To no one’s surprise, the Cincinnati Bengals and safety Geno Stone agree to a contract restructure to help keep him for the 2025 campaign. According to the source, the Bengals are reworking Stone’s contract as he enters the final year of his deal and will become a free agent in the 2026 offseason. This could signal several things, such as making room to extend defensive end Trey Hendrickson to a new deal, but there might be something on the verge. The Bengals could make Stone available for a trade during the 2025 season if he still fails to meet expectations.
Originally selected in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the former Iowa product became one of the key contributors for the Baltimore Ravens’ secondary unit, especially in 2023 after posting 44 solo tackles, nine pass deflections, and a career-high of seven interceptions in 16 games and just 11 starts. It was enough for the Bengals to sign him to a two-year deal last offseason, which left Ravens fans boiling in anger. Stone couldn’t live up to the bill that was offered to him in Cincinnati after being named the starter alongside Vonn Bell. The safety was one of the several contributors on their secondary that were underperforming, so it’s hard to imagine they will give him a new deal next offseason.
If the Bengals don’t see a future in him, they could fetch some draft capital to rebuild their defense. After all, the team won’t have the same salary cap after giving Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins blockbuster deals, so it’s safe for them to trade Stone to these two teams.
Breaking: Bengals Latest Geno Stone Contract Restructure May Signal Massive Trade – Saints, Panthers Logical Fits
Pinching Leftover Money
The New Orleans Saints have one of the worst cap spaces in the league. They’re in debt, but general manager Mickey Loomis knows how to make things work since signing Justin Reid surprised many across the league, but that was thanks to veteran Tyrann Mathieu taking a pay cut to make it happen. Even though they have a capable safety department, it doesn’t mean they have a bright cornerback unit that could keep this pass defense afloat for the majority of this upcoming season. Last year, they couldn’t keep cornerback Marshon Lattimore largely due to cap space and being more of a liability than having potential.
The same can be said about Paulson Adebo, who left for the Giants this offseason and no longer fits the billing. Mathieu and Reid are two superstars who have the ability to save this pass defense, but it doesn’t mean the Saints shouldn’t trade for another safety. Stone was playing behind Kyle Hamilton and Marcus Williams in Baltimore while seeing a ton of success as a viable backup. Perhaps, the Saints could bring out the same in Stone here in New Orleans.
Building Carolina’s Future
After back-to-back offseasons of rebuilding a capable offense for quarterback Bryce Young, the team is finally making some upgrades on defense. The trenches unit with Tershawn Wharton and Derrick Brown looks promising, just like the secondary department. Carolina signed safety Tre’Von Moehrig this offseason, which adds plenty of upside for Jaycee Horn and Michael Jackson, who are returning on a new deal. They could have one more fireflame to the mix and trade for Stone, be an upgrade over Nick Scott.
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