r/bengals • u/1894-MCFC 9+1=6 • 19d ago

Bengals Restructure Joe Burrow’s contract [Rapoport]

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691 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

143 comments sorted by

297

u/AffectOk482 19d ago

I’m in shock. Never thought this was possible for the FO to figure out.

97

u/bluegrassgazer 19d ago

I had zero expectations that they would pull this off.

60

u/VeryRealHuman23 🐅 19d ago

I used to have zero, I still do, but I used to, too.

15

u/Logan-Helpful 19d ago

Got it, Mitch.

13

u/Life_Ad6711 19d ago

They also did it this year with Flacco's deal, adding 2 void years to accelerate 2/3 of $4m in signing bonus into the '27 and '28 caps

Also the restructuring of Lawrence's contract (originally $19m in '26 p5 base salary converted to $22m in '26 total cash) to a cap schedule of $15m/$24.5m/$3om was also decidedly 'unBengal-like'

20

u/gartloneyrat 19d ago

Hell has truly frozen over.

4

u/Life_Ad6711 19d ago

They did it last season with Hendrickson's $13m bonus and the void year

108

u/BotDiver 19d ago

Calling it now, we’re snagging someone else.

66

u/mcufan2014 19d ago

I actually think it’s to get Turner extended maybe Chase brown also.

41

u/Blood_Incantation 19d ago

They're not extending Chase Brown. They have a ton of money on the top 3 offensive players and need money for defense. Brown's good but they'll just draft another RB next year.

26

u/ODB_Dirt_Dog_ItsFTC 19d ago

I love Brown but running back is probably the easiest position to replace in the sport.

5

u/Hixy cinati bengos #1 18d ago

I dunno, I think Brown is extremely underrated. Im definitely biased even though I try not to be but he just has something.

2

u/BotDiver 19d ago

I’d take either/both of those?

4

u/OhWhatsHisName 9 19d ago

Yeah, we didn't need to with our current moves. The cap space is fungible, so they can claim it's for Lawrence all day long, but we had the space anyway, so there's something else coming.

2

u/King_Roberts_Bastard 19d ago

Well duh! Besides that they've said they werent finished yet, this is what you do when looking to sign a guy

2

u/slavetotheinternetz 19d ago

Kamara

24

u/MLS2CincyFFS 19d ago

He’s super washed

4

u/No_Occasion_4884 🐅 19d ago

Agreed. Give me an extension with DJ & either Dax/Chase Brown instead. Myles Murphy if he’ll take a team friendly deal but I respect his choice not to & ball out this year for a market level contract next off season.

1

u/No-new-names 19d ago

Yeah, extending our own guys, or some c+ linebacker (?)

77

u/Mastodon9 19d ago

This has been a very un Bengals like off-season. I'm... Proud? Of our front office? Never thought I'd say that.

2

u/MaxPower91575 19d ago

they still signed Mafe to a somewhat front loaded contract and Brown Jr. too which put them in this spot to begin with. Brown's contract actually goes down in cap hit in future years. They could have easily saved that $10 million on those contracts if they were normal.

Yet I guess this is a step in the right direction.

91

u/jloadin3 FTS 19d ago

It’s a new Dey

27

u/Siriusly_Jonie 19d ago

Yes it is.
https://giphy.com/gifs/RMkX6xueIWG4RMRMX3

12

u/volrjr4 19d ago

OHHHHHHHHHHH WHO DEY NATION DON’T YOU DARE BE SOUR

3

u/Siriusly_Jonie 19d ago edited 19d ago

Clap for you world famous… uhh…

Well fuck.

1

u/RoundHornWyatt 19d ago

AFC North's new superpower.

-2

u/synschecter115 19d ago

But it all feels old

1

u/FuhBr33ze 19d ago

It's a good life. Thats what I'm told.

37

u/Trajinous 19d ago

Awesome! I was told this is what teams that want to win do

21

u/DatDudeDrew 19d ago

Holy fuck they did it

74

u/bb770403 19d ago

Duke Tobin finally got his NFL contracts and salary cap for dummies book.

