Bengals Interested In Retaining DE Myles Murphy Beyond 2026
The Bengals recently declined to exercise Myles Murphy‘s fifth-year option. As a result, the pass rusher is a pending 2027 free agent.
The chance of a departure on the open market will become a talking point, especially if Murphy delivers a strong showing in his fourth Cincinnati season. The Bengals have been communication with him during an offseason marked by several defensive additions. No extension is in place now, but a second Cincinnati pact could still be in store in the future.
De facto general manager Duke Tobin expressed the team’s desire to keep Murphy in place for the long term, as the Clemson product noted when speaking to the media (h/t Laurel Pfahler of the Dayton Daily News). Several big-money investments have been made on defense recently by the Bengals, a team which traded for Dexter Lawrence and added one year to his deal upon arrival. Cincinnati also brought in Boye Mafe in a bid to replace the production lost through Trey Hendrickson‘s departure.
“I knew it was a possibility,” Murphy said when reflecting on finding out his option would be declined. “Duke and everyone upstairs, they’ve been pretty transparent on ‘we spent a lot of money this offseason.’ So, it does make sense. We talk. No hard feelings. We talk about everything, so really, just doing my job right now, getting ready for the upcoming season, trying to be in the best shape I can be, the best teammate I can be.”
Murphy occupied a rotational role during his first two seasons in the league, managing only three sacks across that span. The 24-year-old saw another uptick in playing time in 2025, though. Murphy made 10 starts and posted 5.5 sacks, 17 pressures and six tackles for loss. Joseph Ossai and Cameron Sample also left in free agency, so a heavy workload should be expected for Murphy ahead of his pivotal fourth season.
Picking up Murphy’s option for 2027 would have cost $14.48MM. It came as little surprise when the Bengals opted not to make that commitment based on his production to date. Nevertheless, another step forward in 2025 would set Murphy up for a payday with Cincinnati or another team next spring.
Bengals Could Restructure QB Joe Burrow’s Contract
At this point in the calendar, NFL teams have conducted the majority of their offseason business, so creating cap space is not as pressing of a need as it was in early March. Still, a club has to leave itself some flexibility to make additions when necessary, and such flexibility is often achieved through a restructure or two.
The Bengals are presently near the bottom of the league in cap room (just over $7MM), and they could go the restructure route to create a little cushion. Quarterback Joe Burrow’s ~$48MM cap charge stands out as the most obvious target, and director of player personnel Duke Tobin suggested he may seek to rework his franchise passer’s contract.
“Those are things that we’re working through after the draft,” Tobin said at the end of last month (via Pat Brennan of the Cincinnati Enquirer). “We’ve layered in challenges, but we’re up to them, and we do it because we have the opportunity to add the right people and the right player.”
The challenges Tobin referenced include the limited cap space that accompanies high-dollar expenditures. In order to address the defensive shortcomings that have held the Bengals back over the past several seasons, Tobin authorized eight-figure deals for EDGE Boye Mafe, safety Bryan Cook, and defensive lineman Jonathan Allen in March, and he also took on defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence’s hefty contract via a pre-draft trade with the Giants (Tobin extended Lawrence’s pact shortly thereafter).
Tobin says his team is “damn close” to the top of the NFL in terms of roster spending, and Burrow’s $25.25MM base salary for 2026 is a big part of that. As Brennan observes, Burrow said last year that he was amenable to reworking the five-year, $275MM deal he inked in 2023 in order to make room for wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and it stands to reason he would be similarly willing this year.
After all, the types of restructure that would be in play here have no worse than a neutral impact on the player, so they tend to be drama-free transactions. Burrow’s case is perhaps a bit different in light of some comments he made in December, comments that briefly led to retirement and trade speculation. While such rumors were promptly quashed, subsequent reports suggested Burrow was nonetheless trying to put some pressure on the Bengals by being candid about his dissatisfaction.
If that was the case, the historically-conservative franchise’s active offseason indicates Burrow achieved his goal (just as he did when Cincinnati re-signed Higgins while simultaneously greenlighting a record-setting deal for Chase). A restructure would make it more difficult for the Bengals to trade Burrow in the near future, and though a trade seems like little more than a pipe dream for interested teams – who were expected to chase that dream just the same – Burrow’s acquiescence to a reworked deal would seem to further solidify his status in Cincinnati.
