Zac Taylor speaks about Cincinnati Bengals 2025 NFL draft picks video
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor speaks at a press conference after Bengals make all their picks for the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Cincinnati Bengals and Geno Stone agreed on a restructured contract that keeps the safety with the team for at least one more season.
After a shaky first season with the Bengals, it was unclear if Cincinnati would cut ties with Stone. It became clear the team was planning to keep him when they opted not to sign another safety in free agency. Then, when the Bengals didn’t draft a safety with any of their six picks, it all but ended the conversation about if Stone would be on the team this season.
Stone was scheduled to make $6.475 million and now is set to make $4.9 million in the upcoming season, according to OverTheCap.com.
Geno Stone contract with Bengals
The Bengals started the second phase of their voluntary offseason program on Monday and Tuesday, Stone addressed several questions about the status of his contract.
“I mean yeah, a little,” Stone admitted on if he took the request to take a pay cut personal. “But at the end of the day, it’s business.”To this point, it’s unclear what the Bengals are planning to do with the money they’re saving from Stone’s decreased salary. Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson is seeking a new contract from the team and negotiations have stalled out for the time being. There’s a scenario in which this move, plus moving on from linebacker Germaine Pratt could free up some money for the Bengals to throw at Hendrickson.
Stone is at least hoping that’s the case.
“I want to do what’s best for the team and if that’s what gets Trey back signed, I’m going to do it,” Stone said.
Trey Hendrickson contract situation with Bengals
Hendrickson has yet to report to the Bengals’ voluntary offseason program due to his ongoing contract dispute. Stone wasn’t told what the team plans to do with the money they’re freeing up, but hopes it helps his team.“At the end of the day, if you’re taking a pay cut, they’re trying to clear up space for a reason,” Stone said. “I don’t know what they’re doing, they never told me, I didn’t ask. At the end of the day, they’re doing what they think is best for the team.”
Stone also provided an honest assessment of his performance last season stating he was “upset” with himself often last season because of his play. When the Bengals signed Stone in free agency, they were expecting more interceptions and consistent tackling than they got from him. During the 2023 season, Stone recorded seven interceptions with the Ravens.
Stone believes he’ll thrive in new defensive coordinator Al Golden’s system due to more simplicity, which he did early in his career. In switching to the Bengals’ scheme last year, Stone cited the complexity of Cincinnati’s defense as something he needed to get comfortable with and it took longer than expected.
“He’s keeping it simple,” Stone said of Golden.