Bengals got creative with Dexter Lawrence contract details

The Cincinnati Bengals traded for Dexter Lawrence and before the details even got sent to the NFL offices, they had already worked out a contract extension with his agent.

Now, outsiders know a little more about Lawrence’s revised contract with the Bengals.

And it shows the Bengals getting creative after the bold move, too.

According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the Bengals added $2 million more to his 2026 cash and $3 million more to his 2027 cash. He originally had those two years left on his deal before the Bengals amended the structure while adding a third year.

Now, at Over the Cap, Lawrence’s annual cap hits look like this:

• 2026: $15.3 million
• 2027: $24.2 million
• 2028: $30.4 million

As a disclaimer, if all goes according to plan for team and player, they could always get together and work out a revised contract that evens out the cap hits well before 2028.

But that’s getting ahead of things. For now, the Bengals smartly got an extension agreed upon before the trade even happened. And it shows them shrewdly spreading cash around to make it work.

Not bad, after getting bold by trading the 10th overall pick in the first place.

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals got creative with Dexter Lawrence contract details