March 1, 2026, 1:54 p.m. ET
The idea of a Joe Burrow contract restructure for the Cincinnati Bengals continues to be a hot topic around the NFL combine.
While it initially seemed out of character for the Bengals, a Burrow contract restructure reemerged as actually possible last week during buzz around the combine.
Now there’s even more analysis out there around the idea.
At the Cincinnati Enquirer, Kelsey Conway wrote the following: “Don’t expect the Bengals to do the same with Joe Burrow, though. It’s typically not something the franchise likes to do with big contracts.”
It’s a topic The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. talked about recently too.
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“I don’t see a reason he (Burrow) would say no,” Dehner said. “…It’s such an important conversation…It’s absolutely a lever we’re going to look back on…that can be two or three starting-level players.”
A Burrow contract restructure would save roughly $19.2 million, according to Over The Cap. Given the dramatic needs on the defensive side of the ball, it’s a tough idea to simply dismiss.
While the move would be rare for the Bengals, it is potentially one the Bengals eyeballed down the road after signing Burrow’s massive deal in the first place. It’s part of the game when rostering a top-three quarterback in the NFL.
Burrow would probably be more than happy to make it work if asked, too. But it is indeed one of those what if? items to keep in mind if they choose not to and fall short again because the roster wasn’t good enough.