Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - BIG DECISION: Is Myles Murphy Worth the 5th Year Option?

Starting point is 00:00:01 Miles Murphy took a step forward for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2025, and now they have to decide about his fifth year option. Let's get into it. You are locked on Bengals, your daily Cincinnati Bengals podcast. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. What up, Bengals fans, and welcome to another episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day, the number one sports podcast network in the land.

Starting point is 00:00:36 And he's James Rapine doing his daily dance. I'm Jake. Let's go bringing you in to today's episode of Locked-on Bengals. The everydayers have been watching James dance for years now on this podcast. Welcome back to those of you who make Locked-on Bengals part of your daily routine. Today we're going to dive into the decision that Bengals have to make on Miles Murphy and his fifth-year option. Take a look at the history of the Bengals with fifth-year options, especially recently. we'll put the fifth-year option numbers for Miles Murphy from a financial perspective

Starting point is 00:01:10 into perspective against the rest of the edge rusher market and what that kind of money generally gets you. And it is one of the decisions of many, of course. We've talked about a lot of them. We talked yesterday about a potential restructure for Joe Burrow. Why that would make sense? Why Joe Burrow wouldn't be opposed? We talked about cap cuts earlier this week as well.

Starting point is 00:01:35 We've been spending some time this week talking about some of the Bengals' offseason decisions to come, and today we'll focus in on Miles Murphy's contract and put that amongst his peers at the Eddrushar position, and James Miles Murphy just turned 24 in January, and I think unambiguously did take a step in 2025. Now, you can talk about how big was that step? How much bigger can you expect continued progress to be for Miles going? forward, especially as a pass rusher. But the Bengals have picked up every fifth year option since Zach Taylor took over his head coach. And given that context, given that history, given what they've seen from Miles, is there any reason to expect them to change course here?

Starting point is 00:02:26 No. And I think you're right to bring up history. And I think you're right to bring it up because of what they did last year. I'm not sure there was a bigger, certainly covering the Bengals, bigger person, bullish on Dax Hill than me. And when they picked up his option, I was like, oh, like, are you guys sure? Are you sure you don't want to just try to extend him now? Like, do you want to lock into that money?

Starting point is 00:02:55 That's essential what you're locking into that money. And you don't know what he's going to be like coming off of the ACL and everything that goes into that. And they did it because the front office has believed in Dax, similar to how I believed in Dax and then some clearly because the fifth year option, they didn't really blink behind the scenes. They do it and it paid off. And I think Miles is even more clear cut. He's not dealing with an injury. He does appear to be ascending. The same coaching issues or disconnect with the coaching staff and front office might apply a bit to Miles,

Starting point is 00:03:32 I think more so to Dax than Miles. But my point is, you could easily look at him, Miles, and say, first rounder, we believed in his physical traits. We got Jerry Montgomery here. He got on the field. He started to develop,

Starting point is 00:03:45 why would we not bet on this guy continuing to develop as he enters what should be his prime years, his prime physical years as a football player? And I think that's, that's where they'll end up. And yet, Jake, I got to be honest. When I have the number right in front of me, I'm looking at it right now.

Starting point is 00:04:04 If you're watching on YouTube, I'm looking at these different fifth year option numbers. And I see $14.685 million for Miles Murphy. It just sounds like a lot. And maybe this is a me problem because I felt this way about Dax last year as well. And we know Miles had five and a half sacks. And we noticed him. it felt like in almost every game in the second half of the season. So he had an impact and yet I see that number and I'm like, oh, 14.685 million.

Starting point is 00:04:35 It sounds like a lot and we can get into how it compares. But just four miles, given what we've seen, it feels pricey. Whether it's 14.65 or over the cap actually has it a little bit lower, closer to 14 million than the 0.65 additional $650,000,000. I'll take it. I'll take the extra miles. Come on, Miles. James will claim his commission there, as he argues against the Bengals picking up the option. That makes a lot of sense, James. Did I?

Starting point is 00:05:07 Did I argue against it? It just sounds like a lot of money. It's a lot of money. It sounds like a lot of money. So currently, $14.5, $14 million. The guy's in that range for edge rushers. If you look just south of it, Jonathan Cooper at $13.5 million with the Denver Broncos, Sassan Reddick at $14 million from the Tampa Bay Bucking.

Starting point is 00:05:24 ears Harold Landry, 14 and a half from the New England Patriots. And Eric Armstead, who isn't like explicitly only edge kind of player is listed here, 14.5 million for him as well. But then you go higher than that, Dio Odeingo with the Bears, 16 million, Chase Young, 17 million, Alex Heifisweth, the Steelers, 17 million, Bryce Huff, 17 million, Khalil Mack at 35, 18 million, Bradley Chubb, 18 million. And it's kind of the going rate for a starting level defensive end, edge rusher in the NFL.

