Cincinnati Bengals
FlexibleCincinnati Bengals are carrying $24.3M in dead money this year — cap already spent on players no longer on the roster. They project $48.9M of room in 2027. The decisions that shape it: Joe Burrow ($54.6M), Ja'Marr Chase ($33.4M), Tee Higgins ($30.1M) top the 2027 book.
Cap trajectory
Projected space, next three years
2026+$8.3M
$309.1M committed
2027+$48.9M
$278.1M committed
2028+$105.9M
$246.1M committed
Space is OTC's projection against a projected future cap. Negative = over the line before any new signings.
Decision watch-list
Biggest 2027 cap hits
| Joe Burrow | $54.6M |
| Ja'Marr Chase | $33.4M |
| Tee Higgins | $30.1M |
| Dexter Lawrence | $24.2M |
| Boye Mafe | $21.3M |
| Orlando Brown Jr. | $16.0M |
Ranked by cap hit — the contracts that drive the restructure-or-cut call. Per-player cut-savings math isn't modeled yet.