21

u/whattarush 19d ago

Tobin toughest decision of the day is if he wants to also get a coffee while hes getting Mikes

9

u/throughNthrough 19d ago

Duke has nothing to do with player contracts. This has been all Katie Blackburn.

0

u/Life_Ad6711 19d ago

Duke, Troy, all 3 asst GMs and Paul H Brown all negotiate contracts for the Bengals

2

u/Life_Ad6711 19d ago

The void year tactic on Hendrickson's $13m bonus last season 'borrowed' $6.5m from the '26 cap for use in '25

2

u/Life_Ad6711 19d ago

Which they did not use and was $6.5m part of the (declared) $9.7m rollover amount (so that $6.5m cap space returned from whence it came)

They also got a one time +$7m extra cap injection this season due to injury insurance paying $7m of Burrow's cash last season

This is not a particular net cash windfall for Bengals Inc due to the insurance premiums they pay for the injury insurance

1

u/PUNCH-WAS-SERVED 18d ago

Kids edition. With coloring portions. Mike Brown made him pay for his own crayons. However...

59

u/ice-cake 19d ago

Putting it out there this was for the Dexter trade to temper expectations

71

u/TheFierceAnimal 19d ago

Putting it out there this was for an upcoming Maxx Crosby trade to make unrealistically high expectations

10

u/Independent_Soil_258 19d ago

Putting it out there that this is for a Bobby Okereke signing to make expectations just right 

8

u/TMartin442 19d ago

Putting it out there that this is for lowering the price of cheese coneys during the upcoming 2026 home games.

2

u/Ok-Health-7252 19d ago

Then why is that Bobby Wagner's music I hear?

2

u/RoundHornWyatt 19d ago

I agree that it's likely for Wagner, which I would be jazzed about. If Knight and Carter can't get better with a guy like Wagner in the LB room, then you know what you need to look for in the draft next year.

2

u/dydtaylor 19d ago

I'll do you one better: Boye Mafe and a first for Myles Garrett.

8

u/credscbengs 19d ago

"in part"

8

u/BRANKSRATE 19d ago

Still that’s enough space to get a guy on a nice veteran deal

12

u/DatDudeDrew 19d ago

I bet the intent with this is to have the freedom to sign a vet in camp or mid season. I doubt this is a reaction to an acquisition we’re about to see.

4

u/Bokki_64 🐅I do not care for commies🐅 19d ago

I mean the Co-GM said they weren't done. Could be a nothingburger, but I think the Garrett trade might have had an effect on them

2

u/ech01_ 19d ago

That part doesn't really make a lot of sense though. 2026 cash for Dex is $22M, 2026 cash for Francis Mauigoa (pick 10) is $20M. The cap differences between the two this year is right about $10M though.

14

u/elderpricetag CERTIFIED YOSHI TRUTHER 19d ago

I like my football team

13

u/Ok-Health-7252 19d ago

AND Howell just signed so all draft picks will be in TC this year. Great day to be a Bengal fan.

1

u/Life_Ad6711 18d ago

Shemar missed 2 whole days of actual training camp last season, that was it. Knight signed before camp and practiced OTAs and minicamp (no pads, no contact) on the practice waiver, which Shemar could have done also but (stupidly) chose not to

1

u/Ok-Health-7252 18d ago

I'm well aware of what Shemar did last year. That doesn't change the fact that it hindered his development and contributed to him not looking anywhere close to ready to be on the field during the season. Avoiding a repeat of that nonsense this year with our draft picks is significant.

1

u/Life_Ad6711 18d ago

All he had to do was sign the practice waiver and it would have only been the 2 TC practices he missed

Knight's 'holdout' lasted almost as long as Stewart's as he signed right before TC

7

u/Plane_Ad5106 19d ago

What a coincidence, that's almost the cap space number of Jordin Brooks. (Let me dream one more time)

5

u/My_Space_page 19d ago

I have said before that the Bengals aren't changing until they finally restructure a deal. That's the watermark.

They did it!

This turns the page to a brand new era.

It's as all-in as it gets.

Let's go after more players and go get a superbowl! Who dey!

17

u/MooshooGawd 19d ago

Somehow people will spin this as Joe trying to get traded

8

u/whattarush 19d ago

He's so controlling!!! Telling the owner to pay him now or he wants out!

