Bengals' contract hopes for DJ Turner and Dax Hill hinge on one busy NFL agent

After the 2025 offseason in which the Cincinnati Bengals paid two wide receivers at and near the top of the market, the franchise finds itself in a similar situation with both of its starting boundary cornerbacks. 

And like in that offseason, DJ Turner and Dax Hill’s agents have their hands full with trying to get deals done for their cornerback clients. 

But that is not the only thing the agents from Athletes First’s Andrew Kessler have in common with the 2025 offseason, as the agency will represent two Bengals at the same position in negotiations with the front office. 

Turner and Hill could follow Chase-Higgins blueprint

DJ Turner and Dax Hill are entering the final year of their contracts. Turner could reset the position’s market the same way Ja’Marr Chase did for receivers. And while Hill is unlikely to receive as high an average annual value, it will still end up in the top 20, similar to the deal that kept Higgins in the Queen City. 

Another similarity the Bengals’ duos share is that they use the same agents. Andrew Kessler of Athletes First represents both Turner and Dax Hill. However, Turner also has representatives Andre Odom and Trevon Smith on his account. 

Kessler is leading the charge for contract extensions for two of Cincinnati’s ‘draft and develop’ success stories for a maligned defense that has not had many in recent years. 

Hopefully, the Bengals can reach a deal with Kessler and Odum for Turner’s and Hill’s services as Rocky Arceneaux of Alliance Sports Management did with Chase and Higgins. 

Steelers also negotiating CB extension with Turner's agent 

Odom, who is helping Kessler with Hill’s negotiations, is the lead agent for a couple of other high-profile defensive backs this offseason, including Joey Porter Jr. and Emmanuel Forbes. 

Odom and Athletes First have their hands full with Porter, as they are also negotiating an extension for him. However, the Steelers and Porter reportedly seem far apart in their views of the DB’s value.

Turner should not have to wait for Porter to sign. It does not seem that the Steelers are ready to approach the $30 million per year that would make Porter the third-highest-paid cornerback in the league. 

However, Turner should wait just in case the Steelers cave and give Porter what he wants. That would make it much easier for Turner to hit the $31.5 million annual average that would make him the highest-paid corner in the league. 

And judging from an Instagram post from June, Odum appears ready to fight for that CB1 status for Turner. 

The only question now is whether that will result in a deal this offseason or next year’s?

Clock ticking on extensions for Hill and Turner

We here at Stripe Hype have been beating the drum for the Bengals to get Turner signed as soon as possible. Alas, here we still are, doing the same thing. 

Hopefully, Kessler and Odum can get a deal done with either Hill or Turner before the season kicks off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1. 

Getting a deal done with one now could make it easier to get the other done later. 

The team could also wait until the last minute, as they did with Chase and Higgins, to get both deals done, although the defensive backs do not seem to be the package deal the wideouts were.  

And if the Bengals really wanted to push things to an uncomfortable place, they could sign Hill, as we expect him not to set the market with his next deal, and franchise-tag Turner. 

Regardless of how the team and agents play this out, we want both Turner and Hill to be in stripes beyond the 2026 season. 

Also, good luck to Kessler and Odum as they try to thread the needle between Turner, Hill, Porter Jr., the Bengals, and the Steelers.

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