Howard

Cross

He was an exclusive rights free agent. Tinsley pushed former third-rounder Jermaine Burton out of Joe Burrow’s circle of trust in the preseason and managed an 8/116/2 seasonal receiving line, with 15 of those targets coming against the Ravens and Patriots as Tee Higgins was out. Tinsley isn’t exactly a fantasy football sleeper, but Burrow’s rapport with him does make him interesting as a contingency plan. The Bengals also signed these 18 other players to ERFA one-year deals or futures contracts: LB Liam Anderson, C Jacob Bayer, HB Gary Brightwell, QB Sean Clifford, OT Andrew Coker, DT Howard Cross, OT Javon Foster, WR Xavier Johnson, CB Jalen Kimber, CB Bralyn Lux, WR Jordan Moore, LB Antwaun Powell-Ryland, S Russ Yeast, DE Isaiah Foskey, LB Joe Giles-Harris, LB Shaka Heyward, TE Cam Grandy, and S PJ Jules.

The son of the longtime New York Giants tight end, Cross III (6’1/285) arrived on campus in 2019 and spent three seasons starting for the Irish as a pugnacious, undersized three tech. He emerged as a force to be reckoned with in 2023, recording an eye-popping 66 tackles and 39 pressures with a phenomenal 90th percentile defensive grade en route to being named Second Team All-American. Cross III entered 2024 as a potential Day 2 selection, but he failed to capitalize on that momentum, as his production dropped to a 71st percentile defensive grade with his pressure and stop totals being cut in half despite playing the same amount of reps. While quick with active and loaded hands, Cross III stalls out when latched onto by blockers and gets washed out in run defense. Cross III is squat and light for three tech work at the NFL level, but his high motor and NFL bloodline means he will likely get a shot to make it in the pros. Joining former DC Al Golden in Cincinnati probably won’t hurt his odds of making the roster.

Cross was also reportedly considering Michigan, Duke, Alabama and Virginia Tech, among several others. He’s ranked as the 24th best strong-side defensive end in the class, and the fifth best player out of the state of New Jersey. At 6-foot-2, 240-pounds Cross will obviously need to put on bulk to play, but the has the frame to be a potential pass-rusher for the Irish in the coming years.