Myles Murphy has the right attitude after Bengals declined his 5th year option

TL;DR

The Cincinnati Bengals declined Myles Murphy's fifth-year option, surprising some as he is expected to have a solid season. Murphy remains positive and is now set to become a free agent after the season.

Key points

Bengals declined Myles Murphy's fifth-year option
Murphy expected to have a solid season
Murphy can become a free agent after the season
Franchise tag could be around $29 million
Murphy remains positive about his future

Cincinnati BengalsLas Vegas Raiders

Nov 3, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Las Vegas Raiders offensive tackle DJ Glaze (71) pushes against Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Myles Murphy (99) in the second half at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images | Katie Stratman-Imagn Images The Cincinnati Bengals were one of the few teams not to exercise the fifth-year option on their 2022 first round pick this offseason. Of course, that is defensive end Myles Murphy. What makes this decision slightly surprising is that Murphy is a player many expect to have a solid (or even good) season. Murphy is bringing the right attitude into the locker room, though. It seems the front office has been upfront throughout the process with Murphy. That means he wasn’t blindsided by the news. Also, from a financial standpoint, it could be seen as a positive for Murphy’s camp. He is now scheduled to be a free agent after the season. He can work out a long-term deal with Cincinnati or become a free agent after the season. Some may think the Bengals would opt to use the franchise tag to secure him, but they already opted not to use the fifth-year option. That would have been a much cheaper route to go. That option would have been roughly $14.75 million guaranteed. The tag looks like it would be a little under $29 million guaranteed, according to Over the Cap. So Murphy is absolutely right to just focus on being the best player he can be next year. Because one way or another, he looks like he is set to get paid more than what the fifth-year option would have been.

Q&A

Why did the Bengals decline Myles Murphy's fifth-year option?

The Bengals declined the option despite expectations for Murphy to have a solid season, likely due to financial considerations.

What are the financial implications for Myles Murphy after not having his fifth-year option exercised?

Murphy can now negotiate a long-term deal with the Bengals or enter free agency, potentially earning more than the $14.75 million guaranteed by the fifth-year option.

What is the potential franchise tag amount for Myles Murphy if the Bengals choose to use it?

If the Bengals decide to franchise tag Murphy, it would likely be around $29 million guaranteed.