The Cincinnati Bengals have some massive names headed to free agency this offseason.
Some of those, such as Tee Higgins and Jonah Williams, could demand top dollar from other teams if they don’t wind back up in Cincinnati.
Or in the case of Higgins, will either way, depending on if the team has to use the franchise tag or they work out a new deal.
What’s interesting is stepping back and looking at the estimated market value for each of those big names. Spotrac does this, helpfully comparing each to other players of similar age and skill level to come up with market values.
Here’s a look at those projections and notes on each.
QB Jake Browning
Projected market value: 2 yrs, $10,435,725
Average annual salary: $5.2 million
Browning is an exclusive rights free agent, so he’s not going anywhere. But this is the projection provided.
WR Tyler Boyd
Projected market value: 3 yrs, $26,148,336
Average annual salary: $8.7 million
Boyd might be the third option in Cincinnati, but he’s functioned as a No. 1 in the past and figures to land somewhere in the middle if another team goes after him as such.
DL DJ Reader
Projected market value: 3 yrs, $44,750,550
Average annual salary: $14.9 million
Note that Reader is one of the toughest projections in the league after his torn quad that will hold him out into next season. This seems closer to normal value, whereas he might have to settle for a prove-it deal now.
OT Jonah Williams
Projected market value: 4 yrs, $43,438,044
Average annual salary: $10.8 million
Williams’ market future might hinge on whether teams pay him as a left or right tackle. There’s a ceiling, as listed here, of Mike McGlinchey’s five-year deal worth $87.5 million. Jawaan Taylor’s four years and $80 million gets a nod, too. Barring a reunion with the Bengals as a right tackle, a desperate team might give him closer to those numbers than some would expect.
WR Tee Higgins
Projected market value: 4 yrs, $74,405,184
Average annual salary: $18.6 million
A franchise tag will set the Bengals back roughly $21.7 million over one season. This projection for an extension, believe it or not, feels a little low. Higgins is a tough comp though because he’s been the “No. 2” wide receiver, when a buying team won’t pay or play him as such. Length of deal will also matter — Chris Godwin got $60 million over just three years. While the Bengals are almost guaranteed to use the tag in the worst-case scenario, there might be a structure that hits closer to this projection that both sides might find agreeable, but it’s hard to dismiss the fact it feels like a Jessie Bates situation again.