AFC Notes: Jets, Bengals, Hopkins, Pats
More details have come in on Jets running back Breece Hall‘s three-year, $43.5MM contract, courtesy of Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Hall received a $5MM signing bonus, a fully guaranteed $5.16MM salary and a fully guaranteed $5MM roster bonus for 2026. Hall’s $13.16MM base salary for 2027 is also fully guaranteed. Additionally, he can earn up to $340K in per-game roster bonuses in each of the next three seasons. Hall’s 2028 salary checks in at $14.16MM, but it is non-guaranteed. The annual base value of the pact is $14.5MM, not the previously reported $15.25MM, per Florio. It will only climb to $15.25MM per season if Hall maxes out the incentives. Hall’s $14.5MM AAV ranks fifth at his position.
Here is more on New York and a couple of other AFC teams:
- Beginning with the mid-December firing of defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, head coach Aaron Glenn axed 12 members of his first Jets staff last winter. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it turns out owner Woody Johnson “had a heavy hand” in the shakeup, which ended with a late-January mutual parting of ways with offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, according to Albert Breer of SI.com. It appeared the Jets would retain Engstrand, who endured a rough first year as a coordinator atop a talent-deprived offense, before replacing him with the more seasoned Frank Reich. It also looked as if the Jets were going to hire Don Martindale as their next defensive coordinator, but Breer suggests Johnson was unwilling to pony up for him. With Johnson stuck paying Wilks $3MM this year, the Jets hired a cheaper candidate in first-timer Brian Duker. Glenn, not Duker, will call the defensive plays.
- Speaking with Sports Illustrated earlier this month, free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins expressed interest in signing with the Bengals (via Jordan Schultz). Asked which quarterback he would like to play with for the first time, the soon-to-be 34-year-old said: “I’ve gotta go with Joe Burrow. I think Joe is one of the best. I love his game, his toughness. I mean, he took his team to a Super Bowl earlier in his career, and I feel like he can get back there with a little bit of help.” It is unknown whether there is mutual interest in this case. The Bengals have Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins entrenched as their top two receivers. Third option Andrei Iosivas had a more productive 2025 than Hopkins, who posted career lows in catches (22), targets (39) and yards (330) in 17 games with the AFC North rival Ravens. Despite his down year in Baltimore, the five-time Pro Bowler ranks 17th all-time in catches (1,006), 18th in yards (13,295) and tied for 19th in TDs (85). Hopkins will have a chance to continue climbing up the leaderboard if he plays a 14th season in 2026.
- A full-time starter for almost all of his six-year career, Patriots right guard Michael Onwenu will remain atop the depth chart entering his seventh season. However, with Onwenu unsigned past 2026, this will likely be his last season in New England, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald contends. The 28-year-old does not possess the speed-agility combo that Patriots executive vice president Eliot Wolf values, Kyed notes. That could lead Onwenu out of town for a raise in free agency next March. The Patriots already have one expensive guard contract on their books, having added Alijah Vera-Tucker on a three-year, $42MM deal earlier this offseason.
Each NFL Franchise’s Richest RB Contract
Running back value has become a divisive topic in the modern NFL, and teams’ histories with these investments reveal a large gap in their respective approaches to RB contracts. Following our installments covering the highest-paid quarterback, wide receiver and off-ball linebacker in each team’s history, here are the most lucrative deals — ranked by guaranteed money — for running backs in each franchise’s history (the list excludes rookie contracts).
Unlike the QB and WR markets, some teams’ top RB deals occurred decades ago. This list covers contracts agreed to across four different decades.