Starting point is 00:06:00 And we'll take a look at the free agency class as well. But that would be the expectation for Miles Murphy in his fifth year. I think that that is probably the expectation in the building that he will take, maybe it's just another small step this year. And he's a little bit more consistent as a, as a run defender because that's where he was really at his best last year

Starting point is 00:06:26 was as a run defender and then he gets a little bit better as a pass rusher and maybe he's an eight nine sack player for you who's winning on his own a little bit more than he was before just that little bit of refinement 24 years old right

Starting point is 00:06:40 that came into the league really young has room to develop but when you stack him up against his peers even from his own draft class the past Pass rush win rate isn't great. It's fine. It's okay.

Starting point is 00:06:55 But it's not pushing into the 20%, which is where you would like to see it be for a plus level edge rusher in the NFL. He's kind of in that average starter trajectory. And that's what the pay would reflect, right? The basic fifth year option, which is what Miles will qualify for because he hasn't reached a playtime threshold or a pro bowl. If he had made a pro bowl, you're talking about an extra like $8 million on the fifth year option. So it could be higher if he had been playing better, if he had been playing more. But Miles is only qualifying for the base level here, which like I said, kind of puts you in that average starter pay level. It's a one-year commitment for 2027 where the Bengals don't have a ton of cap expenses.

Starting point is 00:07:43 I don't think they really think too hard about this, James. maybe they should think a little bit harder about it because it isn't nothing. That's $14 million. It goes against your cap and is a cash expense for 2027. But I don't think they necessarily think too hard about it. So let's get into what we think they will do with their approach with this fifth year option for Miles Murphy coming up next. Today's show is brought to by Indeed. If you've ever hired someone who looked good on paper but just wasn't the right fit,

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Starting point is 00:09:21 locked on NFL right now. Show the support lockdown bangles, by the way, by making sure they know we sent you again, Indeed.com slash locked on NFL hiring. Do it the right way with Indeed. All right, Jake. Let's dive into one, what we think they'll do, two, what we would do. And it is an easy sell. Twofold. One, first round. pedigree, that matters. Two, ascending player, that matters. Three, you already have a huge hole here.

Starting point is 00:10:03 It's already a void. Your main hope right now, whether people want to realize it or not, is Miles taking that step? Is Miles being a little more athletic, Sam Hubbard? Is Miles getting a little more juices of pass rusher? is him entering his prime and taking another step. I don't think anyone's expecting him to be a superstar,

Starting point is 00:10:25 but maybe he can be a consistent starter. Above average starter would be great. And if any of those things happen, then you're going to want to pick up this fifth year option. Here's my concern. Here's my thought. If they do that and they do this, and the deadline beginning of May right after the draft

Starting point is 00:10:48 And again, I think it'll happen right after the draft. Is that going to impact their approach when it comes to Rubin Bain? Or when it comes to even sooner, Odafe Olaouye, or insert whatever defensive end that you want them to sign. And in my mind, they have to sign one. They just kind of have to, like a starting level minimum type guy. And so if you do that, and it doesn't impact your future. plans in that way and your future like immediate future over the next few months your offseason plans then i'm okay with that because miles murphy shouldn't get in the way of any of the free agents that

Starting point is 00:11:29 you want to target shouldn't get in the way of any trade you want to make shouldn't get in the way of anything you're doing this so he can be a piece of the solution not the solution and i i think that'll be the case but you just you never know they could also say well we miles murphy came on chamar's going to come on why a small piece and keep it rolling and i don't think that's good enough The Bengals defy logic quite often. There are a lot of times, I think we've said stuff like, I don't think that'll be the case or I think that'll be the case. And most of the time we're right.

Starting point is 00:11:59 But sometimes they do stuff and we just don't see it the same way as they see it from a logic point of view. Like their logic works different from our logic sometimes. And so logically, you would say losing Trey Hendrickson and not knowing yet what Shamar's is going to be at the NFL level because he dealt with injuries. And when he was on the field, he looked lost at times. And they haven't found a way to point that bull in the right direction yet and harness all of that potential. And Miles Murphy took a step, but he's still not winning at an elite rate as a pass rusher. And you really don't have anyone on your team who is an elite pass rusher.

Starting point is 00:12:40 And Duke Tobin is standing on the podium right after the season sitting at the podium saying, pass rush. Pass rush is king. of course we need pass rush. And he's probably going to say the same thing of the combine. That's the next time we're going to hear from him. I feel like he said it in previous years at the combine. And so you have these two sides of the same coin that you're talking about, James.

