When the Cincinnati Bengals didn’t exercise Myles Murphy’s fifth year option, they framed it as a way of maintaining cap flexibility.
But, according to NFL.com writer Nick Shook, that may have been an indication that they don’t think he was worth it.
“Murphy’s Year 3 jump in production wasn’t enough to convince the Bengals to pick up his fifth-year option, making for a natural prove-it season in a contract year,” Shook wrote in his piece on make-or-break players for 2026. “As it stands now, his future
probably isn’t in Cincinnati, unless his rate of compensation fits nicely into the Bengals’ bigger financial picture. But he will sign a second contract somewhere, and now is the time to earn that money.“
Shook discussed how Cincinnati has invested heavily in edge rushers in the Draft in recent years: Murphy in the first round of 2023, Shemar Stewart in the first round of 2025, and Cashius Howell in the second round this year.
As a result, Shook wrote, there will be “a battle royale of sorts for the top edge-rushing job opposite free-agent addition Boye Mafe.”
Meanwhile, Murphy has only shown glimpses so far. The implication is that, if he has an outstanding season, he will be out of the Bengals’ price range. And if he’s only average, they have enough young talent to move on.
