Cap space for 2026

[HawkandMariner88]

Honestly who are you looking to extend outside of JSN. The only A-List FA I'd consider at this point is Tyler Lindenbaum from Baltimore. I guess Spoon & JLove on the backend maybe, Jones probably too. Where do you throw in Mafe & DHall. Just not a ton of guys worthy of big money so I'd say definitely go after an A-List FA for sure. Mac knows Lindenbaum do from his time with the Ravens. Who am I missing though?

two names for you: Joe and Burrow.

or two more: Maxx and Crosby.

I'm trading for Burrow tomorrow if possible. Even he knows how to escape a rush or get rid of the ball quickly. Give me Lindenbaum in FA & trade for Burrow & re-sign Shaheed. Believe me they definitely have the cap space to do it. What Hawk fan wouldn't want Burrow or Shitty, sorry sling'n Sammy D.

[Michael K.]

Sorry, double post I guess.

[Michael K.]

I'm trading for Burrow tomorrow if possible. Even he knows how to escape a rush or get rid of the ball quickly. Give me Lindenbaum in FA & trade for Burrow & re-sign Shaheed. Believe me they definitely have the cap space to do it. What Hawk fan wouldn't want Burrow or Shitty, sorry sling'n Sammy D.

There are not very many teams in the NFL right now that wouldn't take Burrow over what they have. But this isn't Madden, not Fantasy Football. What freaking package would need to be put together to get him? The entire draft? Then what does it do to the salary cap. Darnold is on a pretty team friendly deal right now.

I posted Burrow's contract already, but I guess I'll do it again.

Joe Burrow's contract extension runs through the 2029 NFL season, a five-year, $275 million deal he signed in September 2023, making him a Bengal through that year, with potential void years following, and includes a no-trade clause through 2029.

Now?

Sam Darnold signed a 3-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks in 2025 (March 2025), averaging $33.5M annually with $55M guaranteed, featuring a low 2025 cap hit ($13.4M) due to void years, and team-friendly clauses allowing an early exit, making it a "prove-it" deal for the QB to earn big money in years 2 & 3 by meeting performance incentives.

So, besides losing our entire draft, what other players on this team now would you want us to get rid of to make the cap space?

Joe Burrow's salary cap hit increases yearly on his 5-year, $275 million extension, peaking around $57.5 million in 2029, but his 2025 hit was projected around $46 million, allowing the Bengals flexibility as cap numbers rise, with his highest cash coming early in the deal.
Here's a breakdown of his projected cap hits:
2025: ~$46.08 - $46.25 million
2026: ~$48.08 million
2027: ~$52.08 million
2028: ~$53.33 million
2029: ~$57.54 million (highest)

I realize we have cap space, so maybe it would work. But it sounds like Fantasy land shit to me.

Brady took less with Tampa Bay, and the Rams and Lions did their big QB move in a trade. Otherwise? Maybe it's just my piss poor memory, but when has something like this worked out? Certainly not Watson. What am I missing?

[D-train]

I highly doubt the Hawks are even considering moving on from Sam at this point. Maybe they do if he flops in the playoffs but I would be shocked if he wasn't our QB at least through next season.

[Michael K.]

I highly doubt the Hawks are even considering moving on from Sam at this point. Maybe they do if he flops in the playoffs but I would be shocked if he wasn't our QB at least through next season.

Agree. Affordable contract, lead the team to 13 Wins and a shot at the #1 seed. I'd love Burrow, but pretty sure it would decimate the rest of the roster. This debate has been raging since Russ's first contract negotiation, but I don't think it's a coincidence that the QB with the most rings is also the guy that always took less money. I've long wondered how long before one of these guys understands that, and then we get Deshawn Watson type shit from the Browns, and I realize it will never happen. Someone is always going to overpay, and then the market resets. It amazed me that Russ spent that entire Super Bowl watching Mahomes and Brady, and pouted about how he isn't treated like those guys, and didn't realize that Mahomes was on his first contract and Tom took a discount with Tampa!

KC is the anomaly, and even they ended up seeing it all catch up with them this year. I don't think the Bengals have even been back to the playoffs since Burrow was on a rookie deal. Buffalo seemed to be on the brink, and now they are looking up at the Pats, who have a QB on a rookie deal! There have been teams besides the Chiefs that broke through, but it sure is tough to win when you are tying up big portions of the cap.

Top 15 Salaries
1. Dak - No Playoffs
2. Josh Allen - Lost the Division to the Pats
2. Burrow - No Playoffs
2. Trevor Lawrence - Finally showing signs of life
2. Love - Hoping to make noise as the last team in
6. Tua - GROSS
7. Purdy - good this year, but all kinds of talk about how his contract hindered them in the past
7. Goff - lost their first game as a #1 seed last year and out this year
9. Herbert - Trying to hold on to the 6 seed
10. Lamar - Rough year for the Ravens, but still have a shot at a bad division
11. Hurts - Super Bowl Champs to looking a lot like the version that folded down the stretch two years ago and lost their first playoff game at home
12. Parsons - Green Bay has two players in the top 15.
13. Kyler - GROSS
14. Deshaun Watson - GROSSEST
15. Mahomes - Collapsed this year
15. Hutchinson - Lions are hurting
15. Cousins - Might be making a comeback, but most of this year he was the poster boy for why you can't over pay for aging QBs