Bengals Eyeing Extensions For CBs DJ Turner, Dax Hill

The Bengals recently took care of one notable extension priority by finalizing a new deal with left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. Attention is expected to now turn to the secondary.

Cornerbacks DJ Turner and Dax Hill are approaching the final year of their respective contracts. Hill is due to collect $12.68MM in 2026 on his fifth-year option. Turner, meanwhile, will see his rookie deal expire next spring. Keeping both in the fold beyond the coming campaign is viewed as a priority, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic writes.

Nothing is imminent on either front, and that could remain the case well into the spring. Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer also notes an extension in both cases may need to wait until after the draft and closer to the start of training camp. She adds, however, that the organization “has made it clear” already that Turner and Hill are high on the priority list with respect to new deals being worked out. The former Michigan teammates share the same agent.

That could prove to be a complicating factor once negotiations begin. On the other hand, joint new pacts could be worked out, as was the case last spring with wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. In any event, raises for bother Turner and Hill will be in store. The latter was used in a number of ways early in his NFL career before taking on perimeter corner duties. Hill, 25, rebounded well from an injury-shortened 2024 campaign and played all 17 games this past season. He recorded 11 pass deflections and enjoyed his best year to date in terms of completion percentage (63.6%) and passer rating (86.9) allowed in coverage.

Turner was a regular defensive presence during his first two years, but he handled a career-high snap share of 89% in 2025. The former second-rounder secured a pair of interceptions and comfortably set a new personal mark with 18 pass deflections. Turner also made strides in terms of his performance in coverage. His stock will be high entering contract talks this spring.

Nine cornerback deals are currently valued at $20.1MM or more per year. That figure will grow once the likes of Devon Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez ink their own extensions, something which could happen as early as this offseason. Neither Turner nor Hill will likely find themselves in position to approach the top of the position’s market ($31MM annually, thanks to Trent McDuffie‘s recent Rams contract), but they will receive a notable payday if/when they have new Bengals deals in hand.

As both Dehner and Conway add, however, Cincinnati could stand to make further CB moves this offseason. Cam Taylor-Britt and Marco Wilson have departed in free agency with no outside additions taking place so far. Adding depth to replace those two, as well as a starting-caliber slot corner, will be needed before the 2026 season begins. As such, at least one notable draft investment can be expected on the part of the Bengals. Regardless of how things play out on that front, though, it will be interesting to see how extension talks with Turner and Hill play out during the time leading up to the start of the campaign.