Bengals sign 2016 first-round pick Eli Apple

The Cincinnati Bengals are the latest team to give cornerback and 2016 first-round draft pick Eli Apple an opportunity to extend his NFL career. 

Per an official team statement, Apple has joined the Bengals on a one-year deal. 

Apple entered the NFL when the New York Giants selected him 10th overall in 2016 but largely underwhelmed during his time with Big Blue. He also earned himself a suspension for the closing game of the 2017 season for conduct detrimental to the team. 

The Giants traded Apple to the New Orleans Saints in the fall of 2018, but the Saints allowed him to hit free agency last year. He landed with the Carolina Panthers but appeared in only two games during the 2020 campaign before Carolina released him in late October. He failed to find a home with a different organization through the remainder of the season. 

Apple turns 26 years old in August and, thus, could become a low-risk, high-reward acquisition for the rebuilding Bengals. Across 57 regular-season games, he has recorded three interceptions, three forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, and 237 total tackles.