Cincinnati Bengals sign C Connor Lew

Connor Lew's four-year, $5.4M signing earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI)—a fair-value deal that reflects modest upside without meaningful financial risk. At $1.36M AAV, this is a replacement-level center contract, the kind of depth move a franchise makes in the offseason when the roster construction window is still open but proven starting caliber isn't available. The Bengals, sitting at 6-11 and outside the playoff picture, need to address interior offensive line durability, and Lew provides a low-cost option to compete for that role without tying up significant cap space or draft resources. The CVI grade acknowledges that you're paying replacement wages for a depth piece—neither a bargain nor an overpay, just market-rate insurance on the offensive front. For Cincinnati's current competitive position, that's the right approach: conserve capital, avoid long-term regret, and keep flexibility for meaningful moves if the franchise pivots its approach.