Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) and head coach Zac Taylor head for the locker room after the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 3 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Washington Commanders at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. The Bengals remain winless after a 38-33 loss to Washington.

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Joe Burrow hints at contract restructure to help Bengals retain Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Trey Hendrickson

Joe Burrow eyes contract change to keep Chase, Higgins, Hendrickson.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has made it clear: He’s open to adjusting his massive $275 million deal to free up cap space. His goal? To help the Bengals lock in long-term deals for Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Trey Hendrickson. With major contracts on the line, Burrow’s willingness to sacrifice could reshape the Bengals’ future.

Joe Burrow breaks down how his contract restructure could help Cincinnati Bengals secure Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Trey Hendrickson

In an interview on the Pardon My Take podcast, Joe Burrow detailed how his five-year contract extension, signed in 2023, could be modified to create cap space. His focus? Helping the Bengals afford crucial extensions for Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Trey Hendrickson.

“You could convert some of the money to a signing bonus, which will lower the cap hit,” Burrow explained. “You can push some of the money to the back end of the contract. That lowers the cap hit. And then when you get to the back end of the contract, you can restructure it and convert it to a signing bonus. You can also just take less money.”

Joe Burrow says "of course" he's willing to restructure his contract and says he has faith in the #Bengals' ownership:

"I do. I do. We have the cap space to get it done. Trey, Tee, Ja’Marr, Mike G, we all want to stay together."

GET IT DONE, BENGALS 🐅 pic.twitter.com/WnqAp0o4ak
— Cincinnati 💔 (@CincyProblems) February 6, 2025

The Bengals star confirmed he’s willing to restructure using signing bonuses, a common cap-saving strategy. He added that while most players choose this method, he’s ready to do the same to help Cincinnati retain its core.

Cincinnati Bengals face high-stakes decisions with Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Trey Hendrickson amid Joe Burrow’s $46.3 million cap hit in 2025

The Bengals’ offseason is a pressure cooker. With Joe Burrow’s $46.3 million cap hit looming for 2025, Cincinnati has limited space to secure long-term deals for three major players:

Ja’Marr Chase: Fresh off a triple crown season and an Offensive Player of the Year finalist spot, Chase is the definition of untouchable. He’s Burrow’s top target and the face of the Bengals’ future.
Tee Higgins: Despite injuries, Higgins is still projected to be the No. 1 wide receiver in free agency, according to ESPN. Losing him would gut the Bengals’ receiving core.
Trey Hendrickson: The league’s sack leader and a Defensive Player of the Year finalist. He wants a raise—and he’s earned it. Letting him walk would be a defensive disaster.

The problem? Burrow’s contract eats up massive cap space. According to Roster Management System, the Bengals have $45.9 million in projected cap space for 2025. But that’s before signing their rookie class or filling roster gaps. Without restructuring Burrow’s deal or cutting veterans, there’s barely room to breathe.

Joe Burrow calls out the Philadelphia Eagles’ salary cap moves as the blueprint for the Cincinnati Bengals’ front office

Burrow didn’t hold back when praising the Philadelphia Eagles for their cap magic. Despite paying Jalen Hurts a massive deal, the Eagles built a Super Bowl-winning roster without losing stars.

“The Eagles are paying everybody,” Burrow said. “That seems like the way. Whatever they’re doing.”

It’s a direct shot at the Bengals’ front office: If Philadelphia can keep their stars and stay competitive, what’s stopping Cincinnati? The league’s salary cap hit $255.4 million last season—a $30 million jump from increased media revenue and post-COVID repayments. With the cap set to rise again, the Bengals have no excuse for letting talent walk.

Image: Imagn Images

Joe Burrow

Natasha Bose

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