The Bengals came out of the offseason looking like a team that had already done enough heavy lifting to make the draft feel almost secondary. Free agency and the trade market changed the shape of the roster, and the result is a rookie class that already has three names pushing for real snaps.
That matters for a Cincinnati front office that has not exactly built a spotless reputation through the draft. Still, there are signs this group may have landed on a few legitimate finds, and the early buzz around training camp has only strengthened that case.
Cashius Howell looks like the kind of top pick who can actually help right away. Zac Taylor said after Saturday’s preseason win over the Bears that Howell had logged plenty of reps over the past two weeks, so the decision to sit him was not tied to any injury concern. By every account, Howell has been one of the standouts at camp, which is a welcome development for a team that has needed more from its recent high-end draft picks.
That history is hard to ignore. Dax Hill took time to settle into the right role, Myles Murphy didn’t really hit stride until halfway through his third season, and Amarius Mims only got his chance because Trent Brown got hurt.
Shemar Stewart was a disaster last year and is injured now. Against that backdrop, Howell’s rise feels significant, especially since he was a second-round pick and the Bengals essentially got a bonus top draftee through the Dexter Lawrence trade.
Stewart’s absence has opened even more space for Howell to work into the defense. He’s expected to help back up Boye Mafe in the Viper role in Al Golden’s scheme, a spot that blends edge work with off-ball linebacker duties.
On the defensive line, Landon Robinson has turned into a real problem for the roster math. Kris Jenkins Jr. still has the benefit of being a 2024 second-round pick, but his grip on a spot is far from secure. Robinson, a seventh-round pick, has been one of the biggest preseason surprises and has made enough of an impression to put Jenkins in danger.
The case against Jenkins has been building, and the latest reporting from The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. only adds to it: "The 2024 second-round pick might stick on the roster, but the strong preseason from seventh-round rookie Landon Robinson makes his departure a possibility. Jenkins has never quite taken off in Cincinnati, but he’s still a second-round pick with potential. He also looked good in the preseason opener last year but could be the odd man out among a deep defensive line."
Robinson’s appeal goes beyond just being disruptive up front. He can also line up at nose tackle, and even at fullback, which gives him extra value behind Dexter Lawrence and T.J.
Slaton. McKinnley Jackson could also be in danger of getting waived, since he sits clearly behind those two on the nose tackle depth chart.
Then there’s Colbie Young, who keeps making his case as the most encouraging surprise in the class. At 6-foot-5, he should already have a clear role as a red-zone target, and he showed exactly why with his first NFL touchdown in the preseason win over the Bears.
Young’s path to a roster spot was already secure because of his draft status and what he’s done in camp, but his rise is still notable. He came into the league with off-field concerns and limited college production, and the Bengals still took the swing. That was a risk, especially after the Jermaine Burton situation, but Young is making it look like the kind of bet that can pay off.
The receiver room is crowded, though. Dohnte Meyers has climbed quickly and gives Cincinnati a true slot option, while Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas, and Young are all bigger boundary targets.
Iosivas has also tried to work inside, and tight end Mike Gesicki functions like a slot receiver in his own right. Even with all that competition, Young still has a path to three or four touchdowns as a rookie, which would be a strong return in a passing game that will still funnel plenty of targets to Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase, especially with Chase chasing Randy Moss’ single-season receiving touchdown record.
For now, the takeaway is simple: the Bengals may have stumbled into a rookie class with real early contributors, and Howell, Robinson, and Young all have a believable route onto the field.
In Other News...
Bengals Have Two Last-Chance Sleepers Fighting For Offensive Roster Spots
With one preseason game left against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Bengals still have a couple of offensive jobs hanging in the balance. The biggest decisions remain at backup offensive tackle and third running back, and this final tune-up is expected to give the coaching staff one more long look at the players fighting to stick. Undrafted rookie Corey Robinson II has put himself in the mix for the tackle opening, while Kentrel Bullock remains in the hunt at running back.
Both players are the kind of late-summer depth pieces who can make a roster by handling the unglamorous work well enough to earn trust. For Cincinnati, the question now is less about upside than readiness, since these final reps are the last chance to sort out who can actually help if injuries hit once the games start to count. The Eagles matchup should give the staff a clearer picture, but there is still enough uncertainty that these two spots could come down to the wire. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Have A Running Back Problem This Trade Could Solve
A training camp rep offered a sharp reminder of how fragile the Bengals running back room can look when the pads come on. Samaje Perine absorbed a notable hit from Dexter Lawrence, and it came against the backdrop of a depth chart that still invites questions as the team sorts through the contract situations around Perine and Chase Brown.
Isaac Guerendo has emerged as one name that fits the Bengals search for help, even if his current status complicates the picture. The 49ers back is working back from injury and is on the PUP list, but his skill set has drawn comparison to past Cincinnati additions, and the fit with the Bengals offensive scheme is easy to see if the front office decides to get aggressive. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Could Address A Sneaky Need With A Risky Young Back
The waiver wire has put Trey Benson in a complicated spot, and that could make him worth a long look for a Bengals team that does not exactly have a glaring opening at running back. Arizona waived the former third-round pick with an injury designation, so if he clears waivers he would revert to the Cardinals injured reserve. Even with Cincinnatis backfield looking crowded, Bensons blend of talent and upside is the kind of profile clubs keep an eye on when a young player becomes available.
For the Bengals, the question is less about immediate need than fit and patience. Benson has flashed productivity when healthy, but the knee injury hanging over him only adds to a durability track record that has already raised concerns. Still, if Cincinnati believes the payoff could be worth the risk, this is the sort of low-cost bet front offices sometimes make on a back who was valued highly just a year ago. [Read more 🡒]