Deadspin | Bengals decline Myles Murphy’s fifth-year option 
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Myles Murphy (99) wraps up Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) in the first quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium in Downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. Bengals defensive end Myles Murphy remains in the plans for Cincinnati’s rebuilt defense, but the franchise passed on the fifth-year option in his contract for the 2027 season.
Murphy would have been guaranteed $14.5 million under terms of the option structure. The decision was made ahead of the Friday deadline for teams to exercise the standard fifth-year option for 2023 first-round picks.
Vice president of personnel Duke Tobin said after the draft that the Bengals see a future for Murphy despite adding defensive help at multiple positions via trade, free agency and the draft.
“By the end of the year, he was a problem for teams. He’s a guy that we believe in,” Tobin said of Murphy.
Murphy was the 28th overall pick in 2023 out of Clemson. He turned 24 in January and had 5.5 sacks last season but only 8.5 in 47 games in the NFL.
Cincinnati spent its top pick in 2025 and 2026 on defensive ends. Shemar Stewart was the 17th overall pick in 2025 and the Bengals took another Texas A&M edge rusher with the No. 41 pick last week.
The Bengals traded their first-round pick, the 10th overall selection, for Giants nose tackle Dexter Lawrence prior to the draft.
–Field Level Media
#Deadspin #Bengals #decline #Myles #Murphys #fifthyear #option
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Myles Murphy (99) wraps up Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) in the first quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium in Downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. Bengals defensive end Myles Murphy remains in the plans for Cincinnati’s rebuilt defense, but the franchise passed on the fifth-year option in his contract for the 2027 season.
Murphy would have been guaranteed $14.5 million under terms of the option structure. The decision was made ahead of the Friday deadline for teams to exercise the standard fifth-year option for 2023 first-round picks.
Vice president of personnel Duke Tobin said after the draft that the Bengals see a future for Murphy despite adding defensive help at multiple positions via trade, free agency and the draft.
“By the end of the year, he was a problem for teams. He’s a guy that we believe in,” Tobin said of Murphy.
Murphy was the 28th overall pick in 2023 out of Clemson. He turned 24 in January and had 5.5 sacks last season but only 8.5 in 47 games in the NFL.
Cincinnati spent its top pick in 2025 and 2026 on defensive ends. Shemar Stewart was the 17th overall pick in 2025 and the Bengals took another Texas A&M edge rusher with the No. 41 pick last week.
The Bengals traded their first-round pick, the 10th overall selection, for Giants nose tackle Dexter Lawrence prior to the draft.
–Field Level Media
![Deadspin | College basketball’s tallest player Olivier Rioux heads to UC Irvine Florida center Olivier Rioux (32) greets fans after Florida’s 114-55 win over Prairie View A&M of the NCAA March Madness opening round at Benchmark international Arena in Tampa, FL on Friday, March 20, 2026. .[Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun] Olivier Rioux, who at 7-foot-9 is the tallest player in college basketball history, has committed to play for UC Irvine. The Canadian center redshirted for Florida during its 2024-25 national championship season and played in just 11 games in 2025-26. “Next stop, Irvine, California,” Rioux wrote Thursday on Instagram. Rioux’s exit follows the commitment of Florida stars Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon to return for the 2026-27 season. Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Chinyelu has entered the NBA draft but also is expected to return. Rioux finished his Florida career with seven points, six rebounds and one assist in 16 minutes. He had a dunk in the Gators’ first-round NCAA Tournament win against Prairie View A&M on March 20. UC Irvine won the Big West Conference regular season title but lost to Hawaii in the league’s tournament. “We are excited to welcome Olivier Rioux to our program,” Anteaters head coach Russell Turner said. “Olivier is a high-character young man whose presence will elevate our team, our university, and our community. He embodies the values that have defined our success at UC Irvine. “We’ve built a strong relationship with Olivier and his family over the years, dating back to his high school recruitment, and that familiarity gives us tremendous belief in who he is both on and off the court. Olivier’s unique skill set and physical presence align perfectly with the tradition of dominant front court players in our program. We believe he will have an immediate impact and continue to grow within our system, and we are thrilled to have him join the Anteater family.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #College #basketballs #tallest #player #Olivier #Rioux #heads #Irvine](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28553879.jpg "Deadspin | College basketball’s tallest player Olivier Rioux heads to UC Irvine Florida center Olivier Rioux (32) greets fans after Florida’s 114-55 win over Prairie View A&M of the NCAA March Madness opening round at Benchmark international Arena in Tampa, FL on Friday, March 20, 2026. .[Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun] Olivier Rioux, who at 7-foot-9 is the tallest player in college basketball history, has committed to play for UC Irvine. The Canadian center redshirted for Florida during its 2024-25 national championship season and played in just 11 games in 2025-26. “Next stop, Irvine, California,” Rioux wrote Thursday on Instagram. Rioux’s exit follows the commitment of Florida stars Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon to return for the 2026-27 season. Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Chinyelu has entered the NBA draft but also is expected to return. Rioux finished his Florida career with seven points, six rebounds and one assist in 16 minutes. He had a dunk in the Gators’ first-round NCAA Tournament win against Prairie View A&M on March 20. UC Irvine won the Big West Conference regular season title but lost to Hawaii in the league’s tournament. “We are excited to welcome Olivier Rioux to our program,” Anteaters head coach Russell Turner said. “Olivier is a high-character young man whose presence will elevate our team, our university, and our community. He embodies the values that have defined our success at UC Irvine. “We’ve built a strong relationship with Olivier and his family over the years, dating back to his high school recruitment, and that familiarity gives us tremendous belief in who he is both on and off the court. Olivier’s unique skill set and physical presence align perfectly with the tradition of dominant front court players in our program. We believe he will have an immediate impact and continue to grow within our system, and we are thrilled to have him join the Anteater family.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #College #basketballs #tallest #player #Olivier #Rioux #heads #Irvine")
![Deadspin | College basketball’s tallest player Olivier Rioux heads to UC Irvine Florida center Olivier Rioux (32) greets fans after Florida’s 114-55 win over Prairie View A&M of the NCAA March Madness opening round at Benchmark international Arena in Tampa, FL on Friday, March 20, 2026. .[Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun] Olivier Rioux, who at 7-foot-9 is the tallest player in college basketball history, has committed to play for UC Irvine. The Canadian center redshirted for Florida during its 2024-25 national championship season and played in just 11 games in 2025-26. “Next stop, Irvine, California,” Rioux wrote Thursday on Instagram. Rioux’s exit follows the commitment of Florida stars Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon to return for the 2026-27 season. Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Chinyelu has entered the NBA draft but also is expected to return. Rioux finished his Florida career with seven points, six rebounds and one assist in 16 minutes. He had a dunk in the Gators’ first-round NCAA Tournament win against Prairie View A&M on March 20. UC Irvine won the Big West Conference regular season title but lost to Hawaii in the league’s tournament. “We are excited to welcome Olivier Rioux to our program,” Anteaters head coach Russell Turner said. “Olivier is a high-character young man whose presence will elevate our team, our university, and our community. He embodies the values that have defined our success at UC Irvine. “We’ve built a strong relationship with Olivier and his family over the years, dating back to his high school recruitment, and that familiarity gives us tremendous belief in who he is both on and off the court. Olivier’s unique skill set and physical presence align perfectly with the tradition of dominant front court players in our program. We believe he will have an immediate impact and continue to grow within our system, and we are thrilled to have him join the Anteater family.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #College #basketballs #tallest #player #Olivier #Rioux #heads #Irvine](https://i2.wp.com/images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28553879.jpg?ssl=1 "Deadspin | College basketball’s tallest player Olivier Rioux heads to UC Irvine Florida center Olivier Rioux (32) greets fans after Florida’s 114-55 win over Prairie View A&M of the NCAA March Madness opening round at Benchmark international Arena in Tampa, FL on Friday, March 20, 2026. .[Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun] Olivier Rioux, who at 7-foot-9 is the tallest player in college basketball history, has committed to play for UC Irvine. The Canadian center redshirted for Florida during its 2024-25 national championship season and played in just 11 games in 2025-26. “Next stop, Irvine, California,” Rioux wrote Thursday on Instagram. Rioux’s exit follows the commitment of Florida stars Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon to return for the 2026-27 season. Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Chinyelu has entered the NBA draft but also is expected to return. Rioux finished his Florida career with seven points, six rebounds and one assist in 16 minutes. He had a dunk in the Gators’ first-round NCAA Tournament win against Prairie View A&M on March 20. UC Irvine won the Big West Conference regular season title but lost to Hawaii in the league’s tournament. “We are excited to welcome Olivier Rioux to our program,” Anteaters head coach Russell Turner said. “Olivier is a high-character young man whose presence will elevate our team, our university, and our community. He embodies the values that have defined our success at UC Irvine. “We’ve built a strong relationship with Olivier and his family over the years, dating back to his high school recruitment, and that familiarity gives us tremendous belief in who he is both on and off the court. Olivier’s unique skill set and physical presence align perfectly with the tradition of dominant front court players in our program. We believe he will have an immediate impact and continue to grow within our system, and we are thrilled to have him join the Anteater family.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #College #basketballs #tallest #player #Olivier #Rioux #heads #Irvine")
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