By D. Orlando Ledbetter

Bryan Cook, the former Howard University defensive back, hit it big during the NFL free agency period.

Cook signed a three-year deal with up to $40 million with the Cincinnati Bengals, one of the largest recent NFL paydays tied to an HBCU football alum.

Cook (6-1, 210), a fifth-year NFL player started his career at Howard University, where he played for coach Larry Scott. A native of Cincinnati and the Mount Healthy area, he signed with the University of Cincinnati.

Over the 2017 and 2018 seasons, Cook played in 21 games at cornerback. He made 93 tackles, five tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. A great cover guy he had 17 passes defended and five interceptions, including one he returned for a 41-yard touchdown.

After two seasons in Washington, D.C., he entered the transfer portal and signed with the Bearcats, where he was moved to safety. He was named first-team All-American Athletic Conference after a strong 2021 season.

He was originally a second-round pick (62nd overall) by the Chiefs in 2022.

Cook became a key member on the Chiefs defense.

He played in 62 regular-season games and made 47 starts. He made 228 tackles, had 15 pass breakups and three interceptions. He also played in six playoff games and helped the Chiefs win Super Bowls LVII and LVIII.

Over the first week of free agency, NFL teams spent more nealry $6 billion in player compensation.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, NFL teams have spent a record $5.83 billion in total player compensation, including $2.59 billion guaranteed at signing.

That’s a jump from $4.88 million spent over the same period idn 2025 with $2.19 million guaranteed.

The NFL’s salary cap increased from $279.2 million in 2025 to $301.2 million in 2026. The increase has been largely due to the NFL’s massive 11-year, $110 billion media rights deals with ESPN, FOX, Amazon, CBS and NBC.

In addition to Cook’s deal here are some of the other headline snatching deals:

• CB Trent McDuffie – traded from the Chiefs and signed by the Rams for 4 years, $124 million.

• WR Alec Pierce – re-signed by the Colts for 4 years, $114 million.

• C Tyler Linderbaum – signed by the Raiders for 3 years, $81 million.

• RB Kenneth Walker III – signed by the Chiefs for 3 years, $43.05 million.

• DE Trey Hendrickson – signed by the Ravens for 4 years, $112 million.

• LT Laremy Tunsil – re-signed by the Commanders on a 2-year, $60.2 million extension.

• EDGE Jaelan Phillips – signed by the Panthers for 4 years, $120 million.

• TE Isaiah Likely – signed by the Giants for 3 years, $40 million.

• P Jordan Stout – signed by the Giants for 3 years, $12.3 million.