Shaka Heyward

Linebacker

Age: 24
Free Agency: 2026 (ERFA)
Accrued Seasons: 1
  • 2024 Salary Cap Charge: $220,833 (0.08% of cap)
  • 2024 Cash Payout: $220,833 (0.08% of spending)
  • 2024 Cash to Cap Ratio: 1.00
  • Contract Value: $1,755,000 ($877,500 APY)
  • Fully Guaranteed Money: $0
  • Contract Ranking: 200/229 at LB

Current Contract

(SFA, signed 2024)
(📝: indicates contract trigger occuring during that year)
YearAgeBase SalaryCap
Number
Cap %
Dead Money & Cap Savings
202424$795,000$220,8330.1%
202525$960,000$960,0000.3%
Total$1,755,000$1,180,833

Contract Notes

Shaka Heyward signed a three year contract worth $2,725,000 with the Bengals on May 12, 2023. The contract has $30,000 in guarantees. He received a signing bonus worth $30,000

Cash Flows

- fully earned money
- unearned or partially earned money
$0.9M
$1.8M
20242025
Cash Due$795,000$960,000
Running Cash$795,000$1,755,000
Career Earnings: $661,000
Career APY: $330,500
Potential Earnings: $1,396,833
Total Guarantees: $30,000
Largest Cash Payment: $960,000 (2025)
Largest Cap Number: $960,000 (2025)

Contract History

TeamContract TypeStatusYear SignedYrsTotalAPYGuaranteesAmount Earned% EarnedEffective APY
BengalsUDFATerminated20233$2,725,000$908,333$30,000$00.0%$0
BengalsPracticeExpired20231$216,000$216,000$0$216,000100.0%$216,000
BengalsSFATerminated20241$795,000$795,000$0$00.0%$0
BengalsPracticeElevated20241$225,000$225,000$0$00.0%$0
BengalsPracticeRenegotiated20241$256,667$256,667$0$00.0%$0
BengalsSFAActive20242$1,755,000$877,500$0$220,83312.6%$220,833
Earnings By Team
TeamYrsSalaryAPYPaid on Cap% Paid on CapPaid as Dead Money% Paid as Dead Money
Bengals2$661,000$330,500$436,8330.0%$224,1670.0%

Season History

YearTeamBase SalaryCap
Number
Cap %Cash Paid
2023Bengals$216,000$216,0000.1%$216,000
2024Bengals$795,000$220,8330.1%$220,833
2025Bengals$960,000$960,0000.3%$960,000
Total$1,971,000$1,396,833$1,396,833
Dead Money History
TeamYearCap ChargeCash Paid
Bengals2023$10,000$30,000
Bengals2024$20,000$0
Bengals2024$194,167$194,167
Total$224,167$224,167

Statistics

YearGames PlayedGames InactiveSnapsTacklesNegative PlaysInterceptionsFumblesTD
InjuredHealthyDefenseSpecialSoloAssistSacksYardsTFLQB HitsPass Def.INTYardsForcedRec.Yards
20246001.1%20.4%3100100000000

Valuation Diamond

The diamond is a scatterplot graph that visualizes the relation of the player's APY (in green) and performance (in blue, as measured by OTC's Valuations) to the rest of the league at his position. To understand how to read the diamond, read this explainer.

OTC ValuationAPY
Regular$543,000$877,500
Injury Adjusted$543,000$877,500
test
OTC Valuation $3M $6M $9M $12M $15M APY $3.3M $6.7M $10M $13.3M $16.7M $3,821,000 $3,105,000

Weekly Valuation Trends

The chart below illustrates the trend of the player's weekly OTC Valuations (in blue) from the most recent season, using APY (in green) and, if applicable, cash that is due to the player in the next season (in red) as benchmarks. Weeks not plotted indicate that the player was inactive or on a bye.

To see interactive and more in-depth use of OTC Valuation data, subscribe to OTC Premium.