Cody Ford seemingly takes pay cut with Bengals entering 2026 NFL season

TL;DR

Cody Ford has taken a pay cut with the Bengals for the 2026 season, reducing his salary from $2.9 million to the league minimum of $1.3 million. This move saves the team $1.6 million in cap space.

Key points

Cody Ford agreed to a pay cut for the 2026 season
His salary decreased from $2.9 million to $1.3 million
The Bengals saved $1.6 million in cap space

Cincinnati BengalsCody FordJoe BurrowDexter Lawrence

Dec 28, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals guard Cody Ford (61) runs against Arizona Cardinals cornerback Darren Hall (30) and safety Jalen Thompson (34) during the second half at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images | Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images Joe Burrow hasn’t had his contract restructured this offseason, but the Bengals did apparently restructure offensive lineman Cody Ford’s contract. Salary cap expert Andrew Perrota noticed on Over The Cap that the team cut Cody Ford’s 2026 pay down to a league-minimum deal. “Based on Over The Cap, it looks like Cody Ford agreed to a pay cut for 2026,” Perrota posted on Twitter. “Previously, Ford was scheduled to earn $2.9 million in cash (non-GRTD) in 2026. His new 2026 base salary (cash earnings) is down to the league minimum (for a player with Ford’s number of credited seasons) of $1.3M. Cap and cash savings of $1.6M. “This is not a restructure (base to bonus conversion), but rather a straight pay cut. Bengals have plenty of cap room to sign all of their draft picks and UDFAs and don’t need to cut anyone to sign their entire class (drafted + undrafted).” Bengals fans have been clamoring for a restructure of Burrow’s contract for a long time, and rightfully so. Fans want the Bengals’ front office to build the best team around Burrow to contend for Super Bowls every single season. The Bengals do now have one of the lowest cap spaces remaining in the NFL, so that’s a good thing. Trading for has reinvigorated the Bengals’ fanbase. It’s a clear sign that the Bengals are going all in. They could still restructure Burrow’s contract or the contracts of the free agents they have signed this offseason, but they have been proactive this offseason in building the roster with more talent. Ford has started 10 games for the Bengals since joining the team in 2023. He’s never graded above 55.8 overall on Pro Football Focus since entering the league in 2019, but he’s been a valuable depth piece since signing with Cincinnati, providing depth at guard and offensive tackle.

Q&A

Why did Cody Ford take a pay cut with the Bengals?

Cody Ford took a pay cut to help the Bengals manage their salary cap and potentially sign draft picks and undrafted free agents.

What is Cody Ford's new salary for the 2026 NFL season?

Cody Ford's new salary for the 2026 season is $1.3 million, down from his previous salary of $2.9 million.

How does Cody Ford's pay cut affect the Bengals' salary cap?

Ford's pay cut saves the Bengals $1.6 million in cap space, allowing them to maintain flexibility in signing players.