Starting point is 00:13:04 One, do you want to dig yourself a hole where you're losing Trey Hendrickson and you've got these two first round picks? And now maybe Miles is playing in the last year of his deal. And now suddenly in 2027, yeah, you got some March Stewart. or maybe they draft a guy who knows. Talk about Ruben Bain. Awesome. If that happens.

Starting point is 00:13:23 I'm through the roof, through the moon. Thrill. That'd be great. But big if. And I did just see a mock draft. Field Yates, who had Ruben Bain at 10 to the Bengals.

Starting point is 00:13:36 Awesome. Arms are 12 inches long. So he shouldn't get drafted until 10. He can't reach. He can't reach anything. We invited him on the pod. He couldn't reach the camera. He needs,

Starting point is 00:13:47 he needs a step. to reach the top shelf you simply cannot draft that this would be really funny if they drafted him and they clip this and they put it to be clear we're on board for reuben bane right now yeah yeah yeah yeah it's February 12th as we're recording this point is is on the one hand you can give yourself a potential hole by not having miles murphy who we think is an on trajectory to be an average level starter when you have nothing else in the cupboard right now or you can say all right we're going to invest that money, well, if you're going to invest that money to make sure you don't have that hole in

Starting point is 00:14:22 2027 and you're betting on Miles development, well, that doesn't mean that you now need to neglect the position. That's why it's two sides of the same coin, right? You don't just solve it by giving Miles one more year. You still need to get better for 2026, not even thinking about 2027. Miles is on the team either way in 2026. So to me, I agree with you. Those things should not interact, the fact that you've picked up the fifth year option should not affect your strategy and getting better in the past rush in 2026 because you need to do that either way. But I hear your fear. It's the kind of thing that has impacted the Bengals decision making in the past and is why I think

Starting point is 00:15:08 you mention it. Yeah. For sure. And maybe they just to continue with the parallels with Dax, maybe they're like, oh, well, much like DJ Turner did. Mar Stewart's going to take a big leap. You got to see it. Can you agree?

Starting point is 00:15:25 No, no, you hope this year, right? You hope this year. And it's the same. It aligns the same. But even then, let's just say you have those two guys. You could always use another one. You could always do that. And so I don't think it will affect them knowing they need to address it,

Starting point is 00:15:39 but maybe at the level that we think they need to address it. Maybe that's how I should. Like the top pass rusher they have on their board and free agency, should be who they go after, to be clear, regardless of this fifth year option, in my mind, whoever it is, go get it. Now, you talk about things affecting the draft. I think that would be the thing that would end up affecting the draft potentially for them, given their history.

Starting point is 00:16:01 But not only do they need another. But like, even if you have Shamar and Miles and they're like good starters, solid starters, they don't have the high end guy. They don't have the guy that's going to go out there and win the game for you in the fourth quarter. And maybe those guys do it every now, and then maybe they get there. They're not there right now, as far as I know. And I hope they get there. But until you know you have that guy and you have him under,

Starting point is 00:16:28 and you have the Miles Garrett or the Trey Hendrickson or the Byron Murphy or whoever, right, who's going to go out there and be able to win you a game in the fourth quarter in a key situation, you should still be pursuing that, even if you have those guys. to your point about like making sure you're not excluding the top end edge prospect whether you think that's in free agency, which tough sell this year to say that that guy is really out there in free agency.

Starting point is 00:16:58 There's some guys that could get there similar, but that's all or in the draft where I think there are some guys that are interesting this year. Yeah, it's you can't have enough. I'm not going to argue it. I do think that you ultimately pick it up. My initial thought was, man, that's still, it's a lot of money. But if he gets nine sacks, let's say, what if he gets nine sacks this year?

Starting point is 00:17:20 It's going to be a lot of money. If he gets six sacks, it's not going to be a ton less, especially if he's playing a bunch of downs for you and hopefully developing. And hopefully, we're talking about a double-digit sack season for Miles Murphy. We'll call him big money, Miles, if that happens. You've got to earn the nickname, though. Up next, some more thoughts on pass rush and juice and something that Duke Tobin thinks morning, noon and night.

Starting point is 00:17:44 Pass rush. We'll get into it. Today's show is brought to you by Fandul. I don't know about you, but the winner games, speaking of morning, noon and night, have been on in my house, morning, noon, and night. And Fandle is going to make the Olympic games that much more fun from metal counts to individual events to finding your angle on sports that you care most about, to finding your angle on sports that you're just learning here.

