Bengals Roster Breakdown: PJ Jules brings positional flex to Cincinnati's secondary

Throughout the summer leading up to the regular season, we will go through the entire 2024 Cincinnati Bengals roster. Every single day until the season opener against the New England Patