Bengals decline DE Myles Murphy's fifth-year option, source says

CINCINNATI -- The Bengals have declined the fifth-year option on defensive end Myles Murphy's rookie contract, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler on Thursday.

The decision comes one day before the deadline for teams to exercise the fifth-year option for first-round draft picks in 2023. Had the Bengals picked up the option, they would have been on the hook for an estimated $14.5 million for the 2027 season, according to OverTheCap.com.

However, this decision doesn't mean that the Bengals want to move on from Murphy, who is coming off his best season to date. In 2025, he had 5.5 sacks and was a bright spot on a defense that struggled.