Injured Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (75) walks on the field in the first quarter of the NFL Week 11 game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. The Chargers led 24-6 at halftime.

Cincinnati Bengals Give 4x-Pro Bowler a Big Extension

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics
By Jackson Loschko | Last updated Mar 12, 2026 11:42 AM ET

The Cincinnati Bengals had their best offensive line in Joe Burrow’s NFL career in 2025, with multiple bright spots, including Amarius Mims and Dylan Fairchild. The good news is that Cincinnati is expected to have all five starting spots filled heading into the offseason, barring any trades or roster moves after re-signing Dalton Risner last week. Highlighting one of the biggest question marks in the unit is whether to retain or move on from a veteran Pro Bowler.

Cincinnati Bengals’ LT entered the final year of his deal

Orlando Brown Jr. enters the final year of his four-year, $64 million contract. He is coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign, allowing 46 pressures, a 6.28% pressure rate, which ranked 21st among 32 qualified left tackles, along with 27 hurries, ten quarterback hits, and nine sacks across 17 starts while playing every single offensive snap. Brown is scheduled to earn a $13.1 million base salary, a per-game bonus totaling $748,000, a $375,000 workout bonus, $14.22 million in cash, and a whopping $22 million cap charge, the ninth-highest by a left tackle, per Over The Cap in 2026.

The Bengals must decide whether to keep the four-time Pro Bowler at his current cap hit, release him to clear $14.22 million in cap space, sign a less skilled tackle, draft one really high in April over prioritizing other needs, or extend him.

The Bengals give a 4x-Pro Bowler a big extension

Orlando Brown Jr. walks on the field as he misses the game with an injury in the first quarter of the NFL Week 9 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Las Vegas Raiders at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.

According to Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer, the Bengals have signed Orlando Brown Jr. to a two-year, $32 million contract extension, securing him through the 2028 season. As Conway points out, the four-time Pro Bowler will get 12 million in the first 12 months. Lastly, Brown did not have an agent and instead represented himself in the negotiations, and also didn’t feel the need to reset the tackle market.

Orlando Brown Jr.’s extension is a 2-year extension worth $32 million.

OBJ gets $23 million in the first 12 months, per source.

— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) March 12, 2026