It turns out LeBron James is getting a little out-earned in 2026 - at least if you narrow the lens to a few Cincinnati Bengals.
The Ohio-born NBA icon is set to make less with the Philadelphia 76ers than three Bengals who don’t usually headline the payroll conversation: Evan McPherson, T.J. Slaton and Jordan Battle.
Sure, Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase clear that bar too, but the interesting part here is the smaller names on Cincinnati’s roster. Their cap hits are all above LeBron’s rounded-up $3.88 million figure for the 2026-27 NBA season.
McPherson leads the group with a $4.98 million salary, which puts him in the top five among NFL kickers. That’s a hefty number for a player whose results have swung wildly since his breakout rookie year.
FanSided’s Kick Value Added metric had McPherson at 30th in 2022, 12th in 2023, 39th in 2024 and 11th in 2025. That rough 2024 season mattered in a big way, since it was part of the reason the Bengals missed the playoffs and wasted Chase’s Triple Crown and Burrow’s MVP-worthy season.
Cincinnati could save $3.6 million in 2027 cap room if it moved on from him next offseason before June 1, according to OverTheCap.com.
Slaton’s number is even louder. His $9.16 million cap hit makes him a strikingly expensive backup nose tackle, and it’s fair to wonder whether any other player at that spot is carrying a bigger number.
Cincinnati’s decision to restructure Burrow’s contract may have helped keep him around. Still, Slaton didn’t give the Bengals nearly enough in 2025 after arriving from Green Bay with expectations of being a sturdy run defender.
Instead, his impact was minimal, and Cincinnati finished dead-last against the run. That wasn’t all on him, but the price tag demands more.
A healthier role as the No. 2 space-eater behind Dexter Lawrence might be what helps him rebound.
Then there’s Battle, who is barely ahead of LeBron in this strange salary comparison. The third-round pick from 2023 is set to make $3.892 million, while LeBron’s Sixers cap figure sits at $3.877 million.
That’s a difference of just $15,000. Battle enters the season with a real opportunity, though, now that he’s lined up at safety next to two-time Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl champ Bryan Cook instead of Geno Stone.
If that setup clicks, his next deal could look a lot different. His current two-year contract, worth just under $8 million, runs through the 2027-28 NBA season, but the Bengals safety could be in line to at least double his pay by next year.
LeBron’s career earnings remain in another universe - $581,375,548 across 23 NBA seasons, before endorsements - so this is only a tiny blip in the bigger picture. But for one season, and on one roster, McPherson, Slaton and Battle will all take home more on-field money than The King.
In Other News...
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What makes Dugger interesting is not just the experience he brings, but the way he fits into a crowded competition for snaps. The Bengals have several capable defensive backs in the mix, and Goldens comments suggest the staff is still weighing how to use that group most effectively, whether in the slot, in dime looks or somewhere else that takes advantage of the rosters flexibility. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Week 1 Opponent Suddenly Has A Major Problem Up Front
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For Cincinnati, the timing is notable because the front office already addressed the position this offseason by adding Dexter Lawrence II, a move that gave the defense a bigger, more disruptive presence in the middle. Defensive coordinator Al Golden has spoken highly of Lawrences ability to win one-on-one matchups and hold his ground, which makes the Bengals feel set at the spot even as one of their first opponents deals with uncertainty there. [Read more 🡒]
Zac Taylor Just Sent A Different Message About Bengals Expectations
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What makes this worth watching is how that pressure may be shaping the way he leads. Taylor has suggested it is pushing him to be more demanding and more accountable with his coaching staff, a subtle but meaningful change for a team that has not yet played a regular-season or preseason game. The Bengals still have to show it on the field, but the tone around the building already sounds a little different. [Read more 🡒]