Cincinnati announced the elevation of defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie from the practice squad to fill a spot on the active roster, meaning the gameday roster will feature 54 players for the week. The combination of the two has left the Patriots with $1.75 million in cap room, per NFLPA records as of late Sunday. Signing him would also stabilize things up front for Joe Burrow. All contract figures come courtesy of Over The Cap. The Bengals showed us in recent history they’re not a fan of doing so at guard (Kevin Zeitler). Of all the Patriots making north of $3 million, Rex Burkhead would be the cleanest cut. Now, the clock is ticking on the Patriots. He’s due to make $2 million this season. The Bengals have a bevy of things to fix, from connecting on deep shots to simply tackling. When the Patriots used the franchise designation on guard Joe Thuney, they took the unusual step of announcing to the world a contract adjustment. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS. And tomorrow is always coming. Thuney is about to get PAID. Thuney’s arrival would push aside Jordan and Billy Price, at a minimum. Safety Obi Melifonwu, the team’s 52nd-highest paid player, makes $750,000. This is a “why not?” conversation at this point. Spotrac spitballs it at nearly $14 million average annual salary over five years. Cons. Unfortunately, while it might be a good idea to outside observers, the front office in Cincinnati probably isn’t going to agree. Any future trade of Mason shouldn’t be viewed as a cap-saving move, so much as the Pats accepting an offer they couldn’t refuse. Thuney will start counting against the Patriots’ salary cap on March 18 at 4 p.m. If he was let go with a post-June 1 designation (a tool that allows teams to spread resulting dead money over two seasons), Cannon would clear more than $7 million in space for 2020. If the Pats intended to trade Thuney, that deal likely would have been executed already. The only possible consideration, however improbable, is right guard Shaq Mason, who would create almost $6 million in cap savings if dealt after June 1. If Thuney arrived it would mean three of the five spots cemented for a long time, leaving right guard and tackle as question marks. Reader has already been a breakout performer for Bengals, Bengals release final injury report for Week 3 vs. Eagles, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Down the road, backup OL Jermaine Eluemunor, tendered as a restricted free agent after playing only 29 snaps last year, could become a training camp cut. Those Eagles sport an 0-2 record too, but get the luxury of playing at home and have past playoff success to lean into while trying to fix things. Not to mention, as is the case across the offensive line, Mason’s backup is a major question mark. Therefore, don’t expect an avalanche of extensions. He plays a position with decent enough depth. Big money here would mean fewer funds for other items like extensions elsewhere. At this point, if a trade is made, it’s likely Thuney and the Patriots remain impossibly apart in long-term contract negotiations. We’re probably talking about market-resetting money. The team has begun trimming salary off the fringes of its roster. McKenzie joined the roster on August 25 when the team cut Damion Willis and guard Clay Cordasco. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year has two years left on his deal and could help the Pats save upward of $7.5 million this season with an extension. Others, namely Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Mason, previously agreed to restructured contracts that provided the team relief from this type of money last season at the expense of bloated cap hits this year. If Thuney arrived it would mean three of the five spots cemented for a long time, leaving right guard and tackle as question marks. The New England Patriots offensive guard signed his one-year franchise tag Thursday, according to his agent. The emergence of 2019 third-round pick Damien Harris — or an incoming rookie — would quickly make him expendable and create $2.9 in cap savings this season. While the LSU quarterback might be good when things break down, it’s certainly better to have proven names in front of him reducing the number of hits he takes. Dont’a Hightower is 30. If not, James White, center David Andrews and defensive tackle Adam Butler are names to consider, both for the long-term health of the franchise and short-term benefit of the cap.