-
Ben Child
CINCINNATI — Bengals security Geno Stone had a few causes to just accept a restructured contract that featured a pay lower.
For starters, he was in a position to get extra assured cash within the second and remaining 12 months of the contract he signed with the membership final offseason. However by decreasing his wage this 12 months, he additionally provides Cincinnati additional {dollars} to work with because the staff continues to work towards a possible contract extension for star defensive finish Trey Hendrickson.
“That is a man we actually need, in order that’s one thing I used to be keen to do for the staff,” Stone mentioned after Tuesday’s voluntary exercise.
Information of the restructured deal was first reported on Tuesday by OverTheCap. Within the new deal, Stone’s wage was lower by $1.58 million for the upcoming season. Nonetheless, $1.5 million of this 12 months’s wage might be assured.
That went into the calculus of why Stone agreed to the amended contract. And whereas the staff by no means advised him its particular plans, it wasn’t onerous to know why the Bengals approached him concerning the state of affairs.
“When you’re taking a pay lower, they’re clearing their area for a purpose,” Stone mentioned. “I do not know what they’re doing. They by no means advised me. I did not ask. On the finish of the day, they’re doing what they want to do this’s greatest for the staff.”
Hendrickson, a four-time Professional Bowler who led the NFL in sacks final season and was an All-Professional choice, requested the flexibility to hunt a commerce earlier within the offseason in hopes of securing a long-term deal. He was not in attendance Tuesday on the staff’s voluntary offseason exercise.
Cincinnati granted the request earlier than free company began in March. However after free company and April’s NFL draft, Hendrickson stays on the roster. Hendrickson, 30, has one 12 months remaining on an extension he signed in 2023. Nonetheless, he’s set to earn $15.8 million in wage this season. To place that in perspective, Houston Texans defensive finish Danielle Hunter signed a one-year contract extension this offseason value $35.6 million.
By remodeling his take care of the Bengals, Stone can flip his consideration to solidifying his play after a shaky first 12 months in Cincinnati.
After a 2024 season through which the Bengals’ protection struggled and the staff missed the playoffs, Stone puzzled if he would return for the ultimate 12 months of his deal.
“Truthfully, I used to be upset with myself quite a bit final 12 months, simply the way in which my play was early within the 12 months. You realize,” Stone mentioned on Tuesday. “I bought put in conditions I’d say I actually by no means had in my profession like that.
“And that had nothing to do with anybody else. It is simply me. In order that was an enormous studying level for me in my profession, and I really feel like I am able to bounce again from that.”
However his stance throughout the constructing was solidified across the NFL scouting mix in late February. Stone mentioned he was in a position to sit down with new defensive coordinator Al Golden and the teaching employees through which the imaginative and prescient for his upcoming season was relayed. On the NFL annual assembly in Florida in late March, Bengals coach Zac Taylor gave Stone a real vote of confidence.
“I like the place Geno’s headed,” Taylor mentioned. “There is a purpose we introduced him in. I am excited for his future.”
The entire protection is seeking to rebound and assist the Bengals get again to the playoffs after lacking the postseason the previous two seasons. Stone is aware of how necessary it will be to have Hendrickson again within the fold.
“As a security, you need a go rusher that makes the quarterback get the ball out quick or makes the quarterback throw the ball within the mistaken spot so you’ll be able to go make performs,” Stone mentioned. “He is clearly both the highest [defensive] finish or among the best within the league. You need that in your staff.”
