The Bengals' Six Players to Take Up Over 50% of Salaries Next Season
Recently, the Bengals offered Dexter Lawrence a one-year, $28 million contract extension. Combined with the remaining two years of his previous four-year contract, Lawrence's average salary over the next three years will reach $23.3 million, placing him among the top three defensive tackles in the league.
Last season, the Bengals ranked second-to-last in the league defensively. They allowed an average of 28.9 points per game, also ranking third-to-last in the league. It is believed that Lawrence wearing the Cincinnati Bengals football jersey will significantly improve their defensive performance. The team clearly wants to win now; in the 2026 season, the salaries of their six key players will account for approximately 52% of the team's salary cap.
Since 2021, Lawrence, wearing the NFL jerseys, has been the defensive tackle with the highest double-team rate in the league. Despite this, he still manages to achieve the second-highest number of defensive tackles applied per game, demonstrating his immense impact on the court.