AFC North rival inadvertently adds pressure on the Cincinnati Bengals to get extension done with Evan McPherson

Extending placekicker Evan McPherson should be next on the docket for the Cincinnati Bengals. The 24-year old specialist is eligible for a new contract, and the market for his position is clearly set. That market has only been strengthened by what the Bengals' in-state rival did Monday evening.

The Cleveland Browns and Dustin Hopkins agreed to a three-year, $15.9 million extension according to ESPN 's Adam Schefter. Hopkins' new deal at the age of 33 only solidifies where the Bengals and McPherson should land.

Hopkins' new Average Annual Value (AAV) of $5.3 million places him in a tie for fifth with Houston Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn. The four kickers ahead of them are Baltimore Ravens' Justin Tucker ($6m AAV), Philadelphia Eagles' Jake Elliott ($6m AAV), Indianapolis Colts' Matt Gay ($5.625m AAV), and New York Giants' Graham Gano ($5.5m AAV).

The best kickers are at $6m per year, or pushing very close to it. This is notable for McPherson considering where his market may've been a few months ago.

What should Evan McPherson's extension look like?

A to Z Sports salary cap experts Josh Queipo and Kyle Dediminicantanio projected a four-year, $21 million extension for McPherson back in March. An AAV of $5.25m would put him ahead of the likes of Pittsburgh Steelers' Chris Boswell ($5m AAV) and Atlanta Falcons' Younghoe Koo ($4.85m AAV), but is it enough now after a much-older Hopkins agreed to an even higher AAV?

McPherson is considerably younger than all of the names listed above, and he's already proven himself in the most important games on the schedule. He's got a strong argument to be right up there with Tucker and Elliott based on those factors alone, and Hopkins rounding out a solid floor only helps his case.

The Bengals negotiated a contract far more lucrative last year when trying to ink quarterback Joe Burrow to his five-year, $275 million behemoth of a deal. Dealing with AAVs in the $50 million-range is an entirely different ballpark compared to $5-6 million, so figuring out the right price for their young kicker should be an easier task.

But like with any position, the longer you wait, the more expensive it will be.

Related: Bengals K Evan McPherson is absolutely not on board with surprising request his position coach offered him