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Starting point is 00:18:41 Fandle, play your game. I mentioned Miles Murphy's age a couple times, just 24. There's going to be players in this draft older than Miles Murphy. Yeah. Just a reminder. Like some of the guys I think that I've seen mocked to the Bengals even. Like there's a 25-year-old who might get picked in the top few rounds. Obviously, Mesidor 25.

Starting point is 00:19:04 Miles is 24. Just turned 24 in January. But as we look at the past rushing landscape this year, I wonder how the Bengals approach this, James. And this is going to be a bigger conversation. as we get closer to free agency and we talk about their options for free agency and how that will affect the drafts and all these things. But after Trey, the top guys in the past rush from market, depending on whose list you trust most, Adafé O.A, Jalen Phyllis, Waye, Mafei, Joey Bosa, Khalil, Mac, probably not guys. The Bengals will be super interested in. Would you be open to Khalil or no? I don't think he wants to come to Cincinnati necessarily, but.

Starting point is 00:19:44 Yeah, I think I would. I would too. I would absolutely be interested. I was just curious. And the only reason I say that is he signed with L.A. I assume he just wants to be in L.A. like the weather that, you know, I'm sure he's just used to that. So go ahead.

Starting point is 00:19:57 He's still good. Jadabian Clowny, also still good. Yes. By the way, easy one. He's not going to cost a lot either. They praise him all the time, even if he's a little, I don't know, like, don't you want, wouldn't you love it if Shamar Stewart became Janavian Clowny? I think you would.

Starting point is 00:20:14 Yeah, I think he'd be. relatively pleased with that career outcome, right? Arnold DeBicati, I know that's a Joe Goodberry favorite. Draymond Jones, that's a Paul Dana Jr. favorite. So just circling out to some of our guys on the Bengals here. Cameron, Jordan. Wow, he had eight and a half sacks last year. Sorry.

Starting point is 00:20:36 Still solid player. Caleb on Chase-on is going to be exciting for some people. I'm less excited about him. That to me would be a low, like if you, could get him for a lower dollar figure. I think that someone's going to pay him more than I would want to pay him based on his consistency as an every down player. But a couple of themes here stand out as we talk about these guys and think back on the

Starting point is 00:21:00 Seahawks and their pursuit and signing of DeMarcus Lawrence and the difference he was able to make for them. One, you could go with the younger guy, the second contract guy, the O.A., the Phillips, the Mafei, the, who is the third one, abacus, and. and bet on one of those guys on their second contract. And Ebukati might be one of the more interesting ones based on what he's getting projected to earn less probably than those other guys and his trajectory

Starting point is 00:21:27 where he has certainly been developing, all of them about 27 years old. Or can they be open to the one-year deals for Khalil Mack or Judevian Clani? The way that the Seahawks did, I think they did a two-year deal actually with the Marcus Lawrence, but are they going to stick to their current approach from an age point of view where they prefer the younger players and there's

Starting point is 00:21:50 reason to prefer the younger players but there are these guys that are established and have the track record and this is the argument with tray this was our argument last year with extending tray when they perform at that level for long enough the decline generally isn't as sharp like sometimes yeah you're walking and you find the end of that cliff and you fall off the cliff injuries often contribute to that in a big way when players get to their 30s. But a lot of times these guys do have a more gradual decline, but they're still good players in their early 30s. For sure.

Starting point is 00:22:24 And you need that production now. Like you can't, like I was talking with Dan Hoard yesterday, the day before, whatever. And he brings up Peter Woods and we'll be able to talk about him more. But it's one thing to be like, oh, well, the Bengals got. this awesome young defensive tackle that's going to develop into one of the games best. And that's great. Like that would be great if you could get that at 10.

Starting point is 00:22:49 But guess what? Doesn't necessarily help you right now. And I think that's that's a tough part of it where you really need to address it in free agency so you don't feel the need. Even though at 10, you should get instant impact. And there's a delicate balance there. Like what if Shamar does become a pro bowler? But right now it doesn't feel like it. It feels like he's anything but that to the fan base.

Starting point is 00:23:11 certainly. And so that's, that's it. That's the tough spot about being so bad, yet everyone thinking you should be in win now mode. You're thinking you should be in win now mode. It's, you can't, you can't put yourself in a position where you take the worst prospect because of the need. And yet, if you take the best prospect, but it's going to take them a year or two, everyone's going to be pointing at you like, hey, it's a failure. And Miles Murphy is the prime example of that to kind of round things out. sometimes it takes some time. Sometimes you're trying to win.