Arizona Cardinals
- James Conner; March 14, 2022: Three years, $21MM ($13.5MM guaranteed)
Jeremiyah Love‘s rookie contract brings the highest guarantee ($53MM) in RB history, but for veteran accords, Conner’s second Arizona pact is the organizational standard
Atlanta Falcons
- Devonta Freeman; August 9, 2017: Five years, $41.25MM ($22.1MM guaranteed)
Baltimore Ravens
- Derrick Henry; May 19, 2025: Two years, $30MM ($25MM guaranteed)
Buffalo Bills
- James Cook; August 13, 2025: Four years, $46MM ($28.82MM guaranteed)
LeSean McCoy‘s March 2015 extension included more guaranteed at signing ($18.25MM), but Cook’s brought a rolling guarantee structure that eclipsed that package in total
Carolina Panthers
- Christian McCaffrey; April 13, 2020: Four years, $64.1MM ($38.16MM guaranteed)
Chicago Bears
- Matt Forte; July 16, 2012: Four years, $30.4MM ($17.1MM guaranteed)
D’Andre Swift‘s 2024 agreement included more guaranteed at signing ($14MM), but Forte’s guarantee package remains the Chicago standard
Cincinnati Bengals
- Corey Dillon; May 11, 2001: Five years, $26MM ($10.5MM guaranteed)
The Bengals more than doubled Dillon’s AAV number in 2020 for Joe Mixon (four years, $48MM) but only guaranteed $10MM of that pact
Cleveland Browns
- Nick Chubb; July 31, 2021: Three years, $36.6MM ($20MM guaranteed)
Dallas Cowboys
- Ezekiel Elliott; September 4, 2019: Six years, $90MM ($50.1MM guaranteed)
Denver Broncos
- Melvin Gordon; March 20, 2020: Two years, $16MM ($13.5MM guaranteed)
Detroit Lions
- Barry Sanders; July 21, 1997: Six years, $33.5MM ($11.5MM guaranteed)
David Montgomery‘s two Lions deals topped the Hall of Famer in AAV, but neither surpassed $11MM guaranteed; Jahmyr Gibbs is tied to the highest RB guarantee in franchise history ($17.85MM) but got there via a rookie deal
Green Bay Packers
- Aaron Jones; March 14, 2021: Four years, $48MM ($13MM guaranteed)
Josh Jacobs‘ 2024 pact edges Jones in AAV but fell short of his predecessor’s deal in guarantees
Houston Texans
- Arian Foster; March 5, 2012: Five years, $43.5MM ($20.75MM guaranteed)
Indianapolis Colts
- Jonathan Taylor; October 7, 2023: Three years, $42MM ($26.5MM guaranteed)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Maurice Jones-Drew; April 15, 2009: Five years, $31.1MM ($14.25MM guaranteed)
Leonard Fournette received a $27.15MM guarantee — still in the top 10 in RB history — but it came on a rookie contract
Kansas City Chiefs
- Kenneth Walker; March 9, 2026: Three years, $43.1MM ($28.7MM guaranteed)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Josh Jacobs; August 26, 2023: One year, $11.79MM franchise tag ($10.1MM guaranteed)
Raiders sweetened Jacobs’ franchise tag agreement; Ashton Jeanty‘s 2025 rookie slot deal included $35.9MM guaranteed
Los Angeles Chargers
- LaDainian Tomlinson; August 15, 2004: Six years, $48MM ($21MM guaranteed)
Los Angeles Rams
- Todd Gurley; July 24, 2018: Four years, $57.5MM ($45MM guaranteed)
Miami Dolphins
- De’Von Achane; May 13, 2026: Four years, $64MM ($27.38MM guaranteed)
Minnesota Vikings
- Adrian Peterson; September 10, 2011: Six years, $86.28MM ($36MM guaranteed)
New England Patriots
- Rhamondre Stevenson; June 20, 2024: Four years, $36MM ($17.12MM guaranteed)
New Orleans Saints
- Alvin Kamara; September 12, 2020: Five years, $75MM ($33.83MM guaranteed)
New York Giants
- Saquon Barkley; March 7, 2023: One year, $10.1MM franchise tag ($10.1MM guaranteed)
Barkley’s rookie slot deal included $31.19MM guaranteed — fourth all time among all RB contracts — while Devin Singletary‘s $9.5MM represents the franchise’s high-water mark on a multiyear deal
New York Jets
- Breece Hall; May 8, 2026: Three years, $43.5MM ($29MM guaranteed)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Saquon Barkley; March 4, 2025: Two years, $41.2MM ($36MM guaranteed)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Le’Veon Bell; February 27, 2017: One year, $12.12MM franchise tag ($12.12MM guaranteed)
Bell’s second franchise tag (2018) covered $14.54MM, but the RB became the first tagged player this century to skip a season; Jaylen Warren‘s 2025 extension brought the highest Steelers RB guarantee ($7.1MM) on a multiyear deal
San Francisco 49ers
- Christian McCaffrey; June 4, 2024: Two years, $38MM ($24MM guaranteed)
Seattle Seahawks
- Marshawn Lynch; March 4, 2012: Four years, $30MM ($17MM guaranteed)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Doug Martin; March 9, 2016: Five years, $35.75MM ($15MM guaranteed)
Tennessee Titans
- Derrick Henry; July 15, 2020: Four years, $50MM ($25.5MM guaranteed)
Washington Commanders
- Clinton Portis; March 1, 2004: Eight years, $50.52MM ($13MM guaranteed)
Information from OverTheCap and Spotrac was used in the creation of this post
Poll: How Good Are The Bengals?
