there. But we'll see what happens on that edge market too, right? There are a lot of good edge rushers in this draft class. there are a lot of potential edge rushers on the move in the trade market this offseason.

There's a handful of solid players and free agency as well. So a lot of moving parts there in the edge market overall. Let's get to Mike Gaseki, though, James says. Reports on Sunday indicate that the Bengals may try to get Gaseki done before free agency opens. And that would be a little bit of a surprise to me, James. The way that I could see this working out is that the Bengals have realized that they would like to continue to run the Gasekii Seki plus true 12 personnel tight end packages and are like, I don't see how we're going to get there on personnel unless we bring Gaseki back. And they've had some realization that is, oh, we actually do need to pay Mike Gaseki because otherwise we cannot do the two tight end package reliably.

Because if they don't, you're talking about needing two tight ends again. And there's like four tight ends on the open market this year. It's slim picking. So that's the only way I see that happening. my understanding of what was going on with Gaseki was it could be very much like Haydenhurst or C.J. Usama where they get to free agency, the Bengals see what the offer is, and they're not willing to go that high. But interesting to see these reports suggesting that perhaps he's become more of a priority. What are your thoughts around that?

Yeah, I think I lean that way that they're not going to. And I have the whole time. It's not a big four. I like Mike a lot. It's not a big four. and he was really important. I also think Duke Tobin mentioned a few times as much as he likes Mike. Like, yeah, we've had some success plugging in these different guys at tight end.

And so this is a quote, though, that I'll read. Because this idea, we talked about T. Higgins and why he wouldn't sign before getting tagged when he knows he's not going to get to free agency. Does this sound like a guy in Mike Gassiki? We talked to him a few days after the end of the, the end of the, the regular season. And he said, I came off of a career year, got franchise tagged. He's talking about his last year in Miami.

So I wasn't able to hit the market then. And then went to New England wasn't utilized nearly as much as I anticipated. So then my market was super low. And he signed a one year deal up to $3.75 million with the Bengals last off season. He went on to say, not that the only thing on my mind is making up money, but like it's definitely a motivation or it's definitely a thought process in my mind. but you have to take a lot of things into account. Praiseboro during that as well, loves being in Cincinnati.

He's also thinking about his bank account as he should. And so it's really hard for me to think of a scenario where he's like, you know what, in this weak, tight end free agent class, I don't even want to get there. Maybe, maybe they go three for 24 or something like that, right, to keep my kisiki around. I just, we haven't seen that yet. that one of our combine, at least one of my combine takeaways, I mean, I think there's some good tight ends in this class. Shocker. And so if you're the Bengals, I don't know. I just, I don't know if they'll, they'll be willing to do that and give, because really what you're saying is give

Mike Kisiki an offer that is so good that he's like, you know what, I don't need to get to free agency. I'm great. And that's, that's tough to do because he's like a week away from getting there. Yeah. I wonder, well, and that's where a lot of deals do get done. to be fair is in the week before free agency. Typically, I think we don't see February deals. Maybe late February you see some. We did see some late February last week. But this is where you typically see you guys resigning.

If the Bengals are going to bring them back, I think you could see some lower end deals for the Bengals this week. You could see some linebackers back, some fringe end of the roster linebackers back potentially. You could see them go after some of them. go after some of those lower lower dollar guys in the next week. If Kisukeki is among them,

I guess I shouldn't say I would be surprised at this point because of the reports that we saw and primarily Jeremy Fowler like I think you mentioned or I mentioned somebody mentioned the source of that information. I shouldn't be surprised because he's reported it, but I feel like I would still be a little bit surprised if that gets done.

Yeah, I would do. I would too. Because even if it's a priority, if you're Mike, why wouldn't you get to free agency? Just to see, you might get three for 30. That might happen. You don't know. Yeah. The other thing is, I can guarantee you that tampering's going crazy right now.

And he has an idea of what his value is. His agent 100% has an idea of what his value would be to various teams that he's talked to in Indianapolis over the last week. Yeah, that's a good point. And we have seen some deals get done. There's also Daniel Jeremiah said with this free. in class that these teams are going to try to get deals. I get that. And by the way, if you like Cincinnati and they're offering you a really good number, why wouldn't you stay at the same time? Like, does that one million, like, you know what it was like in New England. Does that one million

dollar difference make sense? Like, CJ Usama made the wrong choice, obviously, to go to New York. There's an awful decision. And they signed Tyler Conklin as well. And apparently that Conklin deal was pretty much done when Uzama made the decision to go to New York. Like, just ridiculous. he ended up getting a ring as a member of the Eagles, but those jet stays were rough, right? If you're Giseki, it's probably nice catch and passes from Joe Burrow and having 60 plus catches, a bunch of targets and 600 plus yards every season. If it's close, I could see that being a tiebreaker for sure

if the money is within a certain reasonable range. What's reasonable? You think like a million is reasonable? I was thinking 500,000. but maybe it goes up to a million, maybe it has to do with state income tax, depending on where the team is located. I think that can make a difference as well.

Maybe it has to do with cash flow, maybe it has to do with guarantees, depending on what's offered. It's going to depend on demand quite a bit as well. But like you said, in a year where the free agent class is not necessarily chalkful of talent and some of the higher-end players

that were potentially goal, going to be available or reportedly getting close to deals with their previous team or have been franchise tagged or going to be franchise tagged, it would make sense for teams to try to get their guys back. And like I said, if there's this world where the Bengals have realized they need a guy like Mike Gaseki and they can't figure out how they're going to get a guy like Mike Gaseki and a guy like Eric Al in the same off season, given what we just talked about with this tight end class, that could light a fire under their butts. And we'll see. We'll see what happens there. I think the other thing the Bengals can do is they can point to what happened with those Bengals.

tight ends, like you said, that left the Bengals for other teams that paid them more, but we're not in good situations. And you don't see the, you don't come close to seeing the entirety of those deals, right? But understand where Mike's coming from, too, obviously trying to get paid for the first significant time outside of that franchise tag and potentially the last great opportunity for a payday in his NFL career. So totally understand that incentive for him as well. Yeah. It's one of the many dominoes that are going to fall one way or the other. And that's why you come to Lockdown Bengals.

It's busy time now, Jake. It's March. March Madness is here. And I'm not talking college hoops, baby. Yeah, we get like one more week of temporary sort of relative calm before, but will be an absolute storm in free agency. But the calm is very relative. I mean, we're not, we're not feeling,

it's not going to necessarily be that kind of calm week. We've got some cuts to talk about as well, James. what we can expect from the Bengals in terms of cuts, and we'll have to get to what we hope and think the Bengals will do in a free agency as well over the next week here before that negotiating window opens. We're just about a week away. We got a franchise tag deadline. So some expectations.

And we've also got a combine that's totally done. I have thoughts on some of the players and some of the workouts of the combine as well. We'll see if we have time for that this week, too. That's going to do it though for this episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Until next time, thanks for listening. Ho-Day and have a good one.