Bengals make decision on former first-round pick Myles Murphy
The Cincinnati Bengals invested considerable assets toward improving their defense this offseason. The Bengals traded the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to the New York Giants for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II.
Then, they signed Lawrence…
The Cincinnati Bengals invested considerable assets toward improving their defense this offseason. The Bengals traded the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to the New York Giants for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II.
Then, they signed Lawrence to a one-year, $28 million contract extension. That move followed the free-agent signings of EDGE Boye Mafe, safety Bryan Cook, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and safety Kyle Dugger. Cincinnati spent its first two draft picks on defensive players as well.
MORE: NFL Power Rankings after the 2026 NFL Draft On Thursday, April 30, the Bengals pulled back on the spending. The team will not pick up the fifth-year option of defensive end Myles Murphy, according to ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler . The deadline for NFL teams to exercise fifth-year options is Friday.