The Bengals entered last season with playoff aspirations, but they were never truly in contention. The team sputtered to a 6-11 record for a couple of obvious reasons: 1.) Superstar quarterback Joe Burrow missed eight games after suffering a toe injury in September. 2.) The defense was an unmitigated disaster.
While the 2026 campaign is still four months from kicking off, Cincinnati looks like a prime rebound candidate. Burrow, who returned in November to fire 15 touchdowns against five interceptions in six starts, is healthy. He will again lead an eminently talented offense that boasts an elite receiver duo (Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins) and a legitimate dual-threat running back in Chase Brown.
Even with the combination of Jake Browning and Joe Flacco filling in for Burrow for a large chunk of 2025, the Bengals’ offense still had enough horses to finish 12th in the NFL in scoring (24.4). The Bengals put up 30-plus points eight times, and the club went 5-3 in those games. When the Bengals scored fewer than 30, they went 1-8.
It is fair to say that if the Bengals are going to snap their three-year playoff drought in 2026, their defense will have to go from abysmal to competent. Since finishing 30th in points, 31st in yards and dead last in pass rush win rate last season, the unit has undergone a significant makeover.
The Bengals’ defense took a couple of notable hits in free agency when edge rushers Trey Hendrickson (Ravens) and Joseph Ossai (Jets) walked out the door. Hendrickson’s exit may be especially unfortunate when you consider he joined the AFC North rival Ravens, though the Bengals already began adjusting to life without him in 2025. A hip/groin injury limited Hendrickson to seven games, four sacks and kept him out from late October onward.
Aside from Ossai and Myles Murphy, nobody did much to fill Hendrickson’s void last season. The Bengals are likely confident that will change in 2026, as they brought in ex-Seahawk Boye Mafe on a three-year, $60MM deal and used a second-round pick on former Texas A&M pass rusher Cashius Howell. They have now Murphy, Mafe, Howell and 2025 first-rounder Shemar Stewart, who did not do much as a rookie, as their top options along the edge.
The Bengals’ collection of pass rushers should get a boost from a vastly improved interior defensive line. In a bold strike atypical of the Bengals, they landed perhaps the premier nose tackle in football when they traded the 10th overall pick to the Giants for Dexter Lawrence. The three-time Pro Bowler only managed a half-sack during a 17-game 2025, but just looking at sack totals doesn’t do Lawrence justice.
As a magnet for double teams, Lawrence makes life far easier on his defensive teammates. Despite drawing extra attention from opposing offensive lines, Lawrence has not had trouble affecting QBs. Dating to 2022, he has piled up 108 pressures as a nose tackle, an incredible 76 more than second place (32), per Warren Sharp of SharpFootballAnalysis.com.
The Bengals expect the best version of Lawrence to show up, which they believe would make a bigger difference than any rookie they could have drafted 10th overall. He is now the face of a strong DT group that also includes B.J. Hill and free agent signing Jonathan Allen. A former Commander and Viking, Allen has started in 125 of 126 games and accrued 45.5 sacks over his nine-year career.
Along with what looks like a quality group of players up front, the Bengals have a steady collection of starters in the defensive backfield. Dax Hill and DJ Turner should be their top outside corners, while former Chiefs safety Bryan Cook came in on a three-year, $40.5MM pact in free agency to pair with Jordan Battle. Cook figures to offer a clear upgrade over the departed Geno Stone, who started 17 games in 2025 but missed a career-worst 20% of tackles (Cook checked in at 4.5%).
