Bengals Guard Cordell Volson Reacts To Being Asked To Take a Pay Cut After Disappointing 2024 Season

Volson said asking for his release rather than taking the pay cut was not an option but could have been had the Bengals not worked with him on the structure of the new deal.

“The negotiation piece went really well, and we were really happy with it,” he said.

In addition to requesting the pay cut, the Bengals drafted Dylan Fairchild in the third round and made it clear on draft weekend that the starting left guard position is his to win after Volson lost the spot last season.

“Every year is a big year because every year you're fighting for your spot. Every year you know they're looking for someone new no matter where you're at. At the end of the day, it is a contract year. But I don't think that changes the way I approach my day-to-day work.

“I'm gonna show the staff that I'm a reliable, consistent player that shows up every single day and works extremely hard and comes with the right mindset and is always looking to improve and make everyone else around him improve as well.”

If Fairchild wins the starting left guard job, it doesn’t necessarily mean Volson will be relegated to simply fighting for a roster spot.

He played right guard in college and said he would be comfortable making the switch back if asked to do so.

“I’m gonna do whatever they want me to do,” Volson said. “Wherever I can help this team, that’s where I want to be. I have a ton of reps banked on the right side, so it’s a little easier transition.”

In addition to drafting Fairchild, the Bengals signed Lucas Patrick in free agency and re-signed Cody Ford, who initially replaced Volson in the starting lineup last year.

So Volson could be fighting just for a roster spot come training camp.

And he said that’s something he’s ready for.

“I’d be lying to you if I said I wasn’t disappointed at times (in my play last year),” Volson said. “That adversity that you face just adds to the chip on the shoulder.”