The Cincinnati Bengals have two important players who are choosing to play in 2026 without extensions, despite both being eligible for new contracts. Cornerbacks D.J. Turner and Dax Hill have not been able to strike a deal with Cincinnati, and ESPN's Jeremy Fowler is reporting that neither corner is expected to strike a deal with the Bengals before the season. The trend suggests neither player will pick up an extension.
The Bengals have had lots of drama with offseason extensions over the past few years. Tee Higgins and the front office spent months deliberating on a possible deal, leading Higgins to request a trade before ultimately signing a lucrative multi-year extension. Ja'Marr Chase sat out of training camp and the preseason before returning to practice just before Week 1. He then won the triple crown in 2024 and played himself into more money.
I don't blame the Bengals for not having these extensions at the forefront of their mind. I do think they should eventually sign one of them long-term, given it's a very important position, and when you find a corner who can be top-15 or top-20 in the league, it's important to keep them locked up.
However, the bulk of the credit goes to both Turner and Hill. There haven't really been any rumors that they could possibly sit out of training camp, and besides a few missed OTA practices from Turner, he's been largely present at the Bengals' offseason program. This goes against the trend in the NFL, and both Turner and Hill could be hurting their ability to make more money by putting the team first instead of themselves.
It's further proof that there is really something special about this team. Everyone knows what they can be and the opportunity in front of them. Joe Burrow has repeated multiple times that he believes this team is different, even saying on Ja'Marr Chase's new podcast that he can "feel it in his bones."
Nevertheless, we have seen players on contending teams put themselves first as a leverage play in hopes of earning more money on a contract extension. Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones fully missed the Chiefs' Week 1 game while looking for a new contract.
This decision to play without new contracts could earn both Turner and Hill more money, as a great season that takes them multiple steps forward could make them two of the highest-paid corners in the league, whether they re-sign with the Bengals or sign with another team.
