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The Bengals are known for drafting and developing prospects into quality NFL players.
They're also known for paying their talent when it comes time, and offensive guard is a good example of that. The Bengals will be spending quite a bit on their guards this year, led by Clint Boling's $5.1 million cap hit. Behind him will be Kevin Zeitler and his $2.4 million hit, but that balloons to $8 million in 2016 when his fifth-year option is triggered.
Here's a salary breakdown in 2015 for the Bengals offensive guards:
|
BASE SALARY |
SIGNING BONUS |
ROSTER BONUS |
WORKOUT BONUS |
DEAD CAP |
CAP HIT |
|
|
Clint Boling |
$1,700,000 |
$500,000 |
$2,700,000 |
$200,000 |
($5,000,000) |
$5,100,000 |
|
Kevin Zeitler |
$1,418,754 |
$981,673 |
- |
- |
($981,673) |
$2,400,427 |
|
Tanner Hawkinson |
$585,000 |
$45,606 |
- |
- |
($91,212) |
$630,606 |
|
Dan France |
$435,000 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
$435,000 |
|
Trey Hopkins |
$435,000 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
$435,000 |
|
T.J. Johnson |
$510,000 |
|
|
|
|
$510,000 |
|
Chris Jasperse |
$435,000 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
$435,000 |
We included T.J. Johnson and Chris Jasperse in this because they will be played at guard as well. Not counting the extra $945K they'll account for in 2015, the Bengals are spending $8.1 million on the position in 2015. That's the ninth most of any NFL team.
Even without Jasperse and Johnson, Cincinnati is set to be the NFL's highest-spending team on the guard position in 2016. That's mainly due to Zeitler's fifth-year option, but Boling making $4.7 million is also a big hit.
Hopefully the 2015 season will prove that the money is being well spent.