Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor had heated exchange with Joe Burrow.
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Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor had heated exchange with Joe Burrow.
The Cincinnati Bengals, like all other teams, are coming up on a big deadline.
By May 1st, all teams must make their decision on whether or not to pick up the fifth year option of their 2023 first-round selections. For these Bengals, they are facing that decision on edge rusher Myles Murphy.
Bengals Need to Make Decision on Myles Murphy
Cincinnati Bengals
GettyCINCINNATI, OHIO – DECEMBER 28: Cam Sample #96 celebrates with Myles Murphy #99 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Paycor Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)
Murphy was selected 28th overall in 2023 by Cincinnati. The Bengals needed help at edge rusher, and they thought the former Clemson Tiger was the man for the job.
Murphy hasn’t quite broken out yet, but he made decent strides in 2025. Per John Acree of Cinci Jungle, Week 9 was the start of Murphy’s breakout. This came after star edge rusher Trey Hendrickon went down, increasing Murphy’s snap count substantially.
“In the Week 9 loss to the Chicago Bears, Murphy had five tackles and an assist, three quarterback pressures, one batted pass, and two run stops. In Week 11 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Murphy had his best game of the season with five tackles and an assist, six pressures, a sack, four hurries, and five run stops.”
Murphy notched 36 solo tackles in 2026, the 6th-best mark in the league by an edge rusher. Consider some more of an insight on Murphy’s 2025 season, per PFF.
682 total snaps (31st)
64.2 overall grade (67th)
63.5 pass rush grade (63rd)
64.8 rush defense grade (48th)
41 total pressures (46th)
It appears likely that the Bengals will pick up his option, but only time will tell.
Cinci Legend Andrew Whitworth Calls for Team to Trade For Maxx Crosby
Cincinnati Bengals could trade for Maxx Crosby
GettyLAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 28: Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders reacts during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at Allegiant Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
Whitworth doesn’t want his former team to screw around; he wants them go all-in. He explained his thought process on making a big move on a recent episode of the Fitz and Whit podcast.
“Defense would be a great place to start. If I’m sitting there going, ‘what do we got to do?’ We can’t miss. This is the most critical year in this era under Joe Burrow, in my opinion, of evaluation from that position on in the draft and free agency. ‘How do we add the defensive weapons that take us over?’”
He then keyed-in on Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby, which would be one of the biggest moves of the offseason in the entire NFL.
“Go get Maxx Crosby at all costs. Obviously that’d be a lot of capital trying to figure out how to get that worked out, but that would be the young guy tone setter, the example for your defense every single day.
Pay him the money, spend the draft pick the 10th pick, send it if you have to, put the example in the room.”
This would no-doubt be a win for the Bengals. It would probably cost some substantial draft capital, but that’s the price of a player like Crosby. Should things fall through all the way with Hendrickson, then Cinci will be forced to swing big.