A feel-good practice squad addition with more local storyline than football impact. Five headlines covered the signing, leaning heavily on the Cincinnati-native angle. The strongest signal here is context: this directly replaced Jermaine Burton following his release for misconduct. Fans are embracing the hometown narrative — Summit Country Day to Ohio State to the Bengals is a compelling arc. Johnson projects as a developmental depth piece who needs a breakout moment to stick long-term.
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Contract Value Index (CVI)
C-
Fair Value
OverpayFair ValueGreat Value
This signing grades out as a significant overpay for the Cincinnati Bengals — the team is paying more than the on-field production currently warrants. Xavier's on-field performance ranks in the bottom quartile among NFL WRs, grading him as an unproven at the position. His $885K average annual value ranks as bargain money for the WR market. The concern here is the gap between production and cost — unproven output at bargain money means the team is paying a premium above the player's on-field value. Xavier is squarely in his prime, which adds to the deal's upside — the team should get multiple productive seasons out of this contract.
Contract Details
Total Value
$885K
AAV
$885K
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