How’s this for progression?
In 2020, the Cincinnati Bengals sent shockwaves throughout the NFL by agreeing to terms with D.J. Reader and Trae Waynes about 28 hours after the legal tampering period opened. The franchise that has never partook in the early stage of free agency all of the sudden committed to their two biggest deals before the league year began.
In 2021, mere minutes after watching Carl Lawson leave for the New York Jets, they pivoted swiftly to Trey Hendrickson and sweetened his deal as legal tampering Monday turned into Monday night.