The Bengals are reportedly prioritizing recent deals for cornerbacks DJ Turner and Dax Hill. In a chunk focusing totally on Turner, Jay Morrison of SI.com says the contract-year defender is optimistic he can have an extension in place before the beginning of the regular season.
Turner was a second-round selection within the 2023 draft, so his rookie deal doesn’t include a fifth-year option (Hill, a 2022 first-rounder, is currently scheduled to play out the fifth-year option of his rookie pact in 2026). As Morrison writes, Turner had been staying away from the club during voluntary spring work, but he was training elsewhere and remained in constant contact with head coach Zac Taylor. Turner reported to OTAs last Monday to start practicing.
When asked after Tuesday’s OTA session about the probabilities of an extension coming to fruition within the near future, Turner said, “I’m real hopeful. This is certainly where I would like to be.” He added that he desired to be at the ability prior to mandatory minicamp because he wanted to fulfill the brand new additions to the defense and to easily be across the team.
“There’s a business side of it that might be ongoing, but I like the best way that he’s handled it,” Taylor said of Turner. “I like the best way he’s communicated it. I like the best way his energy’s been. I like the best way he’s worked. It’s been great to get him back.”
Morrison acknowledges it can be a challenge to retain each Hill and Turner on the heels of high-priced acquisitions like Dexter Lawrence, Boye Mafe, and Bryan Cook (along with the cap charges that were already on the books for Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins). Nonetheless, it is sensible that a team whose recent defensive struggles are well-documented would wish to keep their talented starting CB tandem within the fold.
Turner was a daily defensive presence during his first two skilled seasons, but he handled a career-high snap share (89%) in 2025. He notched a pair of interceptions and comfortably set a brand new personal best with 18 pass deflections while making strides by way of his performance in coverage (Pro Football Focus considered him the fourth-best cover corner within the NFL last season).
Other corners like Devon Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez are looking for extensions as well, and people players are eyeing the highest of the CB market, which is presently topped by Trent McDuffie’s $31MM average annual value. Turner likely won’t get to that number, but he is definitely targeting an AAV of not less than $20.1MM, which nine corners currently enjoy. That can represent a somewhat sizable raise on the $3.76MM salary he’s due in 2026.