Bengals Criticized for Salary Cap Mismanagement Ahead of Key Burrow Season

Cincinnati's conservative contract structures limit their ability to build around star QB in 2026.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 2:39pm

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The Cincinnati Bengals have been criticized for their approach to managing the salary cap this offseason, with the team prioritizing future cap flexibility over maximizing their roster in the present. By structuring recent free agent signings with an unusually high percentage of the contract's average annual value counting against the 2026 cap, the Bengals have limited their ability to add more talent around star quarterback Joe Burrow as he enters a critical season.

Why it matters

The Bengals' approach to managing the salary cap has come under scrutiny, as it appears to be handicapping the team's ability to build a championship-caliber roster around Burrow in the short term. With Burrow entering his prime years, there is a sense of urgency to maximize the team's Super Bowl window while he is at his best.

The details

According to analysis by NFL salary cap expert Joe Goodberry, the Bengals' three main free agent signings this offseason (Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, and Jonathan Allen) all had the highest Year 1 cap hit to average annual value ratios in the league. This conservative approach means the Bengals are dedicating a larger percentage of their 2026 cap to these players than the league average, limiting their ability to add more talent this offseason. Goodberry estimates the Bengals could have freed up an additional $12 million in 2026 cap space by structuring the deals more aggressively, which could have allowed them to sign two more quality starters on defense.

  • The Bengals made their key free agent signings in March 2026.

The players

Joe Burrow

The Bengals' star quarterback who is entering a critical season in 2026.

Joe Goodberry

An NFL salary cap expert who analyzed the Bengals' contract structures.

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What they’re saying

“Around the league, the average Year 1 cap hit for free agent contracts was 50.5% of their new APY. The Bengals did it at an 80.9% rate. Let's say they were still on the conservative side, but not at the extreme like they currently are. Let's say they were at the 55% mark. They would have saved $12.17M on this year's cap.”

— Joe Goodberry, NFL Salary Cap Expert

What’s next

The Bengals will need to carefully manage their salary cap in the coming years to ensure they can continue building a contending roster around Burrow.

The takeaway

The Bengals' conservative approach to managing the salary cap this offseason has drawn criticism, as it appears to be limiting their ability to maximize the current roster around star quarterback Joe Burrow. This raises questions about the team's long-term strategy and whether they are doing enough to capitalize on Burrow's prime years.