William Wagner

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Bengals locked up a genuine steal with William Wagner's three-year, $3M deal, earning an A+ CVI that reflects exceptional value at the long snapper position. At just $1M annually with zero guaranteed money, Cincinnati secured a rotational-level specialist for what amounts to peanuts in today's NFL salary structure — a fraction of what most teams pay for long snappers who can handle the job competently. The contract's risk-free structure with no guaranteed cash gives the Bengals maximum flexibility while Wagner gets the security of a multi-year commitment, creating a win-win scenario that's become increasingly rare in modern NFL negotiations. For a franchise that's learned to maximize every dollar of cap space during their championship window, this represents the kind of shrewd roster management that allows teams to allocate premium resources to skill positions. Wagner's deal exemplifies how smart front offices can extract tremendous value in the margins, turning what could be a $2-3M annual expense into a bargain-basement contract that frees up crucial cap space for impact players.

Performance Analysis

William Wagner is a 25-year-old rookie long snapper who has carved out a role with the Cincinnati Bengals through the kind of quiet consistency that defines successful careers at one of football's most thankless positions. With 17 games of professional experience under his belt, Wagner sits at the threshold of what scouts consider the developing-player tier — enough reps to demonstrate he belongs, but not yet enough to project long-term reliability with full confidence. Long snappers are evaluated almost exclusively on their ability to stay on the field and execute under pressure without drawing attention, and Wagner's 17-game sample, while modest, suggests he has at least earned the trust of Cincinnati's coaching staff to keep him active through a full season. His two career tackles indicate he has contributed on coverage units when called upon, a secondary skill that can help a young snapper justify his roster spot during tight roster decisions. At this stage, his overall performance earns a D+ grade, reflecting the limited track record and the natural uncertainty that comes with any first-year specialist still proving himself at the NFL level. The most critical question surrounding Wagner heading into next season is whether he can build on this foundation and push toward the 48-game threshold that signals an established starter at the position. If he can demonstrate consistency on snaps for punts, field goals, and extra points while avoiding the kind of costly errors that end specialists' careers overnight, there is a developmental path worth monitoring in Cincinnati.

Current Sentiment

William Wagner enters the 2026 NFL season having successfully navigated one of the more underappreciated transitions in professional football, earning a spot on Cincinnati's 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie long snapper. Early coverage drew favorable comparisons within the Ohio football landscape, with analysts noting his consistency and reliability in a position where mistakes are immediately costly. His rookie campaign was characterized by stability rather than spectacle, which is precisely the benchmark by which long snappers are evaluated at the professional level. Heading into his second year, Wagner carries the quiet confidence of a specialist who has already proven he belongs, with the Bengals' special teams unit positioned to benefit from his continued development. While he remains a depth-level contributor with limited mainstream media visibility, the perception among those who track special teams closely is that Wagner is a dependable, low-risk asset with a credible path toward long-term roster tenure in Cincinnati.