Latest NFL news helps explain how Bengals were able to be so aggressive landing free agent defensive tackle Jonathan Allen
Cincinnati got good news from the NFL, which helped bring Jonathan Allen into the fold.
Every one of the Cincinnati Bengals’ three free agent signings this week have featured an Average Annual Value (AAV) of at least $13 million. Safety Bryan Cook started things off by signing for $13.4 million per year, defensive end Boye Mafe should end up with the largest AAV of $20 million, and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen comes in at $13 million.
Allen’s contract specifically was an eye-opener for Cincinnati. The club was said to have $24,182,216 in salary cap space when the 31-year old agreed to terms on his two-year deal worth up to $28 million. Barring an unexpected structure, Allen’s contract will take up a decent chunk of cap space for a team that doesn’t like to spend close to the cap before the NFL Draft arrives.
But the Bengals never actually had that amount of space this week. They had even more.
Bengals receive additional salary cap space from the NFL
The NFL has revealed 2026 salary cap adjustments for all 32 clubs Friday afternoon, and Cincinnati is gaining an additional $7.1 million in cap space. Only seven other franchises are receiving more cap room.
The reason for more cap space heading to the Bengals likely revolves around Joe Burrow’s injury. Burrow missed nine games last season due to a turf toe injury, and Cincinnati has an insurance policy attached to his $55 million per year contract he signed in 2023. The Collective Bargaining Agreement, according to former sports agent and CBS Sports writer Joel Corry, protects clubs in the form of salary cap credits as restitution thanks to these specified insurance policies.
“The 2006 NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement first introduced the concept that teams could get salary cap credits for receiving insurance payments when players are injured. The most crucial requirement is the amount covered by the policy must be specified in the player contract. The credit is given to the team’s salary cap in the following league year. The salary cap relief provided is considered as a ‘refund from the player’ under the CBA.” — CBS Sports’ Joel Corry
In short, Burrow misses time while under contract with an insurance policy, Cincinnati receives more cap flexibility the following year.
Without the added space, it’s fair to wonder if the Bengals would’ve offered Allen as much money as they did. Allen’s cap figure is unknown at the time of this writing, but a fair expectation would be between $10-13 million. Sheldon Rankins signed a two-year, $24.5 million deal with Cincy in 2024, and his year one cap hit was $11,638,398.
A similar cap hit would’ve taken the Bengals down to under $15 million in cap space. That’s an area they do not like to enter until the regular season is about to begin. The additional $7.1 million in space they received may’ve been the key to getting Allen in the fold without having to release a veteran with a significant cap hit already on the books.
Jonathan Allen excited to win with Joe Burrow
Landing Allen was a big move by Cincinnati, and the Bengals ended up being a team Allen identified as an ideal place to sign. While the team hasn’t been to the playoffs in three years, he noted during his arrival press conference the prospect of winning a championship is important to him.
“Playing playoff football is is unreal,” said Allen, who played in three postseason games a year ago for the Washington Commanders. “And, I mean, Cincinnati’s not too far moved from the Super Bowl. So, I mean, what a guy like Joe Burrow on that offense and you know, things we’re gonna be able to do on defense, it’s going to be an exciting year.”
It’s always about the quarterback. Burrow’s a year removed from putting up MVP-like numbers that only translated to nine wins thanks to a porous defense that did not take the leap it should’ve in 2025. Allen wants to be part of the leap this year.
“I think as defensive linemen, having the ability to play with a guy like Joe Burrow and that offense, you know they’re going to put points up,” Allen said. “We’re going to be playing with the lead. So allowing us as a defense and defense line to kind of get after the quarterback, was definitely enticing.”
Allen is certainly not the first free agent to be intrigued by playing with Burrow, and he won’t be the last. If he wasn’t made a cap casualty by the Minnesota Vikings and Burrow never got hurt last year, his coming to Cincinnati may have only been a dream.
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