News Bengals Team Notes

[Cincinnati Bengals]

2025 NFL Free Agent Profile: Brandon Scherff

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

The Bengals are in need of multiple guards this offseason. While they will undoubtedly look at the draft, one veteran free agent makes sense for the short-term.

Before the onset of true, open 2025 NFL free agency, the Cincinnati Bengals made the tough but predictable decision to release veteran right guard Alex Cappa. The team wanted to create some extra financial wiggle room for the eventual mega-extensions to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but the Bengals also felt that a possible option for improvement would be available on the open market.

While the talent available at guard was apparent, questions about the options also lingered. Health was a major concern, while fit and age were also factors to consider with those available for signing.

Cincinnati flirted with Teven Jenkins, but his injury history seemed to scare them off, and he ultimately landed with the Browns. The Bengals did sign versatile veteran Lucas Patrick, but the sense is that they may be looking at another veteran to pair with a pick (or two) at the interior of the offensive line in this year’s draft class.

Brandon Scherff is still available on the market and could provide short-term steadiness at right guard. In both the positive and negative ways, the signing would be an extremely Bengals-like move, but it could provide immediate value.

Brandon Scherff​

• Height: 6-foot-5
• Weight: 315
• Years Pro: Entering 11th season
• Age: 33 (Turns 34 in December)
• College: Iowa
• Hometown: Denison, Iowa
• RAS:

(Editor’s Note: This was in context as Scherff being an NFL guard and not a tackle, as he played at Iowa)

Background​

Scherff opted to stay in his home state of Iowa for college ball, joining the Hawkeyes as a three-star recruit, as well as a high school track and field standout (shot put and discus).

After redshirting as a freshman, Scherff played in eleven games at left guard with three starts. He subsequently replaced star left tackle Riley Reiff (does that name sound familiar?) at that spot, but his season was cut short by a broken fibula.

He then asserted himself as a top offensive lineman prospect the following year but opted to stay for one final year at Iowa. It paid off, as he earned the Outland Trophy and eventually became the No. 5 overall pick in 2015 by Washington.

Even though he had a track record of success as a left tackle, most pundits believed his best career trajectory was as a guard, and that proved true. He anchored the right guard spot for Washington, earning five Pro Bowl berths and a First-Team All-Pro nomination (2020) in seven seasons there.

He then left for Jacksonville three years ago, signing a three-year, $49.5 million deal, and was once again regarded as both a consistent performer and a team leader. The Jaguars are in a state of turnover, of sorts, so Scherff is not in their future plans.

Strengths and Weaknesses​

Scherff embodies NFL consistency and leadership. As for the former, the All-Star resume speaks for itself, but he was also a team captain in both Washington and Jacksonville.

He is very stout in pass protection, especially when picking up blitzing defenders and/or stunts by defensive linemen. Even at 32 and 33 years old last year, Scherff had a respectable Pro Football Focus score and has received high marks throughout his career.

The health question is an odd anomaly with Scherff. Oddly enough, he missed games with ailments in four of his five Pro Bowl seasons but has been incredibly healthy since joining the Jags, playing in 17 games in each of the past three years.

Has he staved off Father Time? That’s the big question for any team looking to sign him, even if only for a short-term deal.

His run-blocking skills aren’t as adept as his pass protection, but they are serviceable. The team that signs him should get one or two solid years of performance as he closes out his great career.

Outlook​

It will be intriguing to see what the Bengals’ plans are for Patrick. Is he competition for Cordell Volson, additional depth with versatility, or is he a guy to fill Cappa’s shoes immediately?

While a contract for Scherff won’t be a bank-breaker, there are signs of a team signing a player like Scherff as an “all-in move.” The interior of the line has been a problem for a while now, and Scherff would undoubtedly bring stability, even if only for one year.

The team captain designations and ability to mentor young players also have to appeal to Cincinnati as they attempt to get back to their championship goals. These are facets that Zac Taylor has valued since becoming the head coach in Cincinnati.

“How much is left in the tank?” is, of course, the lingering question. But if the Bengals pounce on promising interior players in the draft, Scherff would just need to be capable and dependable for a short time.

Of course, the contract will have to make sense for both parties. Cincinnati is still trying to navigate the Trey Hendrickson situation after the big deals for Chase and Higgins, so it’s possible they are waiting to crunch those numbers before going after a player like Scherff.

The veteran guard may also be waiting for the ideal opportunity—namely landing with a contender. Still, we’ve seen the Bengals sign these types of offensive line veterans before while grooming promising prospects behind them. Reiff and Richmond Webb are just a couple of examples of the team doing so.

This episode is brought you in part by FOCO, the “Fans Only Company. One of their upcoming releases is a very special one, not only because of the players featured, but in the fact that it is a limited release of only 75 in production. Check out the Ja’Marr Chase/Carl Pickens Rookie of the Year bobblehead for pre-release purchase here.

