Myles Murphy: Everything you need to know

The Bengals are declining Murphy's fifth-year option for 2027, Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Murphy set career-best marks across the board in 2025 with 52 tackles (28 solo), including 5.5 sacks, but that wasn't enough to convince Bengals brass to pick up the 2023 first-round pick's fifth-year option. He remains under contract in 2026 on the fourth year of his rookie deal, and Conway adds that the Bengals are still hoping to work out a long-term extension to keep Murphy in Cincinnati despite choosing not to pick up his fifth-year option.

Murphy tallied a career-high 52 tackles (28 solo), including 5.5 sacks, plus three passes defensed and one fumble recovery across 17 regular-season appearances in 2025. Murphy recorded career-high marks across the board while suiting up for all 17 regular-season games for the first time in his career. The 2023 first-round pick had seemingly been headed toward 'bust' status after totaling just 3.0 sacks across his first two seasons with Cincinnati, but Murphy put together encouraging tape in 2025. He'll look to take another step forward in 2026, which will be the final year of his rookie contract with the Bengals assuming the team declines his fifth-year option.

Murphy registered two sacks against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens in the Bengals' Week 15 loss. Murphy and the Bengals' defense initially held the line against the Ravens, but eventually the Ravens broke through. Murphy is starting to generate more pressures against opposing QBs despite the absence of Trey Hendrickson (core muscle injury) on the other side of the pass rush.