Bengals 2025 Roster Breakdown: Howard Cross III looking to stay playing under Al Golden for at least another year

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By John Sheeran | Last updated Jun 4, 2025 10:09 AM ET

Bengals roster breakdown is back! During the 99 days leading up to Cincinnati's regular season opener against the Cleveland Browns, the player with the matching jersey number as days remaining will become the day's highlighted player.

95 days remain until the Bengals' first game of the 2025 season, which brings us an undrafted free agent in No. 95 Howard Cross III.

Howard Cross III

Age: 23
Year: Rookie
Position: Defensive tackle
College: Notre Dame
Previous Teams: None
Jersey Number: 95

Cross enters his first season in the NFL after going undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft. He played six years at Notre Dame and appeared in 66 games, starting 35 of them from 2021-24. He totaled 169 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks.

Cross is the son of Howard Cross Jr., a former Super Bowl champion tight end and 13-year NFL veteran. He ended up following in his father's footsteps but chose a path to play on the other side of the ball. The New Jersey native was coached by another Garden State guy in Al Golden during his final three years in South Bend, and Golden was able to attract his former interior pass rusher to play under him again in the NFL.

Contract details

Cross signed a three-year, $2.985 million college free agent deal in May following the draft. He earned a $20,000 signing bonus, tied for the second-largest out of the team's 13 UDFAs, and can earn a non-guaranteed $840,000 base salary this season. In total, Cross can earn $860,000 in cash this season.

Should the Bengals waive Cross sometime this offseason, they'd only be on the hook for his $20,000 signing bonus as dead money.

Roster outlook

Cross is one of three defensive tackles Cincinnati signed following the draft, but he's the only Notre Dame player to follow Golden back to the Queen City this offseason. His connection to Golden and familiarity to his scheme could allow him to stand out.

The Bengals were busy adding DTs after the draft because they didn't use any of their six picks on the position. They swapped Sheldon Rankins for T.J. Slaton Jr. in free agency, and that was about it. At least four are making the team, but there's a window for a fifth to sneak on. Cross is definitely a candidate to be No. 5 if that's the number, and as of right now, his biggest competition is the player we'll cover tomorrow.

The practice squad is where Cross likely ends up, but the ingredients definitely exist for him to make the initial roster.

Roster odds: 25%
Projected role: Reserve defensive tackle