The 2026 NFL Salary Cap will be at $301.2 million, the league informed teams Friday. It is the first time the salary cap has been over $300 million, jumping $22 million from last season.
In total, the salary cap has increased 40% in the past five years after it dropped entering 2021 following the COVID-19-riddled 2020 season. Since then, it has increased by an average of $24 million per year.
Prior to the re-signing of G Dalton Risner Monday, Cincinnati sat at $50.4 million in available cap space, the seventh-highest cap figure in the NFL entering free agency, per OverTheCap.
The 2026 NFL New League Year officially kicks off March 11 at 4 p.m., with the two-day negotiating period beginning March 9 at 4 p.m. The Bengals are currently slated to have 13 free agents, including 12 unrestricted and one restricted.
View the best shots of the Bengals staff at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
Cincinnati Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin speaks during a press conference at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
Offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher speaks to media at the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026.
Mike Garafolo, left, interviews Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor at the NFLN broadcast booth on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis. (Gregory Payan/AP Content Services for NFL)
Defensive coordinator Al Golden speaks to media at the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026.
Cincinnati Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin speaks during a press conference at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor speaks during a press conference at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
Defensive coordinator Al Golden speaks to media at the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026.
Cincinnati Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin speaks during a press conference at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
Offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher speaks to media at the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026.
Special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons meets with the media at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor speaks during a press conference at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
Cincinnati Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin speaks during a press conference at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
Defensive coordinator Al Golden speaks to media at the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026.
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor speaks during a press conference at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
Special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons meets with the media at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.
Offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher speaks to media at the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026.
Cincinnati Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin speaks during a press conference at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
Special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons meets with the media at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor speaks during a press conference at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
Offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher speaks to media at the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026.
Defensive coordinator Al Golden speaks to media at the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026.
Mike Garafolo, left, interviews Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor at the NFLN broadcast booth on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis. (Gregory Payan/AP Content Services for NFL)
Offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher speaks to media at the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026.
Defensive coordinator Al Golden speaks to media at the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026.
Special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons meets with the media at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.
