The Cincinnati Bengals signed Geno Stone to a two-year, $14 million contract during the 2024 offseason. Although he put up decent interception numbers and didn’t allow the most passing yards in 2024, Stone struggled at tackling and was considered a liability in pass coverage. He recorded 15 missed tackles, six pass deflections, four interceptions, and one pick-six, giving up a 66.7% completion percentage, 312 passing yards, five touchdowns, a 97.0 passer rating, and a 53.7 coverage grade.
The Cincinnati Bengals’ S faced an uncertain future
Given his struggles in 2024, the Bengals’ hiring a new defensive coordinator, and his contract, Geno Stone faced an uncertain future with Cincinnati. Stone was scheduled to earn a $6.075 million base salary along with a $7.975 million cap hit. With a pre-June 1st cut, the front office would free up $6.475 million and incur a $1.5 million dead cap hit.
According to Jason Fitzgerald, the Bengals and Geno Stone have agreed to a one-year, $4.9 million revised contract, adding $1.5 million in guarantees, freeing $1.575 million in cap space. As a result, Stone’s $6.075 million base salary drops to $3 million while his $7.975 million cap hit drops to $6.4 million in 2025. Finally, with the revised contract, he is essentially guaranteed a roster spot this season.