Check out our podcasts here on CJ, the Bleav in Cincy podcast feed, Spotify, Amazon, our YouTube channel, and as always, on iTunes!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/3/26/24394045/brandon-scherff-2025-nfl-free-agent-profile-bengals

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Jordan Schultz explains the night Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins got their deals done

Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images

What a story.

Shortly after Fox NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reported the news about the Cincinnati Bengals signing star wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to massive contract extensions, we learned that Schultz was actually out to dinner with the duo when he reported the news.

Higgins tweeted out a handshak emoji just before Schultz reported the deals and terms. Chase followed up by quoting Schultz’ post with a handshake emoji of his own and it turns out they were all three in the same room together.

Schultz recently released a video on Twitter explaining how the night went, and it is a great story.

Here’s the full story of the night Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins agreed to their extensions — and what went down over dinner at “Prime 112” in Miami before we dropped the bombshell news to the world.

Elite animated storytelling by @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/XyBB4Vcv10 https://t.co/dOBTlqZwWU

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 26, 2025​

One of the most intriguing parts of the story is Schultz highlighting just how close Chase and Higgins are. It is clear that throughout the whole process, the two staying together and playing with Joe Burrow was the top priority.

Schultz even shares how he asked for both players’ input on the wording of his tweet when he announced the extensions, adding that Chase wanted Higgins to sign off on the post before it went out.

A great story about two friends who not only got life-changing money, but got to announce their contracts to the world together.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/3/...t-jamarr-chase-tee-higgins-deals-done-bengals

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Bengals 3-round mock draft: Defense is the main focus

Mykel Williams (13) goes for a sack against Texas | Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Cincinnati is able to fill holes with the best available players.

Two down and one to go.

With Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in the books, that just leaves Trey Hendrickson. It’s obviously not going to be an easy negotiation, but for the purposes of this latest mock draft, we will assume that the Bengals’ front office will find a way to get it done.

That being said, the three biggest needs for the Cincinnati Bengals are defensive end, defensive tackle, and offensive guard. And the nice thing is that they should be able to fill all three needs with the best player available — the best of both worlds.

Round 1, 17th Overall​

With the 17th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft the Cincinnati Bengals select...​

Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia​

At 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, Williams has the size that the Bengals covet in a defensive end. While his college production was not what you might expect (he finished his three-year Bulldog career with 14 sacks, including five in 2024), the sky is the limit. Williams boasts that rare combination of power, length, and natural ability and showed flashes of dominance, but his inconsistency will give some teams pause.

However, if new defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery can help Williams expand his pass rush arsenal while making the most of his physical gifts, the Bengals could have a true game-changer on their hands.

Round 2, 49th Overall​

With the 49th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft the Cincinnati Bengals select...​

Tyleik Williams, Defensive Line, The Ohio State University​

It was not that long ago that the Bengals boasted a 330-pound run-stuffing behemoth in the middle of their defense. But when they let DJ Reader walk to the Detroit Lions, that same defense lost its way. Cincinnati hoped to remedy that with the signing of free agent T.J. Slaton and look to add another one in Williams.

Williams, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs in at 334 pounds, is that rare athlete who brings three-down potential. He has explosive power and nimble feet for such a big man and was able to dominate against top competition. Expect him to make an immediate impact as a run defender while developing into a pass-rush threat over time.

Round 3, 81st Overall​

With the 81st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft the Cincinnati Bengals select...​

Wyatt Milum, Guard, West Virginia​

At 6-foot-6.5 and 313 pounds, Milum is an imposing figure who is ready to contribute immediately. His combination of power, technical skill and production make him an asset in the run game, and he has shown the ability to hold up against the pass.

While Milum played left tackle, he is projected to move to guard in the NFL due to his shorter arms. He actually moved to guard for the Senior Bowl.

Some publications list Milum as an early Day 2 target, but if he is still waiting when the Bengals draft in Round 3, this one would be a no-brainer decision for Cincinnati.

How do you like this three-round draft for the Bengals?

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/3/27/24392907/bengals-3-round-mock-draft-defense

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Bengals to meet with Jack Sawyer

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

The Bengals desperately need pass-rusher help.

The NFL Draft is quickly approaching, and the Cincinnati Bengals are looking to add some young talent that helps them return to the playoffs.

At the moment, it seems that the Bengals front office will be focused on adding some depth on the defensive side of the ball, but now they have been tied to a star pass rusher.

Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer worked out at the Buckeyes Pro Day and mentioned that he will be meeting with the Bengals. The team's director of player personnel, Duke Tobin, was in attendance for the workout.

