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CINCINNATI -- The Bengals signed center Trey Hopkins, arguably their top offensive lineman, to a three-year extension that runs through the 2022 season, the team announced Saturday. According to NFL Network, the deal is worth $20.4 million, with $4.5 million guaranteed via roster bonus. Hopkins, who is playing this season on a one-year deal worth $3.1 million, was set to become an unrestricted free agent in March. "I didn't think I would ever be in this situation," Hopkins told Bengals.com. "I started as an undrafted free agent just making sure I at least made the team. It's nice having a little bit of security." After winning the position battle during the preseason, the fourth-year player out of Texas started all 15 games for Cincinnati (1-14). "I had never really played center until last year," Hopkins told the team's website. "But it was a spot that didn't take me very long to feel comfortable." In four seasons with the franchise, Hopkins has played in 45 games and made 36 starts. "He's proven himself as a center and brings stability to the unit. I'm really pleased with his performance and the way he's jumped into the scheme, fully immersed himself and done a great job learning it and leading through it," Bengals coach Zac Taylor told the team's website. "He's a lead-by-example guy. When he speaks, everybody listens. That's what you want from your center. Guys that people trust and know they're going to do it the right way and they're going to work the right way. He brings all of that to the table." The Bengals have locked up the top overall pick in the 2020 draft ahead of Sunday's season finale against Cleveland (6-9).
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