The Cincinnati Bengals’ cap space increased dramatically last year thanks to a collection of players with large chunks of cap savings who were no longer in the team’s plans.

Sheldon Rankins, Sam Hubbard (retired), Alex Cappa, Germaine Pratt and Zack Moss were eventually let go to create space for the team to have plenty of money to work with. They were obvious and substantial.

That won’t be the case this season.

The most notable veteran cut candidates from a financial standpoint are either unlikely to be let go or could easily be retained, depending on how the team views their role in the defensive rebuild.

There are nine players who would save the Bengals at least $2 million against the 2026 cap by being released. Only five are even remotely possible, and realistically, only two or three would be considered likely to be done.

Let’s dive into the cases, all listed by the amount of money that would be saved against the cap.

LT Orlando Brown Jr.

• Contract: Entering final season of four-year, $64 million deal signed as a free agent in 2023
• 2026 cap hit: $22 million (fourth most)
• Average annual value: $16 million (17th most among left tackles)
• Cap savings if released: $14.2 million
• Dead money if released: $7.8 million
• Offensive snaps: 1,057 (100 percent)

Background: Brown served as a team captain for the second straight season and held down left tackle for an offensive line that’s in as good of shape as any since quarterback Joe Burrow arrived. The 2018 third-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens has been named to four Pro Bowls, turns 30 in May and is entering the final year of his contract.

Performance: This wasn’t the best individual season for Brown. Pro Football Focus logged him with a career high in sacks allowed (nine) and penalties (10). His 96.0 efficiency mark was the second worst of his eight-year career. Brown saw his 2024 season cut short with two fractures in his right fibula but was available all year for a team that demands a lot from its tackles. Still, the sacks and pressures were far from the production of a top left tackle, even as a key member of what became a solid overall group by November.

The decision: Could the Bengals do better than Brown? Sure. But they love the chemistry up front right now, and he’s a big part of that equation along with center Ted Karras. They love his passion and energy on the field. He brings the personality and intensity necessary for the position and to help lift those around him. As was illustrated in the second half of the season, even in a down year for him, he was one-fifth of a group that kept Burrow clean and provided as much optimism for 2026 as any position on the roster. The Bengals need to be thinking about the future once Brown becomes a free agent in 2027, but they aren’t going to usher in an adjustment to a new left tackle right now, given all the challenges on the defense and the net positive he provides to the team.

Result: There’s a minuscule chance the Bengals will cut Brown, pocket the $14 million and go left tackle hunting. There’s a good chance they will draft a left tackle of the future with one of their first three picks in April to serve as a swing tackle for 2026 and be ready just in case his performance slides.

DT T.J. Slaton

• Contract: Signed two-year, $14.1 million deal last March
• 2026 cap hit: $8.9 million (seventh most)
• Average annual value: $7.1 million (43rd among DTs)
• Cap savings if released: $6.4 million
• Dead money if released: $2.5 million
• Defensive snaps: 562 (53 percent)

Background: The Bengals signed the 6-foot-5, 340-pound nose tackle last March to bolster a poor run defense. The 28-year-old spent his first four seasons with the Green Bay Packers and had a reputation as a run-stopping nose who brings minimal pass-rush value. He logged three sacks in four seasons before arriving in Cincinnati.

Performance: Cincinnati’s run defense stayed poor during the first three months of the 2025 season. Slaton finished the year with the worst run-stop rate and PFF run defense grade of his career. How much of that was challenging to gauge based on the low level of play around him? Certainly some, and the grades were harsher than the reality.

On/off splits for Slaton when filtering for the most normal-down situations on run defense showed a cavernous difference. Here are the Bengals’ results on first/second down with between 4 and 10 yards to go in the first three quarters of games.

He provided more pass rush than might have been expected, adding a career high in pressures (19) and sacks (three). The production was somewhat surprising but not impactful enough to make a difference each week. His role will always be to stuff the run on the nose.

The decision: Can the Bengals find a better nose tackle for $6.2 million or less? Maybe. Probably. Run stuffers come off the board at a relative bargain every year. Slaton didn’t turn into the brick wall the Bengals hoped he would when they pinpointed him out of Green Bay, but he was good enough and made a difference. He didn’t qualify as a leader like they’d seen from that position in the past, with D.J. Reader (notably available in free agency) as the heart and soul of the team. This won’t be an easy decision, as the math aligns with traditional Bengals dead-money cap cuts.

Result: Slaton will be a cut conversation, but it feels more likely than not that he’ll stay. He still brings enough stopping the run to be valuable in that role. Unless a more dynamic player becomes available in a similar role and the salary is needed to move forward, Slaton will return. It’s not a slam dunk, though, as director of player personnel Duke Tobin eyes more pass rush.

