Cincinnati Bengals Weighing Future of Defensive End Myles Murphy

The 2023 first-round pick had a breakout season in 2025 and is a key part of the Bengals' pass rush going forward.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 7:54pm

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Myles Murphy, the Cincinnati Bengals' 2023 first-round draft pick, is coming off the best season of his young NFL career. After struggling to get consistent playing time in his first two seasons, Murphy played a career-high 682 snaps in 2025 and recorded 52 tackles, 5.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, three pass breakups, one fumble recovery, and 10 quarterback hits. The Bengals are now faced with the decision of whether to exercise Murphy's fifth-year option, which would cost the team a projected $13.6 million.

Why it matters

The Bengals are in need of a competent pass rush after the retirement of Trey Hendrickson, and Murphy's development could be crucial to their defensive success going forward. As a former first-round pick, the team has to weigh whether Murphy has shown enough growth and potential to warrant a significant long-term investment.

The details

Murphy struggled to adjust to the NFL in his first two seasons, never playing more than 360 snaps. But in 2025, he took a big step forward, cutting out his poor performances and recording one of the best games of his career against the Miami Dolphins. From Week 11 to Week 18, Murphy did not post a single grade lower than 58.5 on Pro Football Focus. The Bengals' director of player personnel, Duke Tobin, noted that the team needs more leadership on the defensive side of the ball, and Murphy could be a player who steps up in that regard.

  • Murphy was the Bengals' first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
  • In 2025, Murphy played a career-high 682 snaps.
  • The Bengals must decide whether to exercise Murphy's fifth-year option for the 2027 season.

The players

Myles Murphy

A fourth-year defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals who had a breakout season in 2025, recording 52 tackles, 5.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, and 10 quarterback hits.

Trey Hendrickson

A former Bengals defensive end who recently retired, leaving a void in the team's pass rush that Murphy could help fill.

Duke Tobin

The director of player personnel for the Cincinnati Bengals, who noted the team's need for more defensive leadership.

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What they’re saying

“I see growth in a 24-year-old Myles Murphy and young corners who have taken the jump, and Jordan Battle, who has taken the jump. The one thing we really need is we need those guys or somebody else to take on a leadership role and demand the accountability and demand the execution. We need more leadership. We have tons of leadership on the offensive side of the ball. We need somebody, multiple people, to step up and lead that group from within our team.”

— Duke Tobin, Director of Player Personnel, Cincinnati Bengals

“Same deal, next week is the biggest game of the year. That's my mindset. I feel like that's the entire defense's mindset going into next week. Set the mind, attack, stop the run, get after the quarterback — nothing changes. We're not just going to sit back and let whatever happens to us. We're still going to attack, set edges, do what we can to show everyone what Bengals football is.”

— Myles Murphy

What’s next

The Bengals must decide whether to exercise Myles Murphy's fifth-year option for the 2027 season, which would cost the team a projected $13.6 million.

The takeaway

Myles Murphy's development is crucial for the Bengals' pass rush after the retirement of Trey Hendrickson. If Murphy can build on his breakout 2025 season, he could become a key part of the Bengals' defensive core for years to come. However, the team must weigh the long-term investment required to keep him in Cincinnati.