Sportsnaut
Only two teams allowed more points than the Cincinnati Bengals did last season. They lost, arguably, their best defender in Trey Hendrickson. Yet, the Bengals also traded their 2026 first-round pick in exchange for one of the NFL’s best defensive tackles in Dexter Lawrence.
Will the Bengals’ defense be better or worse? If this next player continues the ascension fans witnessed late last season, the Bengals’ defense just might be in a good place.
Recently, The Athletic asked it’s beat writers to put together their team’s player with the “most at stake” for the upcoming season. When it came to the Bengals, local reporter Paul Dehner Jr. highlighted defensive end Myles Murphy. He was quick to note that the 28th overall pick from the 2023 NFL Draft enjoyed a mini-breakout last season with 5.5 sacks, and that ascension could continue in 2026.
If Murphy, who’s expected to see an even larger role after earning the first 10 starts of his career last season, continues to reach new heights, a $20 million salary isn’t out of question, because edge rushers get paid big bucks on the open market. Just look at how the Bengals issued a three-year, $60 million contract to Boye Mafe this offseason. Mafe’s coming off a two-sack season and has compiled a total of 20 across four years.
While quarterbacks get paid the most on offense, pass-rushers get paid the most on defense, and a bigger breakout season from Murphy could place him among the highest-paid defenders in the league. That’s why this season is truly a make or break year for the former first-round pick.
Related: Cincinnati Bengals’ Pro Bowl Offensive Lineman Makes Very Bold Statement About Team
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