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Andy Dalton was something of a cap casualty this week for the Cincinnati Bengals as they proceed with the Joe Burrow era.
And the current cap space outlook is a good one in the wake of Dalton’s release as the front office builds around a rookie quarterback contract.
Mike Brown’s message about releasing Dalton wouldn’t have said it, but things now turn toward potential extensions for A.J. Green and Joe Mixon.
On the Mixon front, prior reporting has said the Bengals are ready for a holdout if necessary. It’s a necessary precaution and word has spread that the team is closer to an extension with Green than Mixon.
Makes sense. The running back market is an absolute mess. And while Mixon is eligible for an extension now, the front office might be hesitant to dole out very top dollar to the position even when accounting for a rookie passer contract.
Green’s market is a little less murky. The Bengals know what he can be on a regular basis and know what it’s worth — if he’s heathy. The front office is already coughing up roughly $17.8 million on his franchise tag as is. Looking at things through a positional-value lens, a healthy Green is probably more important to a developing Burrow than Mixon, too.
But this probably doesn’t have to be a one or the other thing. The Bengals have space now after they pay the rookie draft class. Some smart structuring could wrap up both guys on extensions. And for some reason if not, the in-season trade deadline might be interesting.
That’s thinking far ahead, though. With the long-awaited Dalton move done, the focus now turns to more contractual work for star players sticking around to carry the load around Burrow.
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