Cincinnati's Cap Conundrum: Could the Bengals Follow the Chiefs' Playbook?
The Kansas City Chiefs, despite ending 2025 with a losing record, have been a beacon of consistency in the NFL over the past decade. With nine division titles, five Super Bowl appearances, and three championships, their success is undeniable.
This week, the Chiefs made waves by restructuring Patrick Mahomes' contract, a move that took them from $50 million over the projected salary cap to $11 million under. By converting $44.05 million of Mahomes' 2026 base salary and a $10.4 million roster bonus into a fully guaranteed $54 million roster bonus, they slashed his 2026 cap hit from $78.214 million to $34.65 million, spreading the bonus over the remaining six years of his deal.
Of course, this maneuver increases Mahomes' cap hit in the contract's final five years. It's not the first time Kansas City has restructured his deal, and it likely won't be the last. The question is whether they'll eventually face salary cap woes, but with the cap potentially rising in the future, it's a gamble they seem willing to take.
This strategic move by the Chiefs prompts a natural question: could the Cincinnati Bengals consider a similar approach with Joe Burrow? Burrow's five-year, $275 million contract extension, signed in September 2023, includes a $40 million signing bonus and $219 million guaranteed, with a 2026 cap hit set at $47.99 million.
According to offseason roster estimates from The Athletic, restructuring Burrow's deal could save the Bengals about $12 million. While Spotrac lists Cincinnati with roughly $52 million in cap space, this drops closer to $40 million when accounting for draft picks, in-season expenses, and bonuses.
Adding another $12 million through a Burrow restructure could offer significant free agency flexibility. However, it would also shift cap obligations into future years, a strategy Bengals management has historically been cautious about. With Cincinnati making the playoffs twice in the past decade, including a Super Bowl appearance, they might be weighing the potential benefits of a restructure to strengthen their roster.
Whether the Bengals will adopt a Chiefs-like strategy remains to be seen, but as they evaluate their options, the potential for a more competitive roster is certainly on the table.