Cincinnati’s rookies are set to report to training camp on Saturday, and one of the more intriguing names in the group is fourth-round pick Colbie Young.
The Georgia wideout came off the board at No. 140 overall, a selection that drew plenty of skepticism in draft circles. That reaction makes sense on paper: the Bengals already have Joe Burrow throwing to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, so Young wasn’t exactly stepping into a desperate depth chart. But the size and skill set he brings could still make him a useful piece sooner than expected.
At 6-foot-5 and 218 pounds, Young is built differently than Andrei Iosivas, who checks in at 6-3 and 210. Young does not offer the same slot flexibility as Iosivas or Chase, and that’s part of the appeal. His frame gives Cincinnati another big body who can help force coverage decisions, especially if Chase and Higgins are moving inside more often.
That kind of alignment can create problems for defenses. If Chase or Higgins is drawing attention in the slot, the Bengals can make life harder on opponents by creating more favorable matchups inside. It also opens the door for Young to work against single coverage, which is exactly the kind of situation Burrow likes to attack on downfield throws.
There’s also a path for Young to chip away at Iosivas’ role if things break right in camp. Chase is at his best on the boundary, but the more he slides inside, the less predictable Cincinnati’s passing game becomes. Zac Taylor can get more creative with wide receiver switch and swap releases, and that kind of design could make Young more valuable than a typical fourth-round rookie.
Iosivas may have the edge in experience, but the production markers aren’t exactly overwhelming. Young’s college drop rate was 6.6%, while Iosivas has dealt with an 11.6% drop rate in the pros.
Young also showed real promise at the catch point in 2023 at Miami (Florida), converting 66.7% of his contested-catch chances, going 12 of 18. Iosivas’ contested-catch rate in the NFL sits at 37.5%, including three-for-15 last year.
Still, this doesn’t look like a clean path for Young to win the WR3 job. Iosivas has the benefit of more experience and the trust of Burrow, and this is the final year of his rookie contract. That makes Young a logical contingency plan, but not necessarily the favorite to leapfrog him right away.
And even if Young doesn’t win that battle, the bigger issue is whether the Bengals’ third receiver spot matters all that much. Mike Gesicki has been functioning as Cincinnati’s de facto third wideout. He’s what the article calls “TINO” - “Tight End In Name Only” - and his 2025 snap splits back that up: 23 inline tight end snaps, 230 slot snaps, and 67 out wide.
That usage matters. Iosivas’ heavy snap count last season was tied more to Gesicki being banged up than to him clearly winning a bigger role. So whether it’s Young, Iosivas, or some mix of both, Gesicki still looks like one of Burrow’s key targets in 2026.
Young’s college résumé also suggests patience is in order. Across four seasons at Miami and Georgia, he finished with 116 receptions for 1,446 yards and 13 touchdowns.
That’s not the profile of a finished product. But the Bengals didn’t draft him to be one.
The best-case outcome is more modest: a splash play here, a useful rep there, and enough progress to make Cincinnati think twice about re-signing Iosivas next offseason. If Young can get there, the pick starts to look a lot smarter.
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