UDFA Thread

[jj22]

(Yesterday, 10:26 PM)Joelist Wrote: Nice UFDA class so far - I suspect the best bets to make the team are McLaughlin, Loyal and Cross.

We only have 3 locks at receiver. There’s spots in that room for an udfa. 

[*pally*]

Rb Quali Conley-Arizona per his agent

[phil413]

(Yesterday, 09:51 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Seth must see an opening, Ted is solid but he isn't great, Matt Lee is not a good run blocker yet and has a lot of work to do physically to 
handle the AFC North especially...

Trey Hill hasn't been anything special.

You got a point there, rather than the Bengals possibility moving one to guard maybe he's betting on himself and yeah he could beat out Lee possibly if recovered.  There were some good picks but this may be the highlight of day 3. 

[*pally*]

Texas Tech CB Bralyn Lux

[Luvnit2]

(Yesterday, 11:45 PM)phil413 Wrote: You got a point there, rather than the Bengals possibility moving one to guard maybe he's betting on himself and yeah he could beat out Lee possibly if recovered.  There were some good picks but this may be the highlight of day 3. 

It seems every year we get overly excited for both the draft and for after and UFA class. Then we have those who lay old tapes and convince themselves no way in hell Tobin can draft well.

This draft and now the free agents may be great and may suck, same as every draft. The naysayers gave us an F+ before our first pick. I am on the other end and can be overly optimistic. In the end, whatever floats your boat, be you.

I felt our biggest weaknesses based on 2024 lied on the defensive side of the ball and glad they used 2 defensive picks first. My second concern was G and they addressed that in round 3 and again in round 5 (he may be better than the 3rd round guy if he stays healthy) and then we grabbed a very good center/OL UFA, he may be our center of the future.

I see us able to cut bait with Pratt who was bad in 2023 and 2024, we drafted 2 guys and signed 2 LB's in FA, I feel good adding them and I like Wilson as well.

The 1st pick I feel's floor is he will be our best DE against the run and setting the edge sooner than later. His ceiling in 2 to 4 years is probaly 8 to 10 sacks as well.

If he hits his ceiling, he was a great pick, hit sthe floor he won't be a bust, but would be a miss for a team that can't keep missing. I like the RB, he is upgrade from Williams our RB4 in my opinion.

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(Yesterday, 09:51 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Seth must see an opening, Ted is solid but he isn't great, Matt Lee is not a good run blocker yet and has a lot of work to do physically to 
handle the AFC North especially...

Trey Hill hasn't been anything special.

Hill signed with the Packers. 

I do like the McLaughlin & Cross signings a lot. 

The rest are PS at best. Though LS is interesting. 

[*pally*]

(Yesterday, 09:19 PM)Bengalholic Wrote: Reported UDFA signings so far:

QB Payton Thorne - Auburn 
WR Jamoi Mayes - Cincinnati 
WR Rashod Owens - Oklahoma State 
WR Jordan Moore - Duke 
TE Kole Taylor - West Virginia 
OT Caleb Etienne - BYU 
C Seth McLaughlin - Ohio State 
DT Howard Cross III - Notre Dame 
DT Eric Gregory - Arkansas 
DB Shaquon Loyal - Rutgers 
LS William Wagner - Michigan 

There is currently room for 12 UDFA on the training camp roster.  We have reports of 13 signed.  If history comes through again, at least 3 of these guys won't be on the roster post-rookie camp.  They either didn't ever agree to a contract in the first place or the coaches liked what they saw from others better

QB Payton Thorne - Auburn 

WR Jamoi Mayes - Cincinnati 
WR Rashod Owens - Oklahoma State 
WR Jordan Moore - Duke 
TE Kole Taylor - West Virginia 
OT Caleb Etienne - BYU 
C Seth McLaughlin - Ohio State 
DT Howard Cross III - Notre Dame 
DT Eric Gregory - Arkansas 
DB Shaquon Loyal - Rutgers 
LS William Wagner - Michigan 
RB Quali Conley- Arizona
CB Bralyn Lux- Texas Tech

[*Synric*]

(4 hours ago)pally Wrote: There is currently room for 12 UDFA on the training camp roster.  We have reports of 13 signed.  If history comes through again, at least 3 of these guys won't be on the roster post-rookie camp.  They either didn't ever agree to a contract in the first place or the coaches liked what they saw from others better

