Rookie Free Agent Confirmed List

[MichaelWeston]

I'll track it here

 

There are 12 open roster spots (None of the draft picks are signed so technically they could add 18 people)

 

Likely be going after a QB-RB-WR-TE-2-3 DTs-LB-S

 

QB-Payton Thorne-Auburn

RB-Quali Conley-Arizona

WR-Jamoi Mayes-Cincinnati

WR-Rashod Owens-Oke St

WR-Jordan Moore-Duke

TE-Kole Taylor-West Virginia

C-Seth McLaughlin-OSU

OL-Caleb Etienne-BYU

LS-William Wagner-Michigan

DT-Howard Cross-ND

DT-Eric Gregory-Arkansas

S-Shaquan Loyal-Rutgers

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Le Tigre]

7th round about 3/4 over. 
 

Seth McLaughlin of THE (a natural center for a National Championship team) still out there. 
 

If he is UDFA—a good look should be made. 

[sparky151]

Yeah, McLaughlin for sure.

 

Guards Marcus Wehr of Montana State and Thomas Perry of Middlebury

 

LBs Shaun Dolac of Buffalo and Jackson Woodard of UNLV

 

S JJ Roberts of Marshall

 

Did anyone take Ty Hamilton?

 

Several RB options. I think Donte Thornton of Tennessee is available at WR

 

TEs Caden Prieskorn or Brant Kuithe

 

 

[New Jersey Bengal]

Did anyone draft the rb from Tennessee Sampson?

[dex]

2 minutes ago, New Jersey Bengal said:

Did anyone draft the rb from Tennessee Sampson?

Cleveland, I believe.

[Inigo Montoya]

Ty Hamilton went to the Rams in the 5th round.

[Hooky]

 https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/26/24418336/eric-gregory-bengals-udfa-2025-arkansas-razorbacks-football-nfl-free-agents

[Hooky]

https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/1916267519435739179

[Hooky]

I seem to have problems posting links. Feel free to re-post my links.

[Jamie_B]

 

 

[|Montana Bengal|]

 

[|Montana Bengal|]

 

[|Montana Bengal|]

 

[|Montana Bengal|]

 

[sparky151]

8 minutes ago, Jamie_B said:

 

 

 

Surprised he wasn't drafted. So OSU had "only" 14 players picked. McLaughlin is returning from an achilles tear but I'd guess will be able to participate in training camp. If he's not healthy by then, he could be stashed on the NFI list. 

[New Jersey Bengal]

4 minutes ago, Montana Bengal said:

 

Awsome

[I_C_Deadpeople]

31 minutes ago, Montana Bengal said:

 

Cross and McLaughin are huge pickups

[Hooky]

4 minutes ago, I_C_Deadpeople said:

Cross and McGlaughin are huge pickups

I think Gregory looks good also.

[|Montana Bengal|]

 

 

[texbengal]

31 minutes ago, Hooky said:

https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/1916267519435739179

Howard Cross is a good player. Really quick… a penetrating DT. Wouldn’t be shocked if he made it, or at least got a

PS gig. Had a serious injury IIRC. 

[I_C_Deadpeople]

STRENGTHS:  ● Plays with desired initial quickness and play strength for the position ● Explodes into contact to create initial push (Ohio State found a lot of success in short yardage behind its center) ● Latches and works hard to stay attached while on the move ● Efficient working up and picking off linebackers ● Digs cleats in and halts powerful nose tackles ● Consistently refits hands in pass sets to stay square to defenders ● Highly intelligent and communicates well ● Brought a veteran presence to an already experienced Buckeyes line (Donovan Jackson: "Seth is the tip of the spear of our offense — just follow what he says, and I know we'll make a good play.") ● Still attended meetings and became an extra coach after his injury (Lathan Ransom: "It says so much about Seth, the type of leader he is. He could have just been at home right now just in his sorrows. But he's out here helping the team out, man. That says a lot about him.") WEAKNESSES:  ● Solid body frame, but his lack of elite length and knee bend is apparent ● Low snaps were an issue at Alabama, and though it improved at Ohio State, the issue still popped up ● Gets too high at times and is on the ground more than you'd like to see ● Initial strike can be swatted when he throws too early ● Will turn 24 before his first NFL game ● Medical feedback will be key after he tore left Achilles (Nov. 2024), which required season-ending surgery THE BEAST | BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS 252SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Ohio State, McLaughlin acclimated himself quickly at center in former offensive coordinator Chip Kelly's diverse run game (gap/zone, pin-pulls, counters, etc.). He was an established starter for Nick Saban at Alabama but felt his development had become "stagnant," and the backlash from some fans for his errant snaps led him to enter the transfer portal. He rediscovered his confidence in Columbus and thrived until suffering an Achilles injury in mid-November, but he won the Rimington Award as the nation's top center and his second national championship (previously won a title with the Tide). As a run blocker, McLaughlin flashes power in his hands and is agile enough to consistently reach and cut off defensive tackles to seal run lanes (he sold "Run the Damn Ball" hats in 2024 and gave all the profits to charity). He is stout in pass protection, and although he will misfire with his hands at times, he is quick to recover and stay positioned. Overall, McLaughlin has some overaggressive tendencies and needs to continue improving his snap consistency, but he checks a lot of boxes of a starting NFL center with his body quickness, technical approach and intangibles. His medical grade will impact his final projection. GRADE: 3rd-4th round 

