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Bengals Decline Murphy's $14.5M Option, Seek Extension

5/1/2026

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Summary

Myles Murphy Declined

The Cincinnati Bengals declined defensive end Myles Murphy’s fifth-year option on his rookie contract.
The option would have guaranteed Murphy $14.5 million for the 2027 season.
Director of player personnel Duke Tobin said the move adds salary-cap flexibility and opens a path to a long-term extension.
If no new deal is reached, Murphy becomes an unrestricted free agent after 2026, having recorded 5.5 sacks, 41 pressures and 52 tackles in 2025.

Summary

Myles Murphy Extension

Officials aim to lock in a long-term deal with Myles Murphy before his free-agency window opens in March 2027.
Murphy, DJ Turner II, Dax Hill and Chase Brown are the four starters whose contracts will be renegotiated, with Hill staying on his fifth-year option while the others seek extensions.
Duke Tobin said the Bengals are top spenders and that the 2027 cap space of $37,538,143 could be pressured by extensions.

History

Historical Context

In 1994 the NFL introduced its first salary cap, coinciding with the April 24-25 draft where the Cincinnati Bengals chose defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson with the first overall pick. The cap’s debut forced teams to weigh long-term contracts against roster flexibility, a dilemma echoed today as the Bengals decline Myles Murphy’s fifth-year option to preserve future cap space.

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Myles Murphy Declined

The Cincinnati Bengals declined defensive end Myles Murphy’s fifth-year option on his rookie contract.
The option would have guaranteed Murphy $14.5 million for the 2027 season.
Director of player personnel Duke Tobin said the move adds salary-cap flexibility and opens a path to a long-term extension.
If no new deal is reached, Murphy becomes an unrestricted free agent after 2026, having recorded 5.5 sacks, 41 pressures and 52 tackles in 2025.

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