Starting point is 00:23:44 And so you play the veteran that has been there, done that in huge games. And it takes that rookie or that young player a bit longer to develop. And it's a tough, it can be a tough balance at times. Put it that way. Now the Bengals are young enough to where you hope that's not the case. And if you draft someone at 10, even if they're 20 years old, you're hoping that they can contribute right away. I get it. But if it goes the other way.

Starting point is 00:24:10 And so that's just overall, especially I think trench play and defensive line development, it can be that way sometimes. And hopefully Miles is the example of that where, like I said, he's about to explode and have a huge season. Especially true on the interior defensive line. I mean, talk about Peter Wood specifically. That one, I mean, that's going to be an entire episode one of these days is Peter Woods specifically. And, you know, we'll be talking about interior defensive line development and how hard it is. because I think I've said this a couple times recently.

Starting point is 00:24:42 I think interior defensive line, like those guys, the game wreckers on the interior defensive line is the second hardest thing to find in the sport right now. I think it's quarterback and then game wrecking defensive tackle. Yeah. You're right. There's just so few of them. Every year there's so few. I don't know if I'm like objectively right.

Starting point is 00:25:01 That's definitely a vibe saying like I haven't gone to check the data and this is something that you could go prove. But that's definitely how it feels. to me. There's just so few of those guys every year. I think you're right. What else, what else is harder to find? I would think like high end tackles, but there's so many tackles. There's so many receivers every year. I guess high end tight ends pretty tough. Yeah, maybe, but then you have to define tight end and in which guys do everything versus not and catch. I'm talking about the guys to do everything. Like, yeah, the George. And they're hard to find. There's not many.

Starting point is 00:25:40 Yeah, the Bengals could use one of those guys, by the way. Yeah. Talk about needs on offense. Yeah. No one wants to talk about anyways. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, but like the impact of a Gino Ackins or an Aaron Donald or a Byron Murphy or we'll see what happens with Walter Nolan's career. We know the Bengals were interested there, right?

Starting point is 00:26:01 And so really hard to find those guys. Would you give up this entire draft class? if it meant getting five years of Prime Gino-Adkins. I would. I'm just curious if you would. Yeah. Prime Gino? I mean,

Starting point is 00:26:19 talking about all the fame-level player. No doubt. I'm in there, man. I think that that makes a huge difference. Change everything. If you get Gino and, yeah, I mean, and that takes you with Gino. Everybody would look better.

Starting point is 00:26:32 Like, they didn't, like, Carlos Delnap was really good, but they didn't have like a Trey Hendrickson level pass rusher. Carlos was really good. He was. Yeah, he was. But not quite the past racer. Yeah, a little bit more well-rounded than Trey, not quite the past rusher. Yep.

Starting point is 00:26:50 In his best years, anyway, not quite the past rusher that Trey was. That kind of leads you to a conversation about Jeffrey Simmons, though, I think. Not that I think either of us expected to be available. We should. We should have that conversation on a show. But like if you're willing to give up essentially, yeah, like an entire draft, right, for five years of Gino. which you wouldn't be getting five years of prime Jeffrey Simmons, but it's kind of like a similar thought process, right?

Starting point is 00:27:15 Giving up a first round pick. And I don't know what Simmons would cost. Maybe it costs you first. I don't think he's available, kind of moot potentially. But there's a conversation there. Yeah. I mean, if you offer 10, the Titans couldn't just hang up right away. I would say that.

Starting point is 00:27:29 It doesn't mean that they would take it, but I don't know if they'd hang up right away. Real quick, you mentioned Caleb Von Chase on how you're leery about how much he's going to get paid. Over under him getting paid. $14 million average annual value. I would say under. I wouldn't be surprised if it goes over. It could go over.

Starting point is 00:27:48 And that's the point about Miles, right? And I don't know that I would prefer Kalevon Chason on the field to Miles. Like, Caleb on Chase on to me is like a rotational guy. Yeah. I wanted him last year. I want him when he's cheap. Like I think that those are the type, those are the type of guys, the pedigree that you target and you hope that they figure it out.

Starting point is 00:28:08 And the Bengals kind of did that. Like Isaiah Foski is on the roster. He tested really well. And we'll see if he has an opportunity in training camp to carve a path out for himself or not as a rotation, rotational player. But Foskey had great production and athleticism in college. Trey who we got Foski. Rotational player. I'm not talking about starting.

Starting point is 00:28:29 I'm just using the logic. I'm just using the logic. We'll wrap up there on this episode of the Locktown Bengals podcast Combine right around the corner. Got to get there, James. And then some things will start moving around this league. Until next time, thanks for listening to this episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast, Hootay. And have a good one.

Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - BIG DECISION: Is Myles Murphy Worth the 5th Year Option?

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