The Cincinnati Bengals made surprising, albeit slightly foreshadowed, move by not picking up Myles Murphy’s fifth-year option.

Murphy was set to earn a guaranteed salary of $14.475 million during the 2027 season had the Bengals pulled the lever. Instead, he’s now on track to hit free agency next offseason unless an extension can be agreed upon in the next 10 months from this posting.

It’s a risk for Cincinnati if it considers Murphy part of its future. According to multiple reports, this is the case and extension talks for the 24-year old defensive end will begin if they haven’t already.

So what was the turning point in this decision? It may have occurred last week.

Drafting Cashius Howell may have been bad news for Myles Murphy

The Bengals have a petty deep defensive line at the moment. Murphy and Boye Mafe are the starting EDGEs. Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, and B.J. Hill are the featured trio of defensive tackles. Behind all of them are 2025 first-round pick Shemar Stewart, 2024 Day 2 picks Kris Jenkins Jr. and McKinnley Jackson.

Cashius Howell joined the group during Round 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft. He was graded as a first-round prospect by the club, and the consensus had him on the fringe of that level as well.

Murphy, Mafe, Stewart, and Howell is a respectable quartet of EDGEs, and it did not come together without significant use of resources. Mafe signed for $20 million per year through 2028 in March. Stewart and Murphy were first-rounders. Howell was nine picks away from being one himself.

It’s a lot of investment. Murphy might find himself as the odd man out next year because of it.

It’s a tricky situation. The Bengals may value Murphy enough to see him in their long-term plans, but not enough to guarantee his roster spot at a certain price point, in this case the nearly $14.5 million figure.

The addition of Howell makes sense as the weight that tipped the scales. He’s going to be under contract for the next four years. Mafe and Stewart each have three years remaining on their deals. There is long-term stability already at the position, with the caveat that Murphy is considerably ahead of Stewart in terms of development.

Tobin explained the decision with Murphy was going to be “primarily” a financial one. The finances of retaining him above a certain price considering all the assets already at the position may be the hidden calculus behind the decision.

Howell was drafted to fill out the position, and his arrival might make Cincy more comfortable letting Murphy walk.