With Sam Hubbard now retired and things still up in the air with Trey Hendrickson, it appears the staff if starting to pivot to addressing the need for another edge rusher via the draft.

There won’t be many better prospects available than Sawyer when the Bengals' first selection happens. He finished this past season with 59 tackles, including nine sacks. He also added three forced fumbles and an interception.

It should be interesting to see how this develops going forward, as most mock drafts have Sawyer going in the later first round or early second round. Will the Bengals use their first-round pick on the talented edge rusher? Or will they wait it out and see if they can land him in the second?

Will be fun to watch. Add another name to the list, folks.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/3/...s-ohio-state-buckeyes-football-nfl-draft-2025

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Trey Hendrickson latest, Lucas Patrick Intro and Draft options: OBI

Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Bengals shored up their interior of the offensive line with a versatile veteran—what does he bring to the table? We also chat about the latest with Trey Hendrickson and give you a draft profile on this latest episode of The Orange and Black Insider.

While free agency in general has hit a lull, the Bengals are pondering their next moves. A recent one included the signing of a versatile veteran offensive lineman in Lucas Patrick.

What does he bring to the table? Is he in line for an immediate starting spot? We take a look at that acquisition on this episode of The Orange and Black Insider.

We also have a chat about the latest with Trey Hendrickson. As more time passes, is that a good sign, or as we inch closer to the draft, might that bring a deal?

All of that, plus a draft prospect profile! Join us Friday at 4:15 p.m. ET for the live show, or else catch it on your favorite platform afterward!

This episode is brought you in part by FOCO, the “Fans Only Company. One of their upcoming releases is a very special one, not only because of the players featured, but in the fact that it is a limited release of only 75 in production. Check out the Ja’Marr Chase/Carl Pickens Rookie of the Year bobblehead for pre-release purchase here.

Check out our podcasts here on CJ, the Bleav in Cincy podcast feed, Spotify, Amazon, our YouTube channel, and as always, on iTunes!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/3/...est-lucas-patrick-intro-and-draft-options-obi

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Joe Burrow called out the Bengals, but they can’t do business like the Eagles

Cara Owsley/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles can’t do contracts the same way.

Fans of the Cincinnati Bengals can finally rest easy knowing that the trio of offensive weapons the team boasts are under contract and locked in for the next several seasons.

It didn’t work out quite like Joe Burrow said in an interview at the Super Bowl, where he noted that the Philadelphia Eagles seem to pay everyone, as the Bengals are still working towards a resolution to the unhappiness voiced by All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson. However, the reality of the situation is likely why Hendrickson and the team have not reached an agreement on a contract extension that would keep Hendrickson with the Bengals for several more seasons.

As noted in the lead-up to the team signing Higgins and Chase, while all teams have the same amount of cap space to spend each season, not every team has the same cash budget. And the difference between the cash positions of various teams across the league is not small.

For Cincinnati cash is an issue, and likely will continue to be for the foreseeable future. Located in a smaller market with an owner who inherited the team, the Bengals are not a franchise that will be at the top of the league in terms of cash spending anytime soon.

In fact, just the opposite, the Bengals consistently come in just below league average when it comes to cash spending on player salaries, without a lot of variance.

NFL Team Cash Spending v. Team Wins.
2011-2024 (modern CBA era)
2020-2024 (5 year)
2022-2024 (3 year) pic.twitter.com/xdCIahp2et

— TexansCap (@TexansCap) January 14, 2025​

They certainly have years where they spend more and years where they spend less, but at the end of the day the Bengals are a team that must operate and exist off the cash flows generated by the team, rather than making use of large cash infusions from a deep-pocketed owner.

As a result of that difference, the Bengals are forced to operate differently than a team like the Eagles. While the Eagles have the cash on hand, or at least access to enough cash to make it seem like they are “paying everybody”, the way the Eagles accomplish that is by using cash payments to players to dip into future cap seasons.

Teams have done this since the beginning of the salary cap era more than three decades ago, but with greater transparency and visibility for fans, it has become better understood.

At a very basic level the salary cap is supposed to put teams on a level playing field by forcing teams to operate within the same budgetary constraints. However, because of the way the cap accounts for signing bonuses – in that cash paid to a player today is recognized against the cap over as many as five years – teams quickly realized they could give big chunks of cash to players today and take the cap charge in the future.

This, of course, effectively borrows cap space from future seasons so that rather than all teams operating within identical budgetary constraints, cash-rich teams can front-load contracts with large signing bonuses and push the cap hits into future seasons. Not to stop there, cap management teams of several franchises have become very aggressive in borrowing from future seasons, going so far as to add artificial years (called “void years”) to contracts to borrow from future cap years while paying a player today. This graphic is a few years old, but the idea behind the picture remains the same.

