Bengals take an extra step to reward one of their best rookies from last season and end a yearly problem they've had to face
The Cincinnati Bengals have their punter for the next two years. Cincinnati announced punter Ryan Rehkow has signed a two-year contract extension, keeping him in town through the 2026 season. Rehkow entered the NFL last year as an undrafted free agent signing of the Kansas City Chiefs. He was released by the Chiefs after the […]
The Cincinnati Bengals have their punter for the next two years. Cincinnati announced punter Ryan Rehkow has signed a two-year contract extension, keeping him in town through the 2026 season.
Rehkow entered the NFL last year as an undrafted free agent signing of the Kansas City Chiefs. He was released by the Chiefs after the club added Matt Araiza and opted to roll with him for the remainder of the offseason. The Bengals swooped in right at the start of training camp and signed Rehkow to compete with incumbent Brad Robbins and fellow rookie Austin McNamara.
Rehkow first outlasted McNamara after a couple weeks of camp and then ended up as the team's only healthy punter once Robbins became sidelined with a hip injury. The battle went Rehkow's way essentially by default, but he also showcased the kind of raw power Cincinnati was looking for in its punter. He averaged 46.5 gross yards per punt with an average hang time of 4.26 seconds during preseason action with at least one punt of 56 yards or more in all three exhibitions.
That all translated to the regular season as Rehkow's gross punting average (49.1) and net average (42.9) were each Bengals single-season records and the top marks among three other rookies in 2024.
It was clear Rehkow deserved another shot in 2025, and the Bengals went and did the same thing they did for Jake Browning last year. Rehkow was set to be an exclusive rights free agent, meaning the Bengals could simply offer a minimum one-year tender to Rehkow and he'd have to accept it in order to play this upcoming season.
Browning was in the same boat last year, and the Bengals instead signed him a two-year deal paying him the minimum salary each year. It appears they exercised the same strategy with Rehkow.
Not only is Rehkow worthy of this deal, the Bengals can realize they have some sense of stability at punter. The team has had a tough time finding a long-term replacement for Kevin Huber since moving on from him in the middle of the 2022 season. Drue Chrisman bested him during that year, but Robbins, a 2023 sixth-round pick, took over the following season only to lose out to Rehkow a year later. It's been a revolving door not just for punting, but on field goals when it comes to who holds for placekicker Evan McPherson.
So long as Rehkow builds off his promising rookie season, the Bengals will finally have some continuity at both spots.
Bengals waste very little time extending a player they would’ve had no trouble re-signing in free agency
Cincinnati retains an underrated young player.