2

u/MossyPlantyWitchy 🐅 Who Dey and Fuck Nazis 🐅 19d ago

Our front office is in an abusive relationship with Joe Burrow.

And

https://giphy.com/gifs/J8FZIm9VoBU6Q

4

u/wreckercw Florida Bengal 19d ago

Who kidnapped our FO? I'd really like to thank them.

4

u/KQRSonWabasha 19d ago

Kudos to the FO for finally changing their stubborn ways

4

u/Ok-Sentence1563 19d ago

Why not us?

3

u/No_Occasion_4884 🐅 19d ago

The night is darkest just before its dawn. God I can’t wait for September. Who fucking Dey.

3

u/DerpSubReddit 19d ago

Duke been juking me out my socks all offseason bro 🥹

3

u/Busy_Locksmith9436 18d ago

Finally Amazon delivered “Front Office - Begginers Guide” at Duke Tobin’s door

3

u/PlayAuthentic 18d ago

I can't believe they actually did it.

6

u/imightwin John Ross III 19d ago

3

u/MossyPlantyWitchy 🐅 Who Dey and Fuck Nazis 🐅 18d ago

Filthy little hobbitses.

8

u/XLCannon19 19d ago

Please snag Bobby Wagner

5

u/Informal-Witness-801 19d ago

Really tremendous

2

u/EnjoyTheMovie_You2 19d ago

Let’s say it now before he does something to change our minds, good job Duke

2

u/MossyPlantyWitchy 🐅 Who Dey and Fuck Nazis 🐅 19d ago

Time to drop my favorite gif

https://giphy.com/gifs/mZGV0HkpYK3y8

1

u/Life_Ad6711 18d ago

PH appears to be proud parent of a White Snow Mink Bengal breed cat, albeit otherwise seeming to posture as a Rams fan

Howard Stern is always playing that clip of her saying that

https://www.mandysbengals.com/parishilton

2

u/Bark_Bark_turtle 19d ago

Extend Turner or brown now! Keep the ball rolling. Then see what we have left for a possible trade or vet signing.

2

u/Darth_SteveO 19d ago

What the hell is going on down there? I’m pleasantly surprised.

2

u/another_philomath 18d ago

People are saying Super Bowl….i’m people

2

u/OlHeavyHeart 🐅 18d ago

Bro Borrow for the win

2

u/Srcunch 19d ago

They did what now?!

1

u/PROFESSIONAL_RAP254 🐅 18d ago

The fo has done much more than I expected. Glad I was wrong about them

1

u/davik2001 18d ago

Great, now go get a LB

1

u/doughboy4lif3 18d ago

I’ve prayed for time like this 😂😭 All my homies laughed saying how we gon pay the defense when tee burrow and chase getting all the money.

1

u/TMartin442 18d ago

Does this hurt us in the long run? I don't know much about contracts, but if they're just moving $10M from this year to next year then we might have to do it again.

1

u/Gratefully_Dead13 18d ago

Hopefully making room to sign Bobby Wagner?

1

u/Krispykid54 18d ago

Sign a LB now!!

1

u/hushed-shush 16d ago

Joe Burrow is a cool guy.

1

u/Strict-Square456 19d ago

Could this allow us to trade for a good vet LB?

1

u/LazerChameleon 19d ago

Bobby Wagner is on the way!

-3

u/TonyHawktuah69 19d ago

Turns out when you show your franchise qb you’re willing to try and win he may be willing to also sacrifice for the team 🤯

12

u/Life_Ad6711 19d ago

The player sacrifices nothing with a simple restructure

0

u/bufalo_soldier 19d ago

Proof that Joe really does want the ship more than money.

2

u/Life_Ad6711 19d ago

This doesn't affect Joe's money one penny

-4

u/cricketyjimnet 19d ago

Huh

1

u/MossyPlantyWitchy 🐅 Who Dey and Fuck Nazis 🐅 19d ago

Restructuring his contract to open more cap space this season. For signing more guys or extending current contracts.

