MARCH 21: The Bengals waited a while, but they have made the Waynes move. This cut will add more than $10MM to Cincinnati’s cap space. Waynes did not play any defensive snaps during the team’s four playoff games, wrapping a disappointing run for the ex-Vikings first-rounder in Cincinnati.
This transaction stands to bump the AFC champions’ cap space north of $23MM. The Bengals brought back Eli Apple, keeping their top three corners from 2021 — Apple, Awuzie and Hilton — together. Unfortunately, Waynes could not avoid more injury trouble, which ended up defining his Bengals tenure.
FEB. 27: This is hardly a surprise, but the Bengals are expected to cut cornerback Trae Waynes, per Jay Morrison of The Athletic (subscription required). Waynes signed a three-year, $42MM contract with Cincinnati in March 2020, and in Morrison’s estimation, he is the biggest free agency bust in club history.
It would be difficult to quibble with that assessment. Waynes missed the entire 2020 season with a pectoral injury, and he ultimately played in just five regular season games in 2021 due to a hamstring ailment. Although he appeared in all four of the Bengals’ postseason contests, he saw just 13 total snaps, and all of them came on special teams.
The reigning AFC champs are in a pretty good place in terms of the salary cap. As Morrison writes in a separate piece (subscription required), Cincinnati should have upwards of $70MM in cap space this offseason, including the $10.9MM the club will realize from the Waynes release. Of course, a good chunk of that money is likely to be invested in an offensive line that yielded a whopping 70 sacks throughout the regular season and playoffs.
But some of it will need to be reinvested into the secondary as well. In addition to a franchise tag or extension for safety Jessie Bates, the Bengals will need to sign a No. 2 corner. Indeed, other than Waynes, Chidobe Awuzie and Mike Hilton, no cornerback who played a snap in 2021 is under contract for 2022.
For his part, Waynes will likely need to settle for a veteran minimum deal somewhere. His contract with the Bengals was inflated due to the premium that teams often have to pay for cornerbacks in free agency, as his 3+ years as a starter with the Vikings were solid enough, but never spectacular. Couple that with his recent injury history, and it stands to reason that he will be looking for a prove-it contract in 2022.
Could be a solid depth signing for the Packers.
Is that before or after to attempt to sign Adams and keeping Rogers?
After of course.
Why would we want Kevin king version 2?
Because injuries happen and they need capable back ups not Jean-Charles and Ento.
What the hell…..it’s just money…..sign them year to year based on how they play…..13 snaps for a multi year contracts…WOW!
Good luck convincing athletes and their agents to sign only year-to-year contracts.
Injuries aside..he’s the kind of guy you want even less in the locker room than on the field. Bengals chose to ride with their #5 (depth chart at the start of the season) CB Apple throughout the playoffs over this guy. They barely even let him play special teams. He’s definitely not a guy I’d want my team signing. Even as a back of the room filler. Find a young guy with upside.
I wish people would quit acting like the Bengals have all of this cap to sign OL. A #2 CB, resigning Bates, resigning Uzomah and at least one of the DT that are FA will cost minimum of 38 million. Their punter, LS and backup quarterback are FA too. That’s another 6 million minimum. You have the drafted players for another 7 million. That is 51 million which leaves 19 left. They may be able to get a little creative but I don’t see much more than 25 million going to get OL. That’ll get you 2 decent guys or one all pro and one serviceable starter
This didn’t age well
Actually I hit it right on. So far the Bengals have spent about 25 million on OL. They still need a top corner and they need money for their picks. The Bengals don’t restructure contracts to create more cap space and they won’t spend all their money in case there’s an injury or they need to make a trade. Teams wanted OBJ at the deadline but some didn’t have the cap space
Right dude. Karras, Cappa and Collins, regardless of their year one cap hits, are all NFL starters on most any team, which last I checked 3 is more than what you expected them to get, which was two.
The Bengals need 3.5m for their picks. Late round picks so not move the cap much, since the cap is calculated on the top 52 contracts. 4-7th round picks add about 25k-100k in cap since they eliminate a back end #51 contract off the cap.
They’ve done all this and have about enough to sign a vet corner or pass rusher.
Stop hating
So you think that a 6 million dollar OL lineman that Belinchek let walk is real good? Apparently you don’t know Bill. They got average OL. An upgrade for sure since they had horrible ones. They need another corner for sure and they need to pray for the same health as last year. Backups are weak across the board. 3rd place finish
Bill is a horse if a different color. Just recently he raves about Karras … google it … he cuts everyone … and historically players leave there and are very successful….
All three OL guys are good starters.
As for CB2 there’s still loads of good options and not to mention they can draft in a guy or two. Good draft class for DBs and for TEs which is their other main need
So glad Mike Zimmer is gone because you know he would have tried to bring Trae back even though he was always a disappointment.
Always love how players are called busts, but franchises are excused. Who offered the contract(s)?
I agree. I mean what player is going to decline a overvalued contract?
Right! Then asked to take a ‘home town discount’ Do the owners take a discount? Never heard of that, same for coaches, and front office folks.
It’s not that simple. Signing bonuses can be spread over the course of a contract to save cap space and there are many other creative ways to make the most of cap space in a given year (including restructuring current contracts). One piece of logic I do agree with is, they cannot sign all those free agents and improve the O-line. At least 1 or 2 will have to be allowed to walk. My big shocker for most is Tyler Boyd, he may be traded to allow other things to fall in place…his value is so high it makes perfect sense to get value from him now before he hits the market. They may also let some other replaceable free agents on defense go (this team has a history of drafting well on defense, no need to overpay). Though it will not be easy to improve, the Bengals are sitting very pretty this offseason from a salary cap/draft perspective.
Probably will let Hopkins go. You’re not getting much for Boyd, maybe a 4th or 5th but you’ll save 10 million. Disagree with you on the fact the Bengals draft defense well. If they did, they’d already have Bates, Ogunjobi and Waynes replacements on the roster. Most of their defense is FA signings
he didn’t start last year and hasn’t been starting material in three seasons. Worth the cut
Bengals do have a lot of CAP space when you compare it to other current teams. Having a QB on his rookie contract allows that to be possible. Bengals need to sign two veteran starting offensive lineman that will allow them to draft defense early in this year’s draft. Also, expect Bengals to resign Apple and Flowers, both played solid football for them. Likely able to get both signed on team friendly deals same as Punter Huber and LS Harris. Concern area is defensive tackle. BJ Hill is likely going to receive a huge offer and Bengals may not be able to match. Ogunjobi maybe a one year deal candidate due to the playoff injury. I wouldn’t be shocked to see defensive tackle being their first pick in this year’s draft. Besides Waynes, I doubt Bengals cut other players especially starters. That isn’t there usual way of business…
I think Bengals are fine at Center, Hopkins struggled early in season recovering from the knee surgery but played well the second half of the season. Need to get a starting tackle and guard. Spend big money for one and then maybe bring back Spain at LG… Plenty of options they can go..
FA: Gilmore, Haden or Fuller
Trade: Bradberry
I’d say get one of these guys, and draft in a safety at the end of the first still.