Cincinnati Bengals sign G Liam Brown

The signing of Liam Brown earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI), a middling grade that reflects a low-cost, low-upside depth move rather than any meaningful upgrade at guard. At roughly $1M AAV on a three-year deal totaling $3.1M, the contract sits firmly in replacement-level territory from a salary standpoint — the kind of number you attach to a player you're hoping surprises you, not one you're counting on. Brown profiles as a below-average to roster-filler option at guard based on his contract positioning alone, and the CVI reflects the ceiling that comes with that valuation. The value equation here is straightforward: the Bengals absorb minimal cap risk given the modest $3.1M total commitment, so if Brown earns a roster spot he provides functional depth without handcuffing the front office. The three-year structure is mildly notable — that length on a contract this small suggests either a developmental bet or a vesting-year framework that keeps the team protected if he doesn't produce. With Cincinnati sitting at 6-11 and sentiment on the organization trending downward over the last 30 days, this is exactly the kind of low-stakes, low-drama signing a front office makes to fill out a depth chart without drawing scrutiny. The CVI lands where it does because the deal is neither wasteful nor impactful — it's a shrug-worthy transaction that buys the team an option, not a solution.