Bengals agree to 3-year extension with Giovani Bernard

The Cincinnati Bengals announced the signing of running back Giovani Bernard to a three-year contract extension Wednesday, a deal that will keep him with the team through the 2019 season.

The terms of the deal were not released by the Bengals, but Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports the deal is worth $15.5 million.

Bernard was entering the last season of his rookie contract and was set to become a free agent in 2017 before agreeing to the extension.

The "new money" value of the deal will make Bernard one of the top-10 highest-paid players at his position, reports Tom Pelissero of USA Today.

The 24-year-old cemented himself as one of the league's most versatile backs in 2015, racking up 1,202 yards from scrimmage.