As for potential weaknesses, linebacker sticks out. Barring an outside acquisition (Bobby Wagner, anyone?), the Bengals are poised to rely on Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight for the second season in a row. Counting on them as rookies last year did not go well, but the club has done nothing to upgrade over them this offseason. The Bengals also look shaky at nickel corner. Jalen Davis is the frontrunner for the job, but despite being an eight-year veteran, he lacks defensive experience. Davis never approached 100 defensive snaps in a season until he amassed 270 over seven games in 2025.
Turning back to the offensive side, keeping the oft-injured Burrow healthy will be the most important order of business. That will largely be in the hands of a starting line that has not changed since the end of last season. The Bengals are running it back with tackles Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims, guards Dylan Fairchild and Dalton Risner, and center Ted Karras. Pro Football Focus rated the unit the league’s fifth-worst in 2025.
The Bengals are in a division with two other playoff hopefuls (Baltimore and Pittsburgh), but they should push for a postseason berth if Burrow stays healthy and the defensive acquisitions pan out as hoped. Vegas agrees, having set the over/under on the Bengals’ win total at 9.5. That ties them with last season’s AFC title game representatives, the Patriots and Broncos, as well as other conference contenders in Jacksonville and Houston. If the Bengals fall short of expectations again, long-tenured head coach Zac Taylor may not get a ninth year in 2027.
How do you expect the Bengals’ season to go? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.
How many games will the Bengals win in 2026?
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Under 9.5 51% (688)
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Over 9.5 49% (660)
Total votes: 1,348
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/13/26
Wednesday’s draft pick signings from the 2026 NFL Draft class:
Cincinnati Bengals
- CB Tacario Davis (third round, Washington)
Houston Texans
- LB Wade Woodaz (fourth round, Clemson)
After inking Davis, the Bengals now have only to sign second-round defensive end Cashius Howell to complete the signing of their 2026 rookie class. Before considering this as pretty much done, though, it may be worth remembering how long it took Cincinnati to sign its top draft pick last year.
Bengals Sign 10 UDFAs
The Bengals left the draft with seven rookies, five of which were selected on the final day. The team added some competition to that grouping, as they announced the signing of 10 undrafted free agents:
- Liam Brown, G (Montana)
- Kentrel Bullock, RB (South Alabama)
- Jack Dingle, LB (Cincinnati)
- Eric Gentry, LB (Southern California)
- Jamal Haynes, RB (Georgia Tech)
- Christian Jones, OT (San Diego State)
- Josh Kattus, TE (Kentucky)
- Corey Robinson II, OT (Arkansas)
- Noah Thomas, WR (Georgia)
- Ceyair Wright, CB (Nebraska)
Jack Dingle is probably plenty familiar to Bengals fans, as the linebacker spent four years playing for the hometown Bearcats. The linebacker turned into one of Cincinnati’s top defenders as a sophomore, and over his final three collegiate seasons, he tallied 151 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and four sacks. He wasn’t the only UDFA linebacker to catch on with the Bengals, as the team also signed USC’s Eric Gentry. The six-foot-six prospect is more known for his height, although he did average more than five tackles for loss and two sacks per season during stint with the Trojans.
There’s another Cincy connection among the grouping, as Josh Kattus is the son of former Bengals player Eric Kattus. The younger Kattus is coming off a four-year stint at Kentucky where he hauled in 38 catches for 505 yards and six touchdowns.