And this is exactly how Philadelphia makes it seem like they are able to pay everyone. As of early February the Eagles had almost as much contract money committed to void years as the teams with the second-most and third-most money in void years combined.

Most cap dollars currently in void years:
1. PHI (duh): $390.4M
2. SF: $204.1M
3. CLE: $187.5M
4. NO: $112.1M
5. JAX:$106.55M
6. NYJ: $87.6M
7. MIA: $70.6M
8. DAL: $62.755M
9. TB: $56.1M
10. DET: $52.1M
11. BAL: $50.8M
12. HOU: $47.09M
13. MIN: $47.08M
14. DEN: $40.3M

— Nick Korte (@nickkorte) February 12, 2025​

The reason Philadelphia is able to do that is simple; they have the cash to spend to borrow from future cap years. The $390 million that the Eagles had in void years as of early February represents $390 million of cash they have spent and given to players, with the cap hits for that spending deferred into future league years.

There’s no question it’s not a risk-free strategy for teams, but with three Super Bowl appearances and a pair of Lombardis in the past eight seasons, the strategy certainly seems to be working for the Eagles.

Just because it works for the Eagles, though, doesn’t make it a viable strategy for all 32 teams, because many of the 32 teams, like the Bengals, don’t have access to $390 million to borrow from future cap years so that they can pay everybody. Instead, teams like Cincinnati are forced into making tough decisions, such as whether to sign an over-30 All Pro defensive end to a significant contract extension, or whether to sign their two young wide receivers.

Simply put, not every team can just pay everybody.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/3/...lled-out-bengals-cant-do-business-like-eagles

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Can you guess this Bengals defensive tackle in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Bengals player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Bengals fans! We’re back for another day of the Cincy Jungle in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

If you can’t see the embedded game and you’re using Apple News, click this link.

Previous games​

Friday, March 28, 2025
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Cincy Jungle in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Bengals player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Who Dey!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/3/29/24396445/sb-nation-bengals-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Joe Burrow under less pressure to win Super Bowl than Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, says analyst

Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images

The Bengals QB has little to work with outside his pass catchers.

Following the 2021-22 season, fans of the Cincinnati Bengals were convinced; Joe Burrow is capable of doing everything necessary to win in the biggest games.

Now, after an amazing season in which he had to constantly overcome a weak defense, Burrow is getting recognized by just about everyone for his heroic performances.

So despite never winning the big one, Burrow doesn’t have as much pressure on him to win his first championship championship as some other elite QBs, according CBS’ Jeff Kerr.

The Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen, Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, The Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott, and the Detroit Lions’ Jared Goff still have more to prove, according to Kerr.

Here’s an excerpt from his article:

Burrow has completed 69.2% of his passes and thrown 58 touchdowns to just 15 interceptions over the past two seasons. He’s third in the league in completion rate, fourth in touchdown passes, fifth in touchdown rate (5.7%), and fourth in passer rating (102.2).

Meanwhile, the writer pointed out, “The 2024 Bengals allowed the most points per game in losses in NFL history (27.8), and had six losses with 25+ points last season.”

But that didn’t stop Burrow from taking the offense to new heights. Kerr pointed out that Burrow was only the third QB in history with over 40+ passing touchdowns to miss the playoffs.

So what do you think?

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/3/...han-lamar-jackson-and-josh-allen-says-analyst

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Can you guess this Bengals cornerback in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Bengals player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Bengals fans! We’re back for another day of the Cincy Jungle in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

If you can’t see the embedded game and you’re using Apple News, click this link.

Previous games​

Saturday, March 29, 2025
Friday, March 28, 2025
Thursday, March 27, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Cincy Jungle in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Bengals player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Who Dey!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/3/30/24397043/sb-nation-bengals-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Analyst claims Tee Higgins is now most overpaid player on Bengals roster

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

The wide receiver’s new payday comes with added scrutiny.

What else does Tee Higgins have to do to get respect?

The physical wide receiver has 4,595 yards and 34 touchdowns in five seasons despite missing 14 games.

Plus, he plays across from the greatest receiver in the game, Ja’Marr Chase, which means he isn’t getting as many targets as he potentially could.

And yet, Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report labeled him the most overpaid player on the Cincinnati Bengals’ roster.

Here’s Gagnon’s argument:

I wrote in this spot last year that the $21.8 million franchise-tag rate is silly for a player who has never gone over 75 catches, 1,100 yards or seven touchdowns in four non-Pro Bowl campaigns. He did score 10 touchdowns in 2024, but the rest remains true for a player now making $28.8 million per season.

Of course, this take could partly be to draw attention to the piece, as a number of other star players were on the list: the Buffalo Bills’ Joey Bosa, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence, the Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce, the Los Angeles Chargers’ Khalil Mack, the Dallas Cowboys Dak Prescott, and the San Francisco 49ers’ Nick Bosa.

