The Cincinnati Bengals are nearing the deadline to iron out contract extensions for the year. Cincinnati always uses the start of the regular season as the cutoff point for major contract negotiations, and a handful of notable names are set to enter the last years of their deals.

None deserve a new contract more than cornerback DJ Turner II. Turner broke out last year as the Bengals’ No. 1 CB, and had a phenomenal training camp going up against All-Pro Ja’Marr Chase every day.

Turner is in line for a huge pay day, but a new report indicates it’s not going to happen anytime soon.

“Virtually no chance” Bengals extend DJ Turner II before Week 1

ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler reports Cincinnati and Turner are far apart in talks, and “barring a massive and unexpected uptick,” the likely scenario is Turner plays out his rookie contract.

Fowler also believes the Bengals will very much consider using the franchise tag on Turner next offseason.

Like Porter, Turner is an underrated cover man out of the AFC North. But this deal has virtually no chance to get done before Week 1, barring a massive and unexpected uptick. It isn’t close, and Turner is poised to play out his rookie deal. If Cincinnati follows its own blueprint, it will franchise-tag Turner as it did with another star defensive back, Jessie Bates III, in 2022. Bates had to play on the tag, before reaching a four-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency. Turner will be in line for a large payday in free agency, if he reaches it. But the franchise tag is a real possibility here.

Cincinnati not extending Turner now would be a huge mistake

The Bengals have had a great off-season in 2026. Failing to lock in their top defensive back for the next handful of years would be a poor way to end it.

Turner has successfully developed into exactly what the franchise envisioned he could be. He produced Pro Bowl-caliber tape and production last year, but was denied the honor because the rest of Cincy’s defense was horrid around him.

The game has changed since the days of Darrelle Revis and Richard Sherman, but there’s still immense value in having a lockdown corner going up against the opponent’s top receiver every single week. As with any position, the price always go up the longer you wait, and the market value for top corners has gone up tremendously this year. That could also increase the franchise tag amount for next year if the club goes that route with Turner.

It should be a no-brainer for the Bengals to lock-in their guy in Turner, unless there’s a logical reason why both sides are far apart.

The one caveat against extending Turner

There have been three CB extensions this offseason exceeding $30 million per year in Average Annual Value (AAV). Devon Witherspoon currently holds the title of the highest-paid player at the position having recently inked a four-year, $132 million deal ($33 million AAV). Denzel Ward and Trent McDuffie are each right behind him with AAVs of $31.1 and $31 million, respectively.

If Turner is trying to overtake Witherspoon, or sandwich himself in the middle of the top three names, I can see Cincinnati’s argument against paying him that.

The price for Turner was always going to be more than $20 million per year. The top 10 CB contracts all have AAVs larger than that figure. There is a big difference between a $25 million per year, and $32 million per year.

Fowler did not say what each sides preferred price point is, but this is the first real update on their negotiations in a while. It sounds very much like Turner is asking for more than what the Bengals are willing to give.

If Turner is fine getting paid anywhere below $30 million per year and Cincinnati is still uncomfortable, the front office is definitely in the wrong here. If the 26-year-old wants more than that, then this stalemate makes more sense.