{"id":79118,"date":"2026-06-09T18:37:21","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T22:37:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/bengals-free-up-10m-in-salary-cap-space-through-joe-burrow-contract-restructure\/"},"modified":"2026-06-09T18:37:21","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T22:37:21","slug":"bengals-free-up-10m-in-salary-cap-space-through-joe-burrow-contract-restructure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/bengals-free-up-10m-in-salary-cap-space-through-joe-burrow-contract-restructure\/","title":{"rendered":"Bengals Free Up $10M in Salary Cap Space Through Joe Burrow Contract Restructure"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Multiple reports indicate the Cincinnati Bengals generated $10 million in salary cap room for the upcoming season by restructuring their Pro Bowl quarterback Joe Burrow’s contract, according to Tuesday reports.<\/p>

The restructuring moved the Bengals from having just $7.1 million in effective cap room\u2014among the lowest in the league\u2014to a middle-of-the-pack position, reports stated. The team had the option to free up as much as $19.2 million by converting Burrow’s full base salary into a bonus, according to the same reports.<\/p>

On Tuesday, the organization announced that second-round draft selection Cashius Howell, a defensive end from Texas A&M, has signed his rookie deal, completing contracts for all seven of the Bengals’ draft picks.<\/p>

In September 2023, Burrow inked a five-year, $275 million contract extension that included $219 million in guaranteed money, according to reports from that time.<\/p>

The 29-year-old quarterback has expressed approval of the Bengals’ unusual activity in free agency and major trades following their 6-11 record and third consecutive season without a playoff appearance in 2025.<\/p>

“We’re going to go win a lot of games this year and play great and win a Super Bowl,” Burrow stated to reporters following a voluntary workout last month.<\/p>

Cincinnati brought in former Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook on a three-year, $40.25 million contract and acquired former Seattle Seahawks edge rusher Boye Mafe with a three-year, $60 million agreement. The organization also secured former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Jonathan Allen on a two-year, $25 million contract.<\/p>

The defensive unit received another significant upgrade when the Bengals traded their 10th overall selection in April’s NFL draft to the New York Giants for three-time All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, who then signed a one-year, $28 million extension covering the 2028 season after the trade.<\/p>

The Bengals selected Burrow as the first overall choice in the 2020 NFL Draft from LSU.<\/p>

Burrow has earned three Pro Bowl honors, including in 2025 when he completed 66.8% of his throws for 1,809 yards, 17 touchdowns and five interceptions across just eight games (all starts) due to a turf toe injury.<\/p>

Throughout his career, he has started all 77 regular-season contests he has appeared in, posting an NFL-record 68.5% completion rate for 20,810 yards, 157 touchdowns and 51 interceptions. In postseason play, Burrow has accumulated 1,826 passing yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions over seven playoff appearances.<\/p>

He earned NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors in both 2021 and 2024.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Cincinnati Bengals created $10 million in salary cap room by restructuring quarterback Joe Burrow’s contract, moving the team from near the bottom to the middle of the league in available cap space. The move comes as the team has been making significant free agent signings and trades to improve their roster.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":79117,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[836],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-79118","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781044641628.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-kA6","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":37067,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/cincinnati-bengals-bring-back-veteran-quarterback-josh-johnson\/","url_meta":{"origin":79118,"position":0},"title":"Cincinnati Bengals Bring Back Veteran Quarterback Josh Johnson","author":"Admin","date":"March 14, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Cincinnati Bengals have added veteran quarterback Josh Johnson on a one-year contract, marking his third stint with the franchise. The 39-year-old journeyman quarterback will provide backup support behind star Joe Burrow after the team lost its other quarterbacks to free agency.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773519707686.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":42054,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/veteran-qb-flacco-re-signs-with-bengals-to-back-up-burrow\/","url_meta":{"origin":79118,"position":1},"title":"Veteran QB Flacco Re-Signs with Bengals to Back Up Burrow","author":"Admin","date":"March 24, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco has reached an agreement to stay with the Cincinnati Bengals for another season as Joe Burrow's backup. The 41-year-old former Super Bowl MVP made six starts for Cincinnati last year while Burrow recovered from a toe injury.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774402603150.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774402603150.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774402603150.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774402603150.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":65608,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nfl-announces-bengals-vs-falcons-international-game-in-madrid-for-2026\/","url_meta":{"origin":79118,"position":2},"title":"NFL Announces Bengals vs Falcons International Game in Madrid for 2026","author":"Admin","date":"May 12, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons will meet at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on November 8, 2026, marking the NFL's second regular season game in Spain. This Week 9 matchup will be quarterback Joe Burrow's first international game, as the league continues expanding its global presence.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1778624686604.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":54353,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/bengals-acquire-pro-bowl-dt-dexter-lawrence-from-giants-for-10th-draft-pick\/","url_meta":{"origin":79118,"position":3},"title":"Bengals Acquire Pro Bowl DT Dexter Lawrence from Giants for 10th Draft Pick","author":"Admin","date":"April 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Cincinnati Bengals have obtained three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants in exchange for the 10th overall selection in Thursday's NFL Draft. Lawrence, who requested a trade after contract talks stalled, will receive a new extension from Cincinnati.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776572509281.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":33856,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/dallas-cowboys-slash-66m-from-payroll-with-contract-overhauls\/","url_meta":{"origin":79118,"position":4},"title":"Dallas Cowboys Slash $66M from Payroll with Contract Overhauls","author":"Admin","date":"March 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Dallas Cowboys have brought their payroll into compliance with NFL salary cap rules by restructuring deals for three key players. 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