Higgins, of course, had his best performance last year when it mattered most, against the Denver Broncos in primetime with a playoff position on the line. Watch highlights of that game (and others) below.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/3/30/24396291/tee-higgins-most-overpaid-player-bengals-roster

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

How Joe Burrow’s contract structure helped the Bengals extend Ja’Marr Chase

Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Bengals are going to use the same cash to fund both Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase deals.

There has been no shortage of discussion on the recent huge contracts the Cincinnati Bengals gave to receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, with the team making Chase the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history and Higgins the highest-paid number two receiver in league history at the time of signing.

However, a topic that has not really been covered is how the contract extension Joe Burrow signed 18 months ago in September of 2023 facilitated the contracts of Chase and Higgins. To understand exactly why that is the case, the first requirement is to take a step back and understand what is known as the Funding Rule in the NFL.

What is the NFL’s Funding Rule in regards to guaranteed money?​

The discussion starts with a need for a very basic understanding of Article 26, Section 9 of the 2020 NFL collective bargaining agreement, which in all of its glorious legalese reads: (Author’s Note: Bolding added to relevant portions.)

Section 9. Funding of Deferred and Guaranteed Contracts: The NFL may require that by a prescribed date certain, each Club must deposit into a segregated account the present value, calculated using the Discount Rate, less $15,000,000 (the “Deductible”), of deferred and guaranteed compensation owed by that Club with respect to Club funding of Player Contracts involving deferred or guaranteed compensation; provided, however, that with respect to guaranteed contracts, the amount of unpaid compensation for past or future services to be included in the funding calculation shall not exceed seventy-five (75%) percent of the total amount of the contract compensation. The present value of any future years’ salary payable to a player pursuant to an injury guarantee provision in his NFL Player Contract(s), shall not be considered owed by a Club under this Section until after the Club has acknowledged that the player’s injury qualifies him to receive the future payments. The $15,000,000 Deductible referenced in the first sentence of this Section 9 shall apply to the 2020-28 League Years only. This Deductible shall increase to $17,000,000 for the 2029-30 League Years.

In simple terms, what all of that means is that when teams give out significant guaranteed money in future league years, they must put money into escrow at the time of signing to cover the guarantees. This protects the other owners from having to bail out a team should its owner hand out huge guarantees and then drive the franchise into the ground financially. How this ties back in with the big contracts the Cincinnati Bengals have signed over the past eighteen months comes back to timing.

The Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase timing worked for the Bengals’ coffers​

As noted above, the funding rule only requires deposits to cover guaranteed money in future years, as guaranteed salary amounts due in the current league year can be covered out of the revenues teams receive from television contracts and league revenue sharing.

Thus, what becomes interesting is what is revealed when looking at the vesting dates of future guarantees in the contracts of Burrow and Chase. Specifically, the guarantees in Burrow’s contract either vested at signing or in the league year prior, right up until March 2026, at which point there is a full-year gap in the vesting schedule for his guarantees.

Now, maybe that gap is coincidental, but looking at how that one year vesting gap happens to create an opportunity for roughly the same amount of 2027 guarantees to vest in Chase’s contract seems almost too perfect to be the result of happenstance.

In short, the $35.25 million or so that the Bengals would be required to have in escrow to satisfy the funding rule for Burrow’s 2025 guarantees would no longer be needed at the start of the 2025 league year, but by simply leaving them untouched, that same cash on deposit would then flip to cover the 2026 guarantees in Burrow’s contract. Then, in March of 2026 that same amount could again simply be left untouched, with it then satisfying the requirements of the funding rule by covering the 2027 guarantees in Chase’s contract.

Boiling it all down, it doesn’t appear that the timing of the contracts inked by Chase and Higgins was random, and looking at it from an accounting standpoint, it almost looks like the Cincinnati front office has had the timing of these extensions planned since inking Burrow to his monster contract in September of 2023. Maybe that’s looking too far into things and seeing things that aren’t really there in order to give too much credit to the Bengals front office, and that’s entirely possible.

Of course, the flip side to this is that if the front office had things planned out so far in advance, wouldn’t it have been better to have made moves earlier in order to save some of the extra cap space it cost by waiting? That’s certainly a valid question, but returning to the start of where the conversation was in early March on what was driving the holdup on the team reaching extensions with Chase and Higgins, perhaps the reality of the situation is that the front office was more concerned with cash spending than cap spending.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/3/31/24395903/joe-burrow-contract-structure-bengals-jamarr-chase

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Your daily Bengals trivia game: Tuesday Edition

Think you can figure out which Bengals player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Bengals fans! We’re back for another day of the Cincy Jungle in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

If you can’t see the embedded game and you’re using Apple News, click this link.

