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The Bengals have rarely been active in free agency when it comes to big-name players.
However, a new regime is in place, and the team was hoping to make a splash by landing free agent defensive tackle Gerald McCoy.
However, the All-Pro lineman is going to command a large payday for at least one season, and the Bengals are trying to save as much cap as possible in hopes of extending A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd, while Andy Dalton and Joe Mixon will enter the final years of their current deals in 2020.
That’s why it was unlikely the Bengals would be able to land McCoy with other team’s in pursuit, and it appears he’s down to two teams, according to Ian Rapoport:
Free agent DT Gerald McCoy’s visit to the #Ravens has essentially ended, though his agent and the Baltimore brass will now speak to see if they can do a deal. At this point, it’s #Browns or #Ravens for McCoy. If the price isn’t right, McCoy could visit a third team.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 29, 2019
According to Over The Cap, the Browns already have $12 million more dollars in cap space than the Bengals. The Ravens have about $7 million less than the Bengals, but they also don’t have any major impending free agents other than Jimmy Smith, who turns 31 in July and likely won’t command a big contract next year anyhow.
It’s nice to see the Bengals made a push for McCoy, but the money was never going to work out if he does indeed get a contract that pays him $11 million+ next season.
However, it will sting to miss on McCoy and have him potentially land in the AFC North.