Bengals decline Myles Murphy's fifth-year option
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Myles Murphy (99) wraps up Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) in the first quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium in Downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. Bengals defensive end Myles Murphy remains in the plans for Cincinnati's rebuilt defense, but the franchise passed on the fifth-year option in his contract for the 2027 season.
Murphy would have been guaranteed $14.5 million under terms of the option structure. The decision was made ahead of the Friday deadline for teams to exercise the standard fifth-year option for 2023 first-round picks.
Vice president of personnel Duke Tobin said after the draft that the Bengals see a future for Murphy despite adding defensive help at multiple positions via trade, free agency and the draft.
"By the end of the year, he was a problem for teams. He's a guy that we believe in," Tobin said of Murphy.
Murphy was the 28th overall pick in 2023 out of Clemson. He turned 24 in January and had 5.5 sacks last season but only 8.5 in 47 games in the NFL.
Cincinnati spent its top pick in 2025 and 2026 on defensive ends. Shemar Stewart was the 17th overall pick in 2025 and the Bengals took another Texas A&M edge rusher with the No. 41 pick last week.
The Bengals traded their first-round pick, the 10th overall selection, for Giants nose tackle Dexter Lawrence prior to the draft.
--Field Level Media
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