Previous games​

Monday, March 31, 2025
Sunday, March 30, 2025
Saturday, March 29, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Cincy Jungle in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Bengals player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Who Dey!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/1/24398556/sb-nation-bengals-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Bengals give update on Trey Hendrickson contract talks

Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images

When will a deal get done?

The Cincinnati Bengals are hoping to sign Trey Hendrickson to a long-term extension, one that would hopefully see him play out the rest of his NFL career in the Queen City.

Whether that happens or not remains to be seen, but they’re trying, and we have another update from Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn.

In an interview with Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Blackburn gave an update on the ongoing talks with Hendrickson.

“I think he should be happy at certain rates that maybe he doesn’t think he’d be happy at,” Blackburn said. “I think some of it is on him to be happy at some point, and if he’s not, you know, that’s what holds it up sometimes. So, you know, it takes him to say yes to something, and also, we have all the respect in the world for him. He’s been a great player. We’re happy to have him. And so maybe we’ll find a way to get something to work. We’re just gonna see where it goes.”

Blackburn added, “I’d be lying if I said I knew exactly what’s going to happen,” so it’s clear that a Hendrickson extension is no certainty.

Hendrickson has certainly earned the right to get a long-term deal that pays him around $30 million annually, and some NFL team would likely give it to him. However, because he’s 30 years old, the Bengals may be hesitant to give him a long-term deal and instead want it to be a one or two-year extension.

Here’s to hoping this gets resolved before offseason workouts begin. The Bengals don’t need another contract distraction lingering into the season.

Be sure to read the entire interview for more insight from Blackburn into the Hendrickson contract talks and trade discussion.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/...ickson-contract-talks-bengals-katie-blackburn

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

2025 Free Agent Profile: What the Bengals are getting with Lucas Patrick

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

The Bengals signed a versatile offensive lineman with starting experience at multiple spots. What does he bring to the table for Cincinnati?

When the Cincinnati Bengals made the tough decision to move on from Alex Cappa this offseason, significant interior offensive line needs emerged. While there are still some solid names on the market to continue shoring up those areas, the team also signed versatile veteran Lucas Patrick.

He has extensive starting experience along the interior of the line as a pro and was a valued member of the previous three teams for which he played. The Bengals have traditionally valued offensive linemen who can effectively play multiple spots on the line as a means to maximize the roster and have contingency plans in case of injury or ineffective play.

Patrick wasn’t a name at the top of most minds when the Bengals entered free agency, but he provides depth and potential competition at needed spots.

Lucas Patrick​

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 313

Years Pro: Entering ninth season

Age: 31 (32 in July)

College: Duke

Hometown: Brentwood, TN

RAS:

Background​

Patrick had a background in both football and track in high school, making him a promising athlete for Duke University. He joined the Blue Devils in 2011 and redshirted that year, but his 2012 campaign started out rough due to a fractured ankle in the spring.

He came back later that year and played in the final five games. The following year, he played in every game with one start and started 12 games in 2014 at left guard. As a senior in 2015, he earned Honorable Mention All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors.

He went undrafted to the Green Bay Packers in the 2016 draft and bounced on and off their roster until 2018. Patrick then signed a lucrative two-year deal with the club and went on to start 28 games in 2020-2021 at both right guard and center.

Patrick landed with Chicago in 2022 and started 20 games for them at multiple spots. Last year, Patrick again proved himself as reliable depth and a spot starter with New Orleans, which undoubtedly piqued the Bengals’ interest this spring.

Strengths and Weaknesses​

Versatility and starting experience are the two major strengths of Patrick. He has been a serviceable starter for years and provides much-needed depth for the Bengals.

His age brings both pros and cons. One might think his best days are behind him, and there is some truth to that, but he still showed continued value just last season with the Saints.

While he has starting experience at both guard and center, the latter has definitely shown better film. With Matt Lee showing promise as a rookie last year, it would appear that Patrick’s best fit is at guard.

The questions that remain are his viability as a starter at either guard spot, and how much of an upgrade, if at all, he would be compared to what we’ve seen from other Bengals offensive linemen recently.

Outlook​

When it comes to free-agent interior offensive linemen, Patrick is the type the Bengals love to collect: Versatile, experienced, but also a Jack-of-all-Trades and a potential master of none.

Still, Patrick was a well-respected lineman in the NFC North and was entrusted with blocking for Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. He moves well and is somewhat adept at picking up stunts and blitzers.

The film shows stout play in the run game, which may or may not be music to Bengals fans’ ears, but he does bring value. We’ve wondered how new offensive line coach Scott Peters would value athletic metrics for his unit (like the RAS above), and at first blush with the Patrick signing, it seems like he’s aiming to bring more athleticism to the unit.

We’ll see if he vies for either guard spot, but similarly versatile Cody Ford was also re-signed this offseason. However, if we’re gauging simply by the RAS, Patrick has a higher ceiling than Ford, albeit as a player four years older.