DT B.J. Hill

• Contract: Signed three-year, $33 million deal last March; $2 million roster bonus on March 15
• 2026 cap hit: $12.1 million (sixth most)
• Average annual value: $11 million (31st among DTs)
• Cap savings if released: $4.8 million
• Dead money if released: $7.3 million
• Defensive snaps: 654 (53 percent)

Background: Hill was inked to a three-year deal last year in free agency, just weeks before turning 30. He took on the role of captain as a leader in a young defensive line room but was dealing with his own issues. He played all year through a foot injury that kept him limited throughout the offseason and camp. He played hurt for much of the year and needed practice days off during the week.

Performance: Hill continued down a similar path as in recent years with the Bengals, despite being used in a slightly different way. Pro Football Focus has graded Hill between 67 and 71 for five years in a row with the Bengals. This was no different. One of the major changes was defensive coordinator Al Golden taking Hill off the field on passing third downs.

That explains his quarterback pressures being down, but he made an impact in other areas. He posted a stop (tackle for an offensive failure) once every 19 snaps, the best rate of any season with the Bengals. There’s still value in his versatility. He has performed well at most tasks but not necessarily great at any one thing. That’s why he has done so well in rotational roles throughout his career, because he can fill whatever gap exists on the line.

The decision: With uncertainty regarding the lack of development with Kris Jenkins and which free agent or NFL Draft pick could enter the fold, Hill’s plugging in any role necessary provides value. And the Bengals do not like taking on dead money hits at the level of his deal. The money flips to one where the Bengals would have a more traditional exit for them after this season.

Result: Hill feels like a player who sticks around, likely in a more rotational role with a new addition at defensive tackle. The timing here will be important, with a $2 million roster bonus set to hit March 15. If the Bengals are pondering a different direction, they’ll want to do so before that date.

OL Cody Ford

• Contract: Signed a two-year, $6 million deal last year
• 2026 cap hit: $3.4 million
• Average annual value: $3 million
• Cap savings if released: $2.9 million
• Dead money if released: $500,000
• Offensive snaps: 73 (7 percent)

Background: The staff was encouraged by Ford’s versatility and mentality after he was pressed into action due to injuries in 2024. They prioritized a deal with him this past offseason, with eyes on a move to guard to get the most out of him. That never materialized, and he was quickly moved to swing tackle, where two healthy seasons for Amarius Mims and Orlando Brown Jr. kept his role to a minimum until he was the story of the day catching a 21-yard pass against the Arizona Cardinals.

Performance: Ford did himself no favors by arriving out of shape and battling weight through camp. Disappointment in his inability to even compete in the guard role buried him on the depth chart and took away the best path to playing.

The decision: The fact the Bengals would pocket nearly $3 million against the cap by moving on doesn’t make this much of a decision. Yet, like linebacker Oren Burks, they could certainly keep Ford around and give him an opportunity to carve out a role and serve as insurance and competition if depth is needed on the line.

Result: I don’t see Ford on the 2026 roster, especially if the Bengals pluck a swing tackle in the draft. Putting that money toward a defensive player makes more sense.

LB Oren Burks

• Contract: Signed a two-year, $5 million deal last year
• 2026 cap hit: $2.7 million
• Average annual value: $2.5 million
• Cap savings if released: $2.3 million
• Dead money if released: $375,000
• Defensive snaps: 340 (31 percent)

Background: Burks was signed for depth at linebacker, joining his fourth team in the last five seasons. He played the most snaps of his career on defense and special teams, where he was on 84 percent of special teams snaps.

Performance: The Bengals desperately needed serviceable linebacker play, and Burks never proved to be the answer. He rotated into the game as Demetrius Knight Jr. endured struggles midseason, but he couldn’t play well enough to hold down a larger snap rate. He showed value on special teams with more than a few critical plays in that phase.

The decision: The Bengals will be focused on adding at linebacker. Burks likely isn’t in their plans, especially if they can add $2.3 million by going another direction.

Result: Cincinnati could cut Burks loose before free agency or might hold on to his rights through camp as another veteran in competition for a role, knowing injury or improved play could keep him on the roster.

Others that won’t happen (cap savings)

WR Tee Higgins ($5.3 million): No.

C Ted Karras ($4 million): The starting center was extended before last season. He’s well worth the money, given his leadership, solid level of play and lack of other reliable answers at center.

TE Drew Sample ($2.9 million): Sample is far too valuable within the scheme of this offense, considering his versatility in protections, point of attack in the run game and chemistry with Burrow.

TE Mike Gesicki ($3.2 million): The Bengals have figured out a way to get the most out of Gesicki — one of Burrow’s priorities last year — and love him as Higgins insurance and a big slot option to take advantage of smaller defensive backs.