While the Bengals are in Indianapolis and on the hunt for new talent to bring to their defense this weekend, they still have some younger veterans on their roster who they value in the coming years. In the pressers held by various Cincinnati figureheads shortly after their arrival for the NFL Combine, Jordan Battle’s name was one that was mentioned often.
Well, two other secondary players for the Bengals are on the docket for the team to lock down long-term. After playing at a Pro Bowl level last
year, DJ Turner is a coveted young star corner, while former first-round pick Dax Hill is also a valuable piece to the unit.
Per Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com, the Bengals are aiming to get contract extensions completed with both of these cornerbacks this offseason.
Plus, while the Bengals hope to extend both Hill and Turner this offseason, they’re the only starting outside cornerbacks on the team. Both played full seasons last year after missing significant time in 2024. Translation: you can never have enough corners, particularly if the big man you want isn’t there where he’s ranked.
Not only are both Turner and Hill the only starting outside corners on the team, but both are in the final year of their respective deals. Hill is on the fifth-year option that was exercised on his rookie contract, while Turner is on the last year on a four-year rookie deal after being selected in the second round of the 2023 Draft.
Cincinnati often tries to knock out contract extensions for those it deems core players a year before they become a potential free agent. This trend goes back to many instances in the Marvin Lewis era, wherein guys like Vontaze Burfict, Geno Atkins, Carlos Dunlap, and others received extensions during the spring and summer months.
Turner became one of the lone bright spots for an embattled Bengals defense last season. He finished with 40 total tackles, two interceptions, and a whopping 18 passes defended. Pro Football Focus named him a “secret superstar”, as he finished top-five among qualifying corners with a 73.3 overall grade and a 78.1 coverage grade for the 2025 season.
Hill has had a bumpy road as a pro, navigating injuries, as well as both positional and coaching changes. However, in a healthy 2025 season, Hill had 88 tackles, an interception, and was PFF’s 49th-ranked cornerback in 2025.
Cincinnati has made allusions to an active offseason, and while we don’t have a clear picture of what that exactly means (oftentimes their view of “active” is much different than that of others), they will be seemingly attempting to extend Hill and Turner in the coming weeks.
