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T.J. Slaton

AFC North Contract Details: Slaton, Ricard, Bush, Harrison

March 16th, 2025 at 7:44pm CST by Ely Allen

Here is a list of some of the released contract details concerning some free agent signings from the AFC North:

  • Patrick Ricard, FB (Ravens): One year, $2.87MM. Because of the new CBA’s four-year qualifying options, players who have been with the same team for four or more consecutive seasons can earn more than they count against the salary cap. As a result, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, Ricard will only count for $1.42MM against the cap. The deal includes $167.5K in guarantees in the form of a signing bonus.
  • Tylan Wallace, WR (Ravens): One year, $2.1MM. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Wallace’s new deal will have $1.35MM guaranteed including a $930K signing bonus. Additional void years from 2026 to 2029 will spread his cap hit out over time.
  • T.J. Slaton, DT (Bengals): Two years, $14.1MM. Per Wilson, Slaton’s contract has $5MM of guarantees. The $5MM of guarantees comes in the form of a 2025 league year roster bonus. Slaton can also earn an active roster bonus of $20K per game and a playtime incentive that could pay out an additional $500K for the year.
  • Cody Ford, G (Bengals): Two years, $6MM. Per Wilson, Ford’s deal has $1MM of guarantees in the form of a signing bonus. He can also earn an active roster bonus of $29.41K per game and an additional $500K for playing 75 percent of the team’s offensive snaps each year.
  • Marco Wilson, CB (Bengals): One year, $1.52MM. Per Aaron Wilson, Marco Wilson’s guaranteed money comes in the form of a $150K signing bonus. He’ll also be able to earn an active roster bonus of $5.88K per game.
  • Devin Bush, LB (Browns): One year, $3.25MM. Per Wilson, Bush’s contract includes $2.97MM in guarantees that are comprised of a $1.8MM signing bonus and the entirety of his $1.17MM base salary. Bush can earn an active roster bonus of $15K per game and an additional $250K through incentives. The team added four void years to the deal in order to space out his cap impact.
  • Malik Harrison, LB (Steelers): Two years, $10MM. Per Wilson, Harrison’s contract includes $4.08MM in guarantees in the form of a signing bonus.

Bengals, DT T.J. Slaton Agree To Deal

March 10th, 2025 at 3:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

T.J. Slaton is set to be on the move. The Bengals have an agreement in place to add the defensive tackle, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Slaton will sign a two-year, $15.1MM deal, Pelissero adds. That marks a notable raise for the former fifth-rounder compared to his rookie contract. Having served as a full-time starter over the past two years, though, he could prove to be a worthwhile addition to Cincinnati’s defense.

Joining Bobby Brown as a young nose tackle paid Monday, Slaton exited the 2024 season ranked as the top run-stopping D-tackle, according to ESPN’s run stop win rate metric. Slaton placed ninth among interior D-linemen in this metric in 2023, establishing himself as a player with a valuable skill. Considering the Packers only used Slaton as a two-year starter, these assessments show he has made the most of his chances.

Going into his age-28 season, Slaton will join a Bengals team that let run stuffer D.J. Reader walk in 2024. The team ranked 25th in scoring defense and 19th against the run last season. Cincinnati also agreed to re-sign B.J. Hill today while adding linebacker Oren Burks. Slaton, however, has a clear role to play in the Queen City. He will be slated (no pun intended) to line up at nose tackle in Al Golden’s defense.

It is looking unlikely the Bengals will retain Trey Hendrickson, though they are setting a high price, and Sam Hubbard retired last week. The Bengals, however, did check their DT box off the to-do list — starters anyway — on Day 1 of free agency.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.