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After only two seasons into a four-year rookie contract, the Cincinnati Bengals signed Domata Peko to a five-year extension that amounted to $27.765 million with $8.5 million guaranteed -- $6 million coming from the signing bonus.
As Cincinnati reaches the final year of his existing contract, Peko's situation is a bit precarious. Hard worker, total team guy with enough character to carry the team single-handedly, Peko enters 2014 with a $3.965 million base salary and a cap hit of $4.165 million.
It only made sense that the Bengals extend Peko a couple of seasons, reducing his cap number while keeping one of the team's core defensive players for a couple of more seasons.
According to Bengals.com, they are.
It’s believed they’ve reached out to at least start conversations with several extension candidates that could range anywhere from Dalton and Green to Pro Bowl WILL linebacker Vontaze Burfict to defensive tackle Domata Peko.
Vontaze Burfict, who signed a three-year deal worth $1.441 million following the 2012 NFL draft, is entering the final year of his deal. He'll become a restricted free agent in 2015, but figure no tender could possibly exist that will keep him away from teams trying to pry him away with a ridiculous offer sheet. And frankly, the team needs to keep Burfict in Cincinnati for as long as possible.