Free-agent guard Alex Cappa is choosing Joe Burrow over Tom Brady.
Cappa agreed to terms on a four-year, $40 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, NFL Network's James Palmer reported. The deal includes a $35 million base value that pays $20 million over the first two years and has $1 million in Pro Bowl incentives each year, per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.
ESPN first reported the news.
Scooping up the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stalwart guard is an excellent start to the offseason for the Bengals, who needed to improve the blocking in front of Burrow, who was sacked 70 times (including playoffs).
Cappa allowed five sacks on 764 pass-blocking snaps in 2021, per Pro Football Focus; 764 pass-blocking snaps were the most among guards in 2021.
At 27-years old, the former third-round pick out of Humboldt State enjoyed his best season in 2021, didn’t miss a snap last year, and is a player on the rise.
The Bengals desperately needed to add blockers across the O-line this offseason. Adding Cappa is a positive opening salvo for the rebuild, and at $10 million per year is a solid deal for both sides.
Cincinnati isn't stopping there. The Bengals will also sign former New England Patriots offensive lineman Ted Karras to a three-year, $18 million deal, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per a source. Karras has started 44 games over the past three seasons for the Patriots and Miami Dolphins. On the opposite side of the line, the Bengals retained defensive tackle B.J. Hill on a three-year, $30 million deal, per Rapoport.
For Tampa, it moves forward without its top two guards after Ali Marpet retired.