Cincinnati Bengals sign TE Josh Kattus

Josh Kattus earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI) on this signing — a fair-market deal for a depth tight end that carries almost no financial risk for Cincinnati. At roughly $1M AAV on a three-year, $3.1M total contract, this is textbook roster-filler pricing: the Bengals are essentially paying league minimum-adjacent rates for a player who profiles as a practice squad candidate or emergency call-up rather than a contributor with immediate impact. Kattus falls squarely in the replacement-level tier at this stage of his career, and the contract reflects exactly that assessment — no inflation, no desperation premium. The structure is about as team-friendly as it gets, with just $15K guaranteed, meaning Cincinnati can move on at virtually zero cost if he doesn't make the 53-man roster or fails to develop into a legitimate depth piece. The CVI holds at C+ rather than climbing higher because the deal doesn't represent a value steal — you're not getting above-average production at below-market cost, you're getting a developmental flier at a developmental price. With the regular season still 110 days out and the Bengals sitting at 6-11, this is the kind of low-stakes roster-building move a front office makes in bulk during the offseason to compete depth spots in training camp. There's nothing to criticize here financially, but there's equally nothing to get excited about.