The Bengals may already have their next contract problem originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The Cincinnati Bengals are coming up on another NFL season, and they're surely hoping this is the one that takes them all the way. If they can keep quarterback Joe Burrow healthy, that will go a long way to getting this team deep into the playoffs. But, Burrow, obviously, isn't the only factor. The Bengals actually have a contract situation that they should pay attention to now and as the season gets underway. It's not as flashy or exciting as some of the other contracts that you've been hearing about, but it's just as important. Sometimes, the most crucial players just fly under the radar and nobody notices them until they're gone. DJ Turner's contract situation could become important for the Bengals In a piece published on Wednesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN names a selection of NFL players to keep an eye on next offseason if they don't sign extensions. These players are certainly players to watch in the coming season. For the Bengals, he notes the importance of cornerback DJ Turner's deal. In the piece, he says that "Turner is an underrated cover man out of the AFC North. But this deal has virtually no chance to get done before Week 1, barring a massive and unexpected uptick. It isn't close, and Turner is poised to play out his rookie deal." He adds, "If Cincinnati follows its own blueprint, it will franchise-tag Turner as it did with another star defensive back, Jessie Bates III, in 2022. Bates had to play on the tag, before reaching a four-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency." So, what happens if Turner goes into free agency? Fowler believes he'll be "in line for a large payday." But, more than anything, Fowler believes the franchise tag could really happen. More NFL news:
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