Cincinnati Bengals make decision on Ohio State product Eli Apple

The Cincinnati Bengals have agreed to a new contract with cornerback Eli Apple, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal will span one year and is worth $4 million.

Apple just finished his first season with the Bengals this past year, and his sixth in the NFL. He started 15 games in Cincinnati and finished with 49 tackles, two interceptions and 10 passes defended. The cornerback also has experience with the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers.

Apple was an integral part in helping Cincinnati reach the Super Bowl this past season, but also had the most significant coverage lapse in that game. With the Bengals clinging to a four-point lead, the cornerback surrendered the game-winning touchdown to Ram receiver Cooper Kupp.

Apple took a lot of heat for that play, with several receivers around the league using it as an opportunity to take a shot at him. That included Saints receiver Michael Thomas, who played with the cornerback at both Ohio State and for one season in the pros.

“Eli going to Eli,” posted Thomas.

Despite the criticism, clearly Eli Apple did enough on the year to earn a new contract with the team in 2022.

The Giants selected Apple 10th overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. Since then, he has seen his fair share of ups and downs over the first six seasons of his NFL career. However, the Ohio State product has established himself as an NFL player with more than 250 career tackles, five interceptions, seven fumble recoveries and 43 passes defended.

He will have a chance to continue to prove he is worthy of being a starter in the league as Cincinnati looks to build on its huge 2021. The Bengals certainly have their eyes on another Super Bowl appearance, where Apple will hope to redeem himself after last year.