QB Payton Thorne - Auburn 

WR Jamoi Mayes - Cincinnati 
WR Rashod Owens - Oklahoma State 
WR Jordan Moore - Duke 
TE Kole Taylor - West Virginia 
OT Caleb Etienne - BYU 
C Seth McLaughlin - Ohio State 
DT Howard Cross III - Notre Dame 
DT Eric Gregory - Arkansas 
DB Shaquon Loyal - Rutgers 
LS William Wagner - Michigan 
RB Quali Conley- Arizona
CB Bralyn Lux- Texas Tech

Rookie Mini-Camp is the beginning of May. Teams invite UDFAs to try out.


I heard WVU TE Kole Taylor received one of the biggest Bengals UDFA signing bonuses ever. I'm not sure if it's true or not just throwing it out there.

[TecmoBengals]

(4 hours ago)Synric Wrote: Rookie Mini-Camp is the beginning of May. Teams invite UDFAs to try out.


I heard WVU TE Kole Taylor received one of the biggest Bengals UDFA signing bonuses ever. I'm not sure if it's true or not just throwing it out there.

I also read they really wanted Taylor. I cannot find anything that tells me the why behind it. Is he related to Zac?

[*pally*]

Tackle Caleb Etienne is being signed to a 3 year contact. That’s pretty unusual for a Bengal UDFA signing. They must like him

[BenZoo2]

I was hoping for nick nash, wr and Luke Kendra, but they already signed. Still hoping for Jj Roberts the safety from Marshall. Grahame Nicholson pk from Alabama for camp competition

[*Synric*]

(3 hours ago)BenZoo2 Wrote: I was hoping for nick nash, wr and Luke Kendra, but they already signed.  Still hoping for Jj Roberts the safety from Marshall.  Grahame Nicholson pk from Alabama for camp competition

JJ Roberts signed with the Bucs (along with WVU QB now WR Garrett Greene).

[BenZoo2]

(2 hours ago)Synric Wrote: JJ Roberts signed with the Bucs (along with WVU QB now WR Garrett Greene).

Damn.  Thanks for the update 

[*Synric*]

(4 hours ago)TecmoBengals Wrote: I also read they really wanted Taylor. I cannot find anything that tells me the why behind it. Is he related to Zac?

Probably Not lol.

Kole Taylor could do some H-Back/Slot TE . Good hands but he isn't fast and has leverage issues as a blocker.

[*Synric*]

This is an interesting one. DL Dante Barnett from the NFL Academy in London.

NFL Academy ? IPP ? Cincinnati

Birmingham’s own Dante Barnett is a Bengal! ? pic.twitter.com/3uwfoiaUVs

— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) April 27, 2025

[WhodeyRay]

I think the biggest McLaughlin issue is going to be his tiny t-rex arms. 31 inch arms are shorter than Billy Price. I am not a big person on arm length measurements but those are some stumps.

[TecmoBengals]

(1 hour ago)WhodeyRay Wrote: I think the biggest McLaughlin issue is going to be his tiny t-rex arms. 31 inch arms are shorter than Billy Price. I am not a big person on arm length measurements but those are some stumps.

Tyler Linderbaum measured just over 31 inches for his arm length. He's a stud.

[Luvnit2]

(3 hours ago)pally Wrote: Tackle Caleb Etienne is being signed to a 3 year contact.  That’s pretty unusual for a Bengal UDFA signing.  They must like him

Interesting, sounds like we found our 7th round pick

https://www.deseret.com/sports/2025/04/20/byu-nfl-draft-caleb-etienne-mock-brugler-athletic-left-tackle/

Big Dude Bruegler had going to Chiefs in round 7

[*Au165*]

(1 hour ago)WhodeyRay Wrote: I think the biggest McLaughlin issue is going to be his tiny t-rex arms. 31 inch arms are shorter than Billy Price. I am not a big person on arm length measurements but those are some stumps.

Yea not really an issue inside because they line up closer and the action happens faster.

[J24]

(2 hours ago)Synric Wrote: This is an interesting one. DL Dante Barnett from the NFL Academy in London.

NFL Academy ? IPP ? Cincinnati

Birmingham’s own Dante Barnett is a Bengal! ? pic.twitter.com/3uwfoiaUVs

— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) April 27, 2025

Cool story! It will be interesting to see if he can play at this level!