Despite being the butt of a lot of Super Bowl jokes, the Cincinnati Bengals have re-signed cornerback Eli Apple to a one-year deal worth $4 million per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Apple returns to the Bengals in the midst of a very competitive free agent cornerback market, where players like JC Jackson and Carlton Davis are leading the pack. Apple, who gave up the game-winning touchdown catch in Super Bowl to Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp, comes back to the Bengals amid criticism last year after initiating “Twitter beef” with a number of opponents from the 2021 season. The most notable of the bunch being Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

Eli Apple started fifteen games for the Cincinnati Bengals last season, tallying 49 tackles, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery.

Apple was drafted in 2016 by the New York Giants. After failing to gain much traction in New York, the Giants traded him to the New Orleans Saints for a fourth-round 2019 pick and a seventh-round pick in 2020. He would spend the next two seasons in New Orleans before a short stint with the Carolina Panthers in 2020. In his first four years in the league, Apple accumulated 197 solo tackles, 33 passes defended, three interceptions, and three forced fumbles.

After his season in Charlotte, Apple was given an opportunity with the Bengals when he signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract. Apple took advantage of the opportunity, having a solid  season opposite Bengals star corner Chidobe Awuzie, and helping lead the Bengals to an AFC Championship.