The Cincinnati Bengals have been hard at work this offseason revamping their defense, and to this point, it looks like the work the front office has put in could have a big impact on the team in 2026. Now that the 2026 NFL Draft is in the rearview mirror, the Bengals have made a big decision on former first-round pick Myles Murphy‘s contract status.
With Murphy set to enter his fourth year in the pros, Cincinnati’s front office had to decide whether or not it wanted to exercise the fifth-year option in his rookie contract. In a somewhat surprising move, the Bengals have made a big decision on Murphy’s future that could deal the team a big blow down the line.
Bengals Decline Myles Murphy’s Fifth-Year Option
Murphy had 5.5 sacks for CIncinnati last season.
Cincy selected Murphy with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and even with all of its defensive woes, he didn’t start a single game over his first two seasons. Murphy’s development was rather disappointing, as he failed to carve out a role for himself on one of the weakest defensive lines in the league.
Murphy finally got more snaps in 2025, and he promptly turned in the best season of his career. In 17 games (10 starts), Murphy racked up 52 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and three passes batted during his time on the field. With Trey Hendrickson bolting for the Baltimore Ravens in free agency, Murphy will likely remain a key piece of the defense moving forward.
The Bengals found themselves in a tough spot with Murphy, as they needed to decide whether or not to exercise the $14.4 million fifth-year option for the 2027 campaign in his rookie contract. While Cincinnati wants to keep Murphy around for several more years, it ultimately declined his fifth-year option, setting the stage for a very important season in 2026.
“The Bengals are not picking up the fifth-year option for DE Myles Murphy, per source, but they have interest in keeping him in the fold long term. Murphy had 5.5 sacks for Cincinnati last season,” Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported in a post on X.
Bengals Make Risky Myles Murphy Decision
GettyThe Bengals won’t be picking up the fifth-year option on Myles Murphy’s rookie contract
Paying $14.4 million for a guy who has only started 10 games during his first three seasons in the NFL certainly would have been a tough bullet for the Bengals to bite, even if Murphy showed off his upside last season. Cincinnati seems willing to keep him around, but if it does so, it intends to ensure that the price is a bit cheaper than the pricy option it just turned down.
Murphy could look to get a new contract this offseason, or he could play out the final year of his rookie deal and bank on putting together a strong body of work. If he manages to do that, Murphy could earn a massive pay raise next offseason, regardless of whether it’s from Cincy or another team. For now, Murphy has some clarity on his contract situation, but this is going to be something worth monitoring throughout the upcoming campaign.
Bengals Make Surprising Myles Murphy Contract Decision After 2026 Draft