Cincinnati Bengals sign TE Jack Endries

Jack Endries earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI) for his four-year, $4.55M deal with Cincinnati—a modest investment that reflects the low-cost, depth-piece nature of the signing. At $1.14M AAV, this is a replacement-level salary for a tight end, the kind of money typically reserved for roster-filler roles rather than impact contributors; the Bengals are betting on development or scheme fit rather than proven production. The contract's structure—four years on a sub-$1.2M annual average—suggests minimal guaranteed money and an easy out if Endries doesn't contribute, which limits downside risk for the franchise. For a team sitting at 6-11 and outside the playoff picture heading into the offseason, this low-capital signing makes sense as a reclamation project or developmental depth piece, though it doesn't signal immediate help for a roster in need of veteran talent. The CVI grade reflects fair value in the context of his tier: not overpaid, not underpaid relative to the production expected at this price point—a neutral, risk-managed approach that allows Cincinnati flexibility without eating cap space.