Cincinnati Bengals right tackle Andre Smith is looking for $9 million per year on the open market, ProFootballTalk reported.
The Cincinnati Enquirer's Joe Reedy talked to agents and contract advisers at the NFL Scouting Combine and feels Smith will command a deal in the $8.5 to $9.5 million per year range. At just 26 years old, Smith will get it.
The Bengals used the franchise tag on defensive end Michael Johnson and have the most cap room in the league ($55.5 million). The team has invested in the offensive line with Pro Bowl left tackle Andrew Whitworth and center Kyle Cook locked down. Smith would provide stability amongst the group for years to come.
It'll cost the Bengals to keep Smith, but it's normally wise to invest in a young talented tackle. Especially with a young offensive corps led quarterback Andy Dalton and wide receiver A.J. Green.
My personal opinion is it would be a waste of money for the Bengals to sign this guy long term, it will be a bigger mistake then the decision to take him 6th overall. Andre Smith is a guy who plays when he want to and that's a guy you don't want on your football team. He came into the league as damage goods, we were only able to get 5 games out of him in 2 years, then his club option was declined, he woke up and realize that he was in a contract year and decide to play quality football. I think the Bengals need to let this guy go, and sign a new Tackle or even draft one. You sign him long term and I'm willing to bet a year's salary, that the injuries will all of a sudden re-appear and you will see him more outside the lines then you will on the field.
Without him where do we go??? The draft class at tackle is deep and a guy like D.J. Fluker or Lane Johnson should be available when the Bengals go on the clock at No. 21. Most people I talk to wants the Bengals to bring Smith back, and I think it based of the, "What have you done for me lately?" theory, but this is a case where I think it will bite us in the back side. I understand we have other needs and don't necessarily need to add another one, but with four picks in the first three rounds it wouldn't be the worst thing. This draft is not the deepest, as far as 1st round talent goes, in the positions we need (safety, linebacker, running back). I think at pick 21 trying to fill any of these needs will be stretching for a player, which is why my initial feeling was for them to trade back and add a rd 2 or 3 draft pick to the pot, but with the uncertainty on rather we will sign this dude back changes that a little bit.
What I hope the Bengals can do is bring in one the big name free agents thats available, with all the cap space we have, I don't mind them spending money on a quality free agent that you know what your going to get every Sunday. Guys like a Jake Long, Branden Albert of the Kansas City Chiefs may also become a free agent if the two sides can't come to terms. Albert was a first round pick in 2008 and has played very well, certainly well enough to draw multiple suitors and ultimately a large contract. Long, who may earn somewhere in the $12 million per year range is The former No. 1 overall pick, he has been a stud his entire career, perhaps the best left tackle in football along with Rival Joe Thomas of the Cleveland Browns.
Cincinnati we have a great opportunity to be really good for a long time, we have some pieces that need to be replace and with the most money to spend at 54mil, letting guys like this walk shouldn't be an issue, I believe Andre and his agent knows they won't be able to get this much money per yr from anyone, they set this high amount hoping to settle for 5 or 6mil per, and I personally feel that's too much as well.
According to SI's Peter King, several NFL teams are afraid of paying Smith a big signing bonus: "I think Cincinnati tackle Andre Smith should come with a warning label. Something like, "Huge money is hazardous to this player's greatness." Talked to several teams scared of Smith. They remember his weight problems early in his Cincinnati tenure, and they fear what a big signing bonus would do to his desire."- Peter King
The way I see this playing out is Smith having a rude financial awakening, the Bengals declined that options for good reasons, a guy who struggled staying on the field his first year, a guy who can't control his weight, which made the Bengals clause his rookie deal, and not to mention the arrest back in January for bring a gun to an airport. Andre Smith is probably the biggest gamble this off season and the Bengals know that and it's a gamble I don't see them taking even though they have the most money to spend.
The Cincinnati Enquirer's Joe Reedy talked to agents and contract advisers at the NFL Scouting Combine and feels Smith will command a deal in the $8.5 to $9.5 million per year range. At just 26 years old, Smith will get it.
The Bengals used the franchise tag on defensive end Michael Johnson and have the most cap room in the league ($55.5 million). The team has invested in the offensive line with Pro Bowl left tackle Andrew Whitworth and center Kyle Cook locked down. Smith would provide stability amongst the group for years to come.
It'll cost the Bengals to keep Smith, but it's normally wise to invest in a young talented tackle. Especially with a young offensive corps led quarterback Andy Dalton and wide receiver A.J. Green.
My personal opinion is it would be a waste of money for the Bengals to sign this guy long term, it will be a bigger mistake then the decision to take him 6th overall. Andre Smith is a guy who plays when he want to and that's a guy you don't want on your football team. He came into the league as damage goods, we were only able to get 5 games out of him in 2 years, then his club option was declined, he woke up and realize that he was in a contract year and decide to play quality football. I think the Bengals need to let this guy go, and sign a new Tackle or even draft one. You sign him long term and I'm willing to bet a year's salary, that the injuries will all of a sudden re-appear and you will see him more outside the lines then you will on the field.
Without him where do we go??? The draft class at tackle is deep and a guy like D.J. Fluker or Lane Johnson should be available when the Bengals go on the clock at No. 21. Most people I talk to wants the Bengals to bring Smith back, and I think it based of the, "What have you done for me lately?" theory, but this is a case where I think it will bite us in the back side. I understand we have other needs and don't necessarily need to add another one, but with four picks in the first three rounds it wouldn't be the worst thing. This draft is not the deepest, as far as 1st round talent goes, in the positions we need (safety, linebacker, running back). I think at pick 21 trying to fill any of these needs will be stretching for a player, which is why my initial feeling was for them to trade back and add a rd 2 or 3 draft pick to the pot, but with the uncertainty on rather we will sign this dude back changes that a little bit.
What I hope the Bengals can do is bring in one the big name free agents thats available, with all the cap space we have, I don't mind them spending money on a quality free agent that you know what your going to get every Sunday. Guys like a Jake Long, Branden Albert of the Kansas City Chiefs may also become a free agent if the two sides can't come to terms. Albert was a first round pick in 2008 and has played very well, certainly well enough to draw multiple suitors and ultimately a large contract. Long, who may earn somewhere in the $12 million per year range is The former No. 1 overall pick, he has been a stud his entire career, perhaps the best left tackle in football along with Rival Joe Thomas of the Cleveland Browns.
Cincinnati we have a great opportunity to be really good for a long time, we have some pieces that need to be replace and with the most money to spend at 54mil, letting guys like this walk shouldn't be an issue, I believe Andre and his agent knows they won't be able to get this much money per yr from anyone, they set this high amount hoping to settle for 5 or 6mil per, and I personally feel that's too much as well.
According to SI's Peter King, several NFL teams are afraid of paying Smith a big signing bonus: "I think Cincinnati tackle Andre Smith should come with a warning label. Something like, "Huge money is hazardous to this player's greatness." Talked to several teams scared of Smith. They remember his weight problems early in his Cincinnati tenure, and they fear what a big signing bonus would do to his desire."- Peter King
The way I see this playing out is Smith having a rude financial awakening, the Bengals declined that options for good reasons, a guy who struggled staying on the field his first year, a guy who can't control his weight, which made the Bengals clause his rookie deal, and not to mention the arrest back in January for bring a gun to an airport. Andre Smith is probably the biggest gamble this off season and the Bengals know that and it's a gamble I don't see them taking even though they have the most money to spend.
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