Bengals’ most important remaining business of the offseason may be completed even earlier than expected
Cornerback DJ Turner II and the Cincinnati Bengals appear to be closing in on a contract extension, according to a cryptic, yet encouraging, message from his agent’s Instagram.
Cornerback DJ Turner II and the Cincinnati Bengals appear to be closing in on a contract extension.
Turner’s agent, Andre Odom, posted a picture on his Instagram story Sunday evening with the text “CB1 Calculated.” An emoji featuring the word “Soon” and Turner’s handle were also included. The picture heavily implies at least meaningful progress has been made in extending the 25-year old defensive back.
Whether this means a finalized deal is imminent, or the framework has simply reached a significant stage, the news is encouraging for both sides. Turner is the Bengals’ No. 1 cornerback and the future of their secondary. The franchise has not been afraid of paying cornerbacks, though it hasn’t done so at a significant rate in quite some time.
Turner will be the highest-paid player at the position in franchise history. He has earned that distinction, and Cincinnati will earn major props if the deal does get done soon.
DJ Turner II is rightfully set to cash in
It’s been a challenging road for Turner to become Cincy’s top cornerback. He’s had to come off the bench at the beginning of the last three seasons. He proved to be undeniable last year and never looked back once he took the field.
Turner led all cornerbacks for most of the 2025 season in passes defensed. There was a legitimate case for him to earn his first Pro Bowl selection. The defense performing poorly as a unit caused him to miss out on that recognition.
Former Bengals safety Jessie Bates III knows the feeling. Bates earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2020 without making the Pro Bowl. The club never got across the goal line with a deal for Bates, but after Turner’s breakout year, it seems the Bengals are not going to let him slip away like Bates.
Cincinnati’s on the verge of breaking from its typical extension timeline
What makes this potential deal noteworthy, beyond the money, is the timing.
The Bengals typically iron out major extensions much closer to the start of the regular season. Quarterback Joe Burrow is the most recent notable example. Wide receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase were supposed to follow suit in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Those negotiations reached impasses and were put on hold. They each got paid near the start of free agency in 2025, which became their new deadlines for that offseason.
If Turner is set to be paid with a full month until training camp, the Bengals would be taking care of their most important piece of business with weeks to spare. Turner has already made it clear with his actions a holdout/hold-in is not in the cards. That said, getting this done now would completely eliminate any potential distraction from their best player in need of a pay raise heading out of the offseason.
What a deal for Turner means for the rest of the offseason
Getting Turner’s extension done early would make the rest of Cincinnati’s offseason significantly easier.
The Bengals are hoping to get more deals done with running back Chase Brown, CB Dax Hill, and defensive end Myles Murphy. Those players would receive more focused attention with Turner signed. All three remaining contracts will also be smaller in terms of monetary value compared to Turner.
If the cryptic breadcrumbs are pointing toward a completed deal, the Bengals would be addressing their most critical piece of business before training camp. It would be a departure from their usual approach, and yet another sign that times are truly changing in Cincinnati.