Vonn Bell contract breakdown with the Bengals

The Bengals made several big free agent splashes this offseason, one of which being the addition of Vonn Bell.

After becoming one of the league’s most physical safeties during his four-year stint with the Saints, Bell is coming back to Ohio after spending his college days at Ohio State. He finished 2019 with 89 tackles, four tackles for loss, five pass deflections and one interception for a Saints team that finished 11th in total defense.

The Bengals signed Bell, who is primarily a box safety, to a three-year deal worth $18 million and a $3 million signing bonus, which is also the total guaranteed money in his deal.

Here is a look at his full contract via Over The Cap:

Bell will earn another $1 million upon reporting to training camp. There are also per-game bonuses of $200,000 per year in 2021 and 2022.

Bell’s $6 million annual salary ranks 21st among NFL safeties, so the Bengals got him at a pretty good bargain. If the Bengals wanted to cut Bell for whatever reason, he’d be owed $3 million in dead cap this year, and it drops by $1 million in each of the next two years.

In addition, Bell doesn’t turn 26 until December, so he’ll actually be 28 when he hits free agency again in the 2022 offseason, so he could end up landing an even bigger payday then if his time in Cincinnati goes well.