Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer reported over the weekend that โindications areโ the Bengals are โnot closeโ to reaching an agreement with free agent OT Andre Smith.
Peter King of SI.com mentions that the Smithโs agents have made it โvery clearโ that the Bengalsโ current offer โstinks.โ King adds that the โdoor is openโ for Smith to sign elsewhere.
Smith, 26, is reportedly targeting $9 million annually, but now that the market has played out, itโs seems highly unlikely that heโll receive that kind of money. Right tackles like Gosder Cherilus and Phil Loadholt signed deals that will pay them close to $6.25 million per year. In fact, even Jake Long signed for less that $9 million in annual money and he plays left tackle.
Reedy suggests Smith could end up signing a four-year deal worth $26 million-$27 million that includes $7 million-$8 million guaranteed.
We have Smith listed as the No. 1 player in our recently updated Top 50 Free Agents list.
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