Myles Murphy has the right attitude after Bengals declined his 5th year option

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Nov 3, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Las Vegas Raiders offensive tackle DJ Glaze (71) pushes against Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Myles Murphy (99) in the second half at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images | Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

The Cincinnati Bengals were one of the few teams not to exercise the fifth-year option on their 2022 first round pick this offseason. Of course, that is defensive end Myles Murphy.

What makes this decision slightly surprising is that Murphy is a player many expect to have a solid (or even good) season.

Murphy is bringing the right attitude into the locker room, though.

“I knew it was a possibility … We (Bengals) spent a lot of money this offseason.”

The Bengals declined the 5th-year option on Myles Murphy’s rookie contract.

I talked to Myles about separating business & football:

“As a player — What happens in the business world or… pic.twitter.com/pef7yGOzUl

— Caleb Noe (@CalebNoeTV) May 12, 2026

It seems the front office has been upfront throughout the process with Murphy. That means he wasn’t blindsided by the news.

Also, from a financial standpoint, it could be seen as a positive for Murphy’s camp. He is now scheduled to be a free agent after the season. He can work out a long-term deal with Cincinnati or become a free agent after the season.

Some may think the Bengals would opt to use the franchise tag to secure him, but they already opted not to use the fifth-year option. That would have been a much cheaper route to go. That option would have been roughly $14.75 million guaranteed. The tag looks like it would be a little under $29 million guaranteed, according to Over the Cap.

So Murphy is absolutely right to just focus on being the best player he can be next year. Because one way or another, he looks like he is set to get paid more than what the fifth-year option would have been.

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