Bengals signing Clint Boling to 5-year deal

The Bengals and Clint Boling have agreed to a new five-year deal that will pay the offensive guard handsomely.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Boling has agreed to a deal that will pay him $26 million over five years, an average of $5.2 million annually. That's actually a good deal for both the Bengals and Boling. Cincinnati won't break the bank to keep Boling, who in turn is getting a big pay raise from what the former fourth-rounder out of Georgia was making.

According to Over the Cap, Boling's $5.2 million annual salary would make him the eight highest paid left guard. Ironically, it would be just ahead of Even Mathis, who's making an annual salary of $5.1 million.

If you factor in right guard, it's the 14th highest salary of any guard. Boling was easily one of the 15 best guards in football last year, so it looks like the two sides agreed on a pretty fair deal.

Pro Football Focus ranked Boling as the third-best offensive guard headed to free agency this March, behind Mike Iupati (signed by Cardinals) and Orlando Franklin (signed by Chargers).

From their impressive Week 11 victory in New Orleans, Boling earned a run block grade of +1.5 or higher in five out of six games. Prior to that he had only earned a single game run block grade that high twice in his career.

If Boling can pair that run blocking form with his pass protection from 2012 and 2013 then Boling will be a guard on the rise over his next contract. However, if he moves away from Cincinnati and the Bengals quick release offense then his pass protection will come under greater scrutiny.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Franklin's deal with the Chargers is expected to be worth $36.5 million with $20 million in guarantees. AZCentral reporter Kent Somers reports Iupati's deal with the Cardinals is for five years and $40 million, with $22.5 million guaranteed.

Again, the Bengals are winners in the deal they got done with Boling.