Check out our podcasts here on CJ, the Bleav in Cincy podcast feed, Spotify, Amazon, our YouTube channel, and as always, on iTunes!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/2/24397368/lucas-patrick-2025-free-agent-profile-bengals

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Sam Hubbard: “The Cincinnati Kid”

Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

A belated “thank you” to the guy who embodies all good things Ohio.

“Oh! That ball’s out—that’s live!”

NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico’s iconic call of one of the biggest plays in Bengals will forever remain in Bengals fans’ minds. At the center of it was one of the one of the cornerstones of modern Cincinnati football.

Few people get to live their lifelong dream of playing professional sports. Even fewer get to experience a long and productive pro career, becoming a fan favorite along the way. Almost none get to achieve all of these feats in the city where they grew up and thrived at all levels.

Believe it or not, these are just small parts of the story of Sam Hubbard.

Sam Hubbard takes the fumble 98 yards for the TD

: #BALvsCIN on NBC
: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/hNJJJGqxGF pic.twitter.com/PoVImXrfpz

— NFL (@NFL) January 16, 2023​

As a kid, Hubbard grew up rooting for his hometown Cincinnati Bengals, cheering them on at the then-named Paul Brown Stadium. As he entered his teens, Hubbard became an outstanding dual-sport athlete in both football and lacrosse.

He excelled in both at Moeller High School, gaining national attention for his talents. When the time came to choose a sport and a prestigious university, Hubbard had many options to consider.

But when THE Ohio State University came calling with a scholarship offer for football, he knew that’s where he was destined to be. Hubbard joined the Buckeyes in the 2014 recruiting class and became part of a star-studded roster.

Although he redshirted his freshman year, Hubbard was introduced to the college ranks with a national championship. From there, Hubbard became one of the most valuable players on an Ohio State team that was routinely in the hunt for more national championships.

He parlayed his performances into becoming a third-round pick, No. 77 overall, to his beloved Cincinnati Bengals in 2018. He was part of a class that also featured Jessie Bates and was one of the last selections in Marvin Lewis’ tenure with the team.

Immediately, Lewis noted that Hubbard was “ahead of the curve” as a rookie, and he proved that with a strong initial campaign, recording six sacks and 39 tackles. When Zac Taylor took over as head coach for Lewis, only a few players from the previous regime remained.

Taylor strategically held on to young, promising players like Tyler Boyd and Hubbard, relying not only on their on-field production but also their leadership abilities in the locker room. This focus on strong veterans was a cornerstone of Taylor’s plan to rebuild the Bengals, and Hubbard was at the heart of that strategy.

Proving that those rookie numbers weren’t a fluke, Hubbard turned a corner in his second season, racking up 79 tackles and 8 sacks in 2019. These achievements laid the foundation for a career marked by stability and consistency.

While the first three years of his career were challenging, with the Bengals winning just 12 games from 2018-2020, Hubbard remained steadfast in his role as a team leader. Even though he was still relatively young, both in terms of his career and age, he became a cornerstone of the team’s future success.

We were fortunate enough to speak with Sam on several occasions, and as he reached the peak of his career. Every time he did, his answers were always about the team and how he can play his part in making the Bengals a contender.

In the 2020 and 2021 offseasons, the Bengals made great strides in giving Hubbard more help on defense—particularly on the defensive line. D.J. Reader, B.J. Hill, Larry Ogunjobi, and Trey Hendrickson were all signed to bolster the unit, and Hubbard thrived with their arrivals.

Hubbard’s consistency remained during one of the best stretches in team history, even though he was often overshadowed by a number of other stars and high draft picks who dominated the highlight reels.

Quietly, Hubbard was a reliable performer and had some of the biggest performances in the most high-profile of games. Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Evan McPherson, Hendrickson, and Bates received recognition for huge plays in clutch moments, but Hubbard also came up with enormous plays to help the Bengals reach—and ultimately succeed in—two AFC Championship Games.

We know that the rivalry between the Bengals and the Chiefs reached new heights in the Burrow era, and rightfully so, given the epic battles between the two squads over the past four seasons. While all of the other aforementioned players played crucial roles in deep playoff runs, Hubbard made his own mark in Cincinnati history.

Few may remember that he made critical plays against the Chiefs in so many clashes over such a short period of time. While many remember the heroics of others in the 2021 AFC Championship Game, Hubbard had a huge sack towards the end of regulation that forced an overtime opportunity instead of a Chiefs win.

Like much of Hubbard’s career, that play was overshadowed by a forthcoming overtime interception by Vonn Bell, big runs by Joe Mixon, and the eventual game-winning kick by Evan McPherson. Even so, Hubbard played a big role in getting the Bengals to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1988 season.

