Cincinnati Bengals sign DT Landon Robinson

The signing of Landon Robinson earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI), a middling grade that reflects the modest upside and limited downside of a low-cost depth acquisition at defensive tackle. At a $1.14M AAV on a four-year deal totaling just over $4.5M, this is essentially a minimum-scale contract that carries negligible cap risk for a Cincinnati Bengals roster currently sitting at 6-11 in the AFC North and in need of roster-building across the board. Robinson profiles as a developmental or depth-level interior lineman — the kind of signing that fills out a practice squad pipeline or competes for a late-roster spot rather than one that moves the needle on defensive identity. The CVI lands where it does because the salary is appropriately modest, but the grade reflects real uncertainty about whether Robinson can contribute meaningful NFL snaps at all, given the profile here reads more roster filler than solid starter. Four years is a longer commitment than you typically see at this price point, which suggests the Bengals are betting on projection and developmental upside rather than proven production. That structure gives the organization an easy out if Robinson doesn't develop, since contracts at this AAV carry minimal dead-cap exposure and can be released without financial consequence. In an offseason where Cincinnati's sentiment grade has slipped to a C and is trending in the wrong direction, this is the kind of under-the-radar, low-risk move that won't reverse the narrative — but at least it won't hurt it either.