The team also added a pair of RBs in Kentrel Bullock and Jamal Haynes. Bullock gradually saw more work through his career at South Alabama, culminating in a 2025 campaign when he finished with 1,138 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns. Haynes, meanwhile, peaked as a sophomore, when he compiled 1,210 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns. He found the end zone 12 times in 2024, but he was limited to only five touchdowns and 788 yards in 2025.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/8/26
Today’s rookie signings from around the NFL:
Chicago Bears
- WR Zavion Thomas (third round, LSU)
- CB Malik Muhammad (fourth round, Texas)
- LB Keyshaun Elliott (fifth round, Arizona State)
- DT Jordan van den Berg (sixth round, Georgia Tech)
Cincinnati Bengals
- C Connor Lew (fourth round, Auburn)
- WR Colbie Young (fourth round, Georgia)
- T Brian Parker II (sixth round, Duke)
- TE Jack Endries (seventh round, Texas)
- DT Landon Robinson (seventh round, Navy)
Los Angeles Chargers
- T Travis Burke (fourth round, Memphis)
- S Genesis Smith (fourth round, Arizona)
- DT Nick Barrett (fifth round, South Carolina)
- G Logan Taylor (sixth round, Boston College)
- G Alex Harkey (sixth round, Oregon)
New England Patriots
- T Dametrious Crownover (sixth round, Texas A&M)
- LB Namdi Obiazor (sixth round, TCU)
- QB Behren Morton (seventh round, Texas Tech)
- RB Jam Miller (seventh round, Alabama)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- WR Kaden Wetjen (fourth round, Iowa)
- DE Gabriel Rubio (sixth round, Notre Dame)
- S Robert Spears-Jennings (seventh round, Oklahoma)
The Bears, Bengals, Chargers, and Steelers all broke the seals on signing their rookie classes today. Chicago only has to sign its three first-, second-, and third-round picks to complete the class, Los Angeles still has its three first-, second-, and fourth-rounders remaining, and Cincinnati has only two unsigned rookies from the second and third round.
Minor NFL Transaction: 5/8/26
Friday’s minor NFL transactions:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed off waivers (from Giants): LB Swayze Bozeman
- Signed: S Isaiah Nwokobia
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed off waivers (from Giants): DT Elijah Chatman
- Received international exemption: P Nik Constantinou
Denver Broncos
- Waived: T Marques Cox, OLB Garrett Nelson
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DT Smith Vilbert
New York Giants
- Signed: RB Damon Bankston
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Claimed off waivers (from Colts): LB John Bullock
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed off waivers (from Giants): WR Courtney Jackson
- Waived: WR Hal Presley
After the Giants waived Bozeman, Chatman, and Jackson yesterday, all three found new homes today on the waiver wire. Constantinou qualifies for the international exemption that allows him not to count against the team’s 90-man roster as one of several Australians who have found their way to the NFL as specialists. Lastly, Cincinnati, Minnesota, and New York all added to their UDFA classes today after Nwokobia, Vilbert, and Bankston went undrafted out of SMU, North Carolina, and New Mexico, respectively.
Bengals’ Dax Hill Wants To Stay At Outside CB; Jalen Davis Favorite For Slot Role
Bengals cornerback Dax Hill split time between the slot and the outside in 2025, the second 17-start season of his four-year career. As Hill prepares to enter a contract year in 2026, he wants a full-time spot on the outside, per Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
“Staying at one spot, I feel like that’s ideal for development and my mental health,” said Hill, whom the Bengals drafted as a safety in 2022. The former 31st overall pick from Michigan transitioned to corner in 2024, though an ACL tear limited him to five games that year.
In his return to full strength last season, Hill led Bengals corners in defensive snap share (92.93%) and recorded 88 tackles, 11 passes defensed and an interception. Pro Football Focus ranked Hill a respectable 46th among 108 qualifying corners, but he fared even better after moving outside for good late in the season. The 6-foot, 195-pounder earned PFF’s third-highest grade among corners over the last six weeks of the year.
Staying on the outside and performing similarly well in 2026 would bode nicely for Hill as he angles for a new contract. Outside corners make more money than slot CBs, which is likely on Hill’s mind. The Bengals have identified Hill and fellow soon-to-be free agent corner DJ Turner as extension candidates, but keeping both could be a challenge. The team may have drafted a potential replacement for one of them in third-rounder Tacario Davis, the 72nd overall pick.
At 6-foot-4, Davis is better suited for outside corner. The Washington product will likely begin his pro career as a reserve, though it could depend on how the Bengals handle the slot position. Jalen Davis is the frontrunner for the job, according to Conway, but he has worked almost exclusively as a backup during his eight-year, 64-game career. Davis has totaled just three starts, all of which came last season.
After re-signing on a one-year deal in February, Davis is on track to play his seventh season in Cincinnati. As someone who has primarily lined up on special teams, Davis will have to prove he is cut out for a regular defensive role. If he isn’t up to the task, Hill may have to go back to the slot.