It wasn’t just that singular play, though. Hubbard was a great complement to Hendrickson all year, putting up 7.5 sacks, 62 total tackles and 12 tackles for loss. He was an integral part of a defensive unit that came up clutch time and time again in the 2021-2022 seasons.

Not to be outdone, the Bengals had their backs against the wall the following year against Kansas City in the 2022 AFC Championship Game rematch. Needing a big play, Hubbard stepped up again.

Still, this paled in comparison to what happened a couple of weeks prior. It seemed as if the Bengals were going to be a one-and-done team, a year after falling just short of beating the Rams in Super Bowl 56.

Facing a third-and-goal from their own one-yard line, Tyler Huntley and the Ravens had the Bengals on the ropes in a 17-17 game in the final quarter. Huntley was called for the quarterback keeper, and it looked like a play destined to be a gut punch to the Bengals.

Instead, a miracle happened, and one of the most iconic plays in Bengals history took place. And, thus, “The Fumble in the Jungle” was born.

Over the last couple of years, Hubbard battled through nagging injuries, but true to his warrior nature, he played through them, missing only 7 games over the past three years despite some pretty gruesome ailments.

While the previous two seasons didn’t result in playoff berths for the Bengals, Hubbard made his mark in 2024. He notched his first career interception, safety, and, yes, touchdown reception.

As fate would have it, that would be the last play Hubbard would ever make as a Bengal and in the NFL. He tore a knee ligament on the play, showcasing the heart and effort Hubbard always put forth on the field, albeit with an unfortunate outcome.

On March 5th, 2025, Hubbard took to social media to announce his retirement from pro football. True to his form, it wasn’t with a major press conference or much fanfare (and it was also overshadowed by other headlines about Bengals stars), but it was a bittersweet goodbye to the city to which he gave it all.

Few people get to play seven seasons in the NFL. Fewer play for only one team, much less their hometown team, and leave the stamp Hubbard did on the Bengals. He didn’t get all the accolades he deserved, but his impact on the organization is a lasting one.

What awaits next remains to be seen, but the Bengals’ Ring of Honor should be in the future for him.

Congrats on a great career, 94. Thanks for everything.

Be sure to watch our full special on YouTube here!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/2/24399830/sam-hubbard-the-cincinnati-kid-bengals

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Can you guess this Bengals defensive end in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Bengals player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Bengals fans! We’re back for another day of the Cincy Jungle in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

If you can’t see the embedded game and you’re using Apple News, click this link.

Previous games​

Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Monday, March 31, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Cincy Jungle in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Bengals player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Who Dey!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/3/24400195/sb-nation-bengals-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Bengals Draft Possibilities and Trey Hendrickson Stalemate: OBI

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Bengals are seemingly at an impasse with star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, so what defensive line options make sense at No. 17? We talk about this and more possibilities, as well as what may be in store for the reigning runner-up to the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year.

The Cincinnati Bengals have made some major steps in cementing their long-term future, but one major question remains. Trey Hendrickson is awaiting his own extension in the wake of those give to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but thing seem to be at an impasse.

On this episode of The Orange and Black Insider, we talk about the eye-opening comments this week from both Katie Blackburn and Hendrickson, while looking ahead at the future. The Bengals seem to be content with their free agency gatherings, but other comments make it seem like they’re done for the time-being.

We talk about all of this, as well as providing a couple of profiles on prospects entering this class who could immediately aid the Bengals. Join us live at 6 p.m. on Thursday night for the live show, or else catch it on your favorite platform afterward!

You can also check out one of our latest videos, “Sam Hubbard: The Cincinnati Kid” now!

This episode is brought you in part by FOCO, the “Fans Only Company. One of their upcoming releases is a very special one, not only because of the players featured, but in the fact that it is a limited release of only 75 in production. Check out the Ja’Marr Chase/Carl Pickens Rookie of the Year bobblehead for pre-release purchase here.

Check out our podcasts here on CJ, the Bleav in Cincy podcast feed, Spotify, Amazon, our YouTube channel, and as always, on iTunes!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/...sibilities-and-trey-hendrickson-stalemate-obi

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Friday Discussion: What’s the Bengals’ biggest need?

Photo by Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

This roster has a world of potential, but it also has some glaring weaknesses.

Happy Friday, Bengals friends!

For today’s discussion, we want to know what you think the Bengals’ biggest need is ahead of the NFL Draft. There’s obviously still plenty of free agents to address needs, but more than likely, there won’t be any move made before the draft, which kicks off in less than three weeks.

Offensive guard is the easy one to go with, but we can’t discount the defense needing extra firepower at several positions.

Let us know what you believe is the Bengals’ single biggest need currently in the comments section!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/4/24400154/bengals-biggest-need-draft-free-agency