Burrow's Restructure Boosts Bengals' Cap Flexibility
Bengals Restructure Joe Burrow's Contract to Free Up $10 Million for Key Roster Moves
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Key Points
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Cincinnati’s contract maneuver is tied to keeping several defenders and skill players from its 2023 draft class under control, with the AP noting the group includes DE Myles Murphy, RB Chase Brown, and defensive backs Jordan Battle, DJ Turner and Dax Hill—not just Turner and Dax Hill.
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The Associated Press also added context on Burrow’s 2025 workload and health, saying he played in only eight games after suffering a turf toe injury in Week 2 vs. Jacksonville and missing time until late November; he finished with 1,809 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and five interceptions.
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A separate analysis highlighted DJ Turner’s specific production to support prioritizing his long-term extension: Turner recorded 28 solo tackles, two forced fumbles and two interceptions, and—most notably—18 pass breakups, which the article said was the third-most in the NFL.
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The same analysis suggested Cincinnati’s internal contingency plan on defense, stating that Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter are projected as the 2026 starters at linebacker—even though the piece characterizes last year’s linebacker unit as one of the worst in the NFL.
The Cincinnati Bengals restructured quarterback Joe Burrow's contract on June 9, creating roughly $10 million in new salary cap space, according to ESPN and NFL Network. The move converts part of Burrow's base salary into a signing bonus, spreading the cost across the final three years of his five-year, $275 million deal.
The restructure pushes Cincinnati's available cap space from about $7 million to roughly $17 million, The Associated Press confirmed through a person familiar with the deal. The Bengals now face a tight deadline to decide how to spend it — on a veteran linebacker, or long-term deals for their best young defenders.
Dexter Lawrence Trade Forced Cincinnati's Hand
The restructure traces directly to April, when the Bengals traded the No. 10 overall pick to the New York Giants for All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II, Sports Illustrated reported. The very next day, Cincinnati signed Lawrence to a one-year, $28 million extension — immediately squeezing a cap that had little room to spare.
Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin had long resisted restructuring deals to avoid pushing costs into future years. But Tobin said in April the team is "open to doing anything we need to do to improve our team," per Sports Illustrated. The Burrow restructure — the first base-salary conversion in the Mike Brown era — signals a clear philosophical shift toward winning now.
Burrow's Injury-Shortened 2025 Adds Urgency to 2026 Push
Burrow played just eight games in 2025 after suffering a Grade 3 turf toe injury in Week 2 against Jacksonville, according to The Associated Press. He finished with 1,809 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, and five interceptions before returning in late November. The Bengals went 6-11, missing the playoffs for a third straight year.
Burrow told USA Today he is "feeling as healthy as ever" heading into 2026. The front office is clearly betting on a healthy Burrow plus an upgraded defense to open a Super Bowl window — even if it means carrying heavier cap hits in 2027, 2028, and 2029.
DJ Turner's Elite Numbers Make His Extension a Top Priority
The $10 million in new space puts long-term extensions for cornerbacks DJ Turner II and Dax Hill at the front of the line. Turner had a standout 2025 season: 28 solo tackles, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and 18 pass breakups — third-most in the entire NFL — per The Associated Press and PFF.
The 2023 draft class also includes DE Myles Murphy, RB Chase Brown, and safety Jordan Battle, all of whom the Bengals want to keep under contract long-term, The Associated Press noted. Locking in that group before their market value rises is the clearest use of the new cap flexibility.
Bobby Wagner or Jordyn Brooks Could Fix the NFL's Worst Linebacking Unit
Cincinnati's linebacker group was one of the worst in the NFL in 2025, per Stripe Hype. Second-year players Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter are projected as the 2026 starters. ESPN's Ben Solak argued that a veteran like free agent Bobby Wagner is still a necessity to provide a "green dot" leader for the defense.
A trade for Miami linebacker Jordyn Brooks has also been discussed as a possible fix, according to analysts cited by Cincy Jungle. With $17 million in space, Cincinnati now has the room to pursue either option — or do both, if the price is right. The front office has not publicly committed to a direction.
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