nfl-draft – Third Down With Devin

Amid contract chaos, the Bengals have many decisions to make

The Cincinnati Bengals have faced a rollercoaster of an offseason, with many unique and ongoing contract situations that have been the center of attention. In March, the Bengals’ front office re-signed wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, an outcome that most NFL fans and analysts viewed as unlikely due to the wide receivers’ high market value, along with the tight salary cap restrictions the Bengals face. The contracts of Joe Burrow, Jamarr Chase, and Tee Higgins now take up 44% of the Bengals’ salary cap space in 2025, leaving them with very little room to improve the rest of the roster.

This has all led up to the drama the Bengals have faced surrounding their superstar edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. Hendrickson, who led the league in sacks last season with 17.5, still has a year left on his contract but wants an extension now. It has been somewhat unclear what exactly the Bengals have offered Hendrickson, but he is unhappy with it as he has been sitting out of mandatory minicamp. Although I want to side with the front office on this issue, it is very difficult considering Hendrickson’s claims that they had no communication with him for two months following the NFL Draft. Hendrickson has clearly expressed his anger and it seems as though he is willing to sit out as long as it takes. The Bengals need to make a decision as soon as possible whether they are willing to pay him the money he is asking for, and if not, they need to find a trade destination for him. To me, the Bengals must re-sign Hendrickson. Considering that the Bengals had a bottom-five defense last season which ultimately led to them missing the playoffs, Hendrickson was one of the few bright spots. Since the Bengals did practically nothing to improve the defense during free agency, I believe that it is very important that they retain Hendrickson if they want any chance to compete for a playoff spot.

It is no secret that the Bengals owner, Mike Brown, has been historically cheap when it comes to paying players, but it feels as though since entering the Joe Burrow era, that narrative has flipped. To me, it seems as though the Bengals are willing to spend the money but now just want to win the argument with Hendrickson, which has ultimately been a distraction to the team’s offseason.

Although the front office’s approach in handling the Hendrickson situation has been questionable, I completely side with them in their other heated negotiation that being rookie defensive end, Shemar Stewart. The Bengals drafted Stewart out of Texas A&M with their first-round draft pick this year in an effort to improve their defense. It has now been two months since drafting him and they are yet to agree to his rookie contract. For the most part, rookie contracts are fairly straightforward as the salary they receive is determined by the draft pick that they were selected with. The issue Stewart has with his contract has nothing to do with the money and rather has to do with the language in which the contract is stated. The Bengals have included a clause that essentially allows them to void future guaranteed money if Stweart were to break team rules or face trouble with the law. Stewart is arguing that the Bengals’ previous first-round draft picks, Myles Murphy and Amarius Mims, did not have this clause in their contract. The Bengals however, are trying to set a precedent for all future contracts to include this clause. Although the Bengals are getting heat from the media for once again being difficult in their contract negotiations, it is important that the Bengals stand their ground. The “void clause” is becoming more common in NFL contracts throughout the league, and top rookies in this year’s class, including Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter have signed the clause. Although some ridiculous situations have been thrown around where Stewart can re-enter the draft next year and join a different team, I believe he will sign eventually. If the Bengals give in and remove the clause, they will never be able to include it again as their future rookies could also sit out. Over time, Stewart will sign the contract as there is no chance he will pass up the money that comes with being a first-round draft pick.

The Bengals front office is facing a very difficult offseason, but if they can re-sign Hendrickson and stay patient with Shemar Stewart, they will have all their distractions behind them and they can lock in on making another Super Bowl run.

2024 NFL Draft has an Unprecedented Amount of Offensive Talent

Ever since the final seconds ticked away and the Kansas City Chiefs celebrated their Super Bowl title, NFL fans have had the draft marked on their calendars. The weeks that precede draft day are often among the most deceptive times of the year, filled with false rumors and misinformation. This year has been no different, as almost every draft selection remains up in the air.

Despite the mysteries still surfacing about the draft, one thing is certain: the Chicago Bears will select USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick. This has been nothing but a guarantee since the Bears traded former quarterback Justin Fields one month ago. While Bears fans are sure to be excited, the rest of the NFL fans wait in anticipation for the picks following the Bears’ selection.

This year’s draft is filled with players who play offensive positions, notably featuring many quarterbacks. Other than Caleb Williams, elite quarterback prospects include Drake Maye from UNC, Heisman winner Jayden Daniels from LSU, and J.J McCarthy from Michigan. Conveniently, the teams with the next two picks are both in search of their next franchise quarterback.

For the Washington Commanders, who hold the number two overall selection, it would be a consequential mistake to not draft Drake Maye. In recent years, the Commanders have had a quarterback carousel, unable to settle on their guy. Despite the rumors that they are highly interested in McCarthy and Daniels, Maye is on a different level. His ability to throw the ball at a high level combined with his athleticism enables him to create big plays which sets him apart from the rest of the pack. Even though Caleb Williams has been advertised as the unanimous number-one selection, Maye is not far behind.

With the next selection, the New England Patriots will be on the clock. Whoever they select will have nothing given to him, as the Patriots face a challenge offensively. In all honesty, the Patriots should trade down to accumulate more assets, which would ultimately provide their future quarterback with a smaller challenge. Drafting Jayden Daniels or JJ McCarthy would be a mistake, both players rely on strong systems around them. For the Patriots to succeed, the front office must accept that their flaws run deeper than just at the quarterback position.

If there’s one message the Arizona Cardinals need, it is to take the best player available. Holding the fourth overall pick, the Cardinals are in a position to draft a generational wide receiver in Marvin Harrison Jr. Son of the hall of fame receiver Marvin Harrison, Harrison Jr. is without a doubt the number one prospect in this entire draft. The Cardinals will be lucky enough to have him on the board while they are on the clock. Given his size and athletic ability, Harrison Jr. dominated during his time at Ohio State and will change the direction of the franchise that drafts him. For weeks, it has been rumored that the Cardinals will trade this pick to the Minnesota Vikings who are eyeing J.J. McCarthy. While this would be a huge success for the Vikings, trading this pick could be viewed as an all-time missed opportunity for the Arizona Cardinals.

The following draft selections will ultimately be determined by how the top four picks occur. The offensive talent, however, does not end there. Another notable prospect includes wide receiver Malik Nabers from LSU, an elite playmaker who arguably is as skilled as Marvin Harrison Jr. Also, tight-end Brock Bowers from Georgia has been deemed by many draft analysts as the greatest tight-end prospect of all time. Other top-tier prospects in the draft include wide receiver Rome Odunze, offensive tackle Joe Alt, and cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry.

The NFL Draft is always filled with elite prospects, but this year is being held in higher regard offensively. While it is too early to tell, undoubtedly there are numerous players with hall-of-fame ceilings. In the end, the player’s success is dependent on the team that selects them, and how they handle the situation they are given. After months of anticipation, fans and players will be excited to see how the draft plays out.