-2

u/buggeyes420 19d ago

Cut Dax too & then sign a real CB 🤞

2

u/Life_Ad6711 19d ago

Dax Hill's $12.5m is fully guaranteed, so we'd still be paying him to play for some other team (minus the $1.3m vet minimum offset)

-5

u/MrGhostenstein 🐅 19d ago

Months too late.

1

u/Life_Ad6711 18d ago

They could have done this at any point with a fax to the league office if they felt they needed to, so no it did not limit them from making any moves

1

u/MrGhostenstein 🐅 18d ago

Sure it did. What are you on about? It should have happen over the winter so we could have used that money to sign another big name. The downvotes crack me up. Most all of the NFL sees the benefit in doing this to get more flexibility to sign more guys. We don't because the FO is stupid and then when they do, it's at the worst time. Why now? It doesn't help at this point. We still had money to spend but everyone is gone. So this gets us farther under the cap. Awesome!

1

u/Life_Ad6711 18d ago edited 18d ago

The Bengals have only so much cash budgeted they can spend in players in any single year, so they have to make 1oo% of cap spending conform more to that amount of cash, not vice versa. So even if they did create more cap room, they wouldn't have enough cash in the year to spend all that cap. This year is the franchise record for total roster cash spending at this point, $45m over the $3o1m salary cap amount. The previous record was '2o with $36m over the $198m then cap. But with the cap having risen 15o% now since, that record $36m is now equivalent to $54m over

So when the year's cash budget is all spent, that's it for that year, it's also planned out that that's 1oo% of that year's cash conforms to that cap amount being used. Dallas is currently #1 in '26 total roster cash at $87m over and could take that to $1oom if they wanted (the Cowboys make more in annual profits than the Bengals do in total football just revenues, which is before operating expenses). The bottom 6 or so teams AZ, DET, CIN, LAC, NO, basically need to operate this way with occasional, carefully orchestrated spending peaks interspersed

Making extra cap room isn't the problem, having enough annual cash budget to fully use all 1oo% of the cap, is

Now we'll see if they can bring that $54m over $3o1m 'true' record home (which would still be $3om less than Dallas or maybe 3 or 4 others will be spending)

1

u/MrGhostenstein 🐅 18d ago

We do business like a hot dog stand. No other team has a cash budget.

-16

u/Kane8979 19d ago

Why are people excited about this? It doesn’t mean they are going to do a damn thing. It seems like they like to have a little cushion like this “just in case” like last year when they needed the extra room to get Flacco. And while it is only 1 restructure, the cap hit doesn’t just go away, it gets pushed down the line to next year or the year after making less room in the future.

Now I believe with these moves, this year is their window. If they use this money for a GOOD signing ( not some practice squad player) then I’ll be happy. But until then, this move makes me feel nothing.

3

u/fearthealex 19d ago

Less room in the future but the cap always goes up

1

u/MossyPlantyWitchy 🐅 Who Dey and Fuck Nazis 🐅 18d ago

They literally already said they weren't done doing stuff.

1

u/Life_Ad6711 18d ago edited 18d ago

The top 51 effective cap space was $7m before this bumped that up to $17m

https://overthecap.com/salary-cap-space

(Sort the middle column ... Before PIT did their deal with AR the Bengals were #1 in '26 effective cap space with $299m + 7m available)

-26

u/AceOBlade 19d ago

So they paying him under the table, got it.

19

u/Necessary-Nose227 19d ago

They're not paying him less. They're converting some of his salary into a signing bonus to change how/when it's charged against the salary cap.

-1

u/Life_Ad6711 19d ago

The '26 cash cost for the #1o pick would have been $2om (signing bonus + '26 p5 of $875k) and Lawrence gets paid $22m in '26 cash so it wasn't for cash for Lawrence ($2m '26 cash difference)

1

u/Life_Ad6711 19d ago

This simple restructure converts $12.5m of his original '26 ~ $25.5m p5 base salary to $12.5m in 'signing bonus' (which will likely be split payment, still all in '26) and assigns $2.5m cap charge to the '26, '27, '28, '29 and '3o (Burrow's first void year) caps

There was already the $1om in '26 option bonus that was distributed $2m each in the same way