[I_C_Deadpeople]

Cross (7th round grade)

 

 

STRENGTHS:  ● Agile out of stance to cross the face of blockers and force way through gaps ● Short-area quickness helps him redirect in small spaces to finish tackles ● Times snap well as a pass rusher ● Plays with balance at contact to keep his eyes up and feet underneath him ● Leverages strength to create movement ● Violent, forceful hands, with a high activity level ● Doesn't quit, quickly shifting to Plans B, C and D when Plan A doesn't work ● Strong work ethic, in the classroom and on the field (former defensive coordinator Al Golden: "He prepares and practices at a high level.") ● Voted a 2024 team captain (NFL scout: "His dad played a dozen years in the league and is an even better person, so I know his son grew up with a great role model.") ● His 66 career games played ranks second most in Notre Dame history   WEAKNESSES:  ● Squatty, unorthodox body (NFL scout: "Just doesn't have an NFL body. ... Look around on Sundays, not many guys like him.") ● Can get blown off the ball by powerful angle blocks, clearing run room up the gut ● More likely to end up where blockers want, rather than the other way around ● Struggles to press off blocks once engaged ● Counter measures are based more on effort than technique ● Doesn't know the meaning of the word "quit" — but often exerts a lot of effort without going anywhere ● Missed three games as a super senior because of a left ankle injury (Nov. 2024) ● Doesn't have stat-sheet production that gets you excited   SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Notre Dame, Cross played three-technique defensive tackle in former defensive coordinator Al Golden's four-man front. He was a buzzworthy prospect during the 2023 season, especially after a remarkable performance vs. Duke (13 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss), but his body of work wasn't nearly as exciting on the 2024 tape (pressures created dropped from three per game in 2023 to 1.7 in 2024).   A highly active athlete, Cross creates flash plays with his short-area burst to slice gaps and find the football. He keeps his candle lit while playing a lot of snaps, but he struggles to counter against both run and pass and often stalls out once he meets block resistance. Overall, Cross has the initial quickness, lateral agility and handwork to play in gaps, although he tends to be reliant on his first step and has too much volatility on his run-defending snaps. He competes his butt off and has upside as a sub-package gap shooter. 

[I_C_Deadpeople]

Gregory:

 

STRENGTHS:  ● Looks like an NFL player, with his naturally wide frame and length ● Plays square and gap-sound in the run game ● Flashes power in upper body to punch and hold the edge ● Nice mix of arm-overs, swims and body turns to work his way through gaps ● Consistent tackle finisher, when he gets his hands on the ball carrier ● Steady run-game motor to stay in the hunt ● Dependable, with NFL-ready experience (61 games played in SEC)  WEAKNESSES:  ● Not dynamic enough to impress with initial quickness ● Hands flash violence, just not consistently enough ● Didn't affect the quarterback once on several of his 2024 tapes studied ● Gets moved around too much by leverage-based blockers THE BEAST | BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS 361● Struggles with balance through contact, especially when working laterally ● Can play ahead to avoid being reached but is late redirecting to backside gap ● Will turn 25 during rookie season   SUMMARY: A four-year starter at Arkansas, Gregory lined up in a variety of roles on the interior of defensive coordinator Travis Williams' scheme. His production and impact improved each season in the SEC, including career bests as a senior leader of the Razorbacks' defensive line.   Gregory is a player who understands his role as a force player who can occupy space, fight through a crowd and pick away at the scraps. He occasionally shows life as a pass rusher (see 2024 Tennessee tape), but he needs to develop more of a plan, rather than simply overwhelming blockers. Overall, Gregory is an athletic-looking 320-pounder who has enough power to control the block in front of him, but he is more likely to be on the clean-up crew (rather than the defender creating disruption). He has the foundation of an early-down backup in the NFL.   GRADE: 6th-7th round 

[I_C_Deadpeople]

16 minutes ago, Hooky said:

I think Gregory looks good also.

Cross, Gregory and McLaughlin are like 3 more 6/7 round picks made. Good job done by the team in that regard.

[sparky151]