The draft is over. While the Cincinnati Bengals may not be done adding guys to the roster—they could grab a guy or two after cut-down day—but the vast majority of additions have been made. Now the Bengals’ coaching staff will have to evaluate the team they have and pick the best 53 players capable of taking them back to the Super Bowl.
There will be some pretty tough cuts.
Here are some surprising players who could find themselves on the outside looking in.
Offense
Mitchell Tinsley: Tinsley emerged in 2025
as a fun story. In a season racked with injuries, he wowed fans with acrobatic catches, including two touchdowns, and looked like he could emerge as another consistent weapon for Joe Burrow. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are cemented as WR1 and WR2, but there’s a large drop-off between the two of them and WR3.
Andrei Iosivas and Charlie Jones are established, but Tinsley isn’t, which makes him a possible cut.
Erick All Jr.: This is really unfortunate, because All has a ton of talent. He had injury concerns heading into the 2024 draft, though, which is why he fell to the fourth round. He went on IR about halfway through his rookie year, and then missed his sophomore season after he had to have an additional surgery. Texas tight end Jack Endries fell to the Bengals in the seventh round, and I could see him pulling the rug out from under All, especially if he’s not fully healthy.
Tanner Hudson: Then again, maybe All is healthy, and if he makes the 53-man roster as well as Endries, it could be Hudson who finds himself out of a job. He’s got the most experience in the passing game, but he’s not going to unseat Mike Gesicki, and Drew Sample adds too much value as a blocker and H-back.
Hudson could be the odd man out.
Cody Ford: Ford has been a renaissance man for the Bengals’ offensive line when it comes to being a backup. He’s played every position other than center. That’s been one of his most alluring attributes, but with the addition of Connor Lew and Brian Parker II (who’s also very versatile), Ford could be looking for work elsewhere, especially if the Bengals make another addition to the line.
Jalen Rivers: Maybe because of Ford’s versatility, cutting him is a reach. Cutting Rivers isn’t. He’ll be fighting for his position immediately. He was last year’s fifth-round pick, and he was a backup last season, but Parker could edge him out.
Defense
TJ Slaton: Slaton was a free agent acquisition for the defense last offseason, and he wouldn’t be on this list if it weren’t for the trade of Dexter Lawrence. Lawrence is not only the starting nose tackle, but he’s the face of the defense. Maybe the Bengals keep Slaton to have a nice rotation, but they gave up the No. 10 overall pick for Sexy Dexy, so they’re going to get as much out of him as they can.
McKinnley Jackson: This one barely deserves to make this list, but only because it’s more likely than not that he gets cut. Jackson had a hard time cracking the active roster on game days in 2025, and now there’s so much more talent. Landon Robinson, the Bengals’ seventh-round pick this season, could be gunning for Jackson’s roster spot.
Kris Jenkins: This one qualifies more as a “surprise” cut. Jenkins was the Bengals’ second-round pick in 2024, but he hasn’t quite lived up to his “The Mutant” nickname. Again, maybe the Bengals keep as many defensive linemen as possible to build a solid rotation, but Jenkins will be playing behind Lawrence, BJ Hill, Jonathan Allen, and possibly others.
Cedric Johnson: Johnson was selected in the 2024 draft as well, albeit in the sixth round. He’s been okay off the edge when he’s gotten time on the field, but there’s an awful lot of talented players on the roster at the position. He’s not going to take a spot away from Myles Murphy or Shemar Stewart, both first round picks, and they signed Boye Mafe in free agency for a reason. Then there’s the addition of Cashius Howell in the second round of the draft.
Suddenly, Johnson finds himself fighting an uphill battle not only to earn playing time but also to make the final roster.
DJ Ivey: Ivey was selected in the seventh round of the 2023 draft, and he’s stubbornly held on to a roster spot. He hasn’t gotten much playing time, but he has shown potential when he has been on the field. There isn’t a ton of depth at the cornerback position, and if the Bengals decide to keep five safeties or go after a free agent once guys start to get cut, Ivey could be looking for a new home.
Ja’Sir Taylor: The same goes for Taylor. He was brought in as a free agent before the draft, but he’s not guaranteed a roster spot. If the Bengals decide to add a veteran corner, they could opt to keep Ivey, who’s a homegrown talent, rather than Taylor.
Daijahn Anthony: Anthony was the team’s seventh-round pick in 2024. Like Ivey, he hasn’t gotten a ton of playing time, but the safety position has been a mess since Jessie Bates was allowed to leave in free agency. The Bengals signed Bryan Cook this offseason. That in itself didn’t affect Anthony much, but the later signing of Kyle Dugger did.
Dugger will likely compete with Jordan Battle for snaps opposite Cook, which means the fourth and (likely) final safety spot will come down to Anthony or PJ Jules, and Jules may very well win that battle.
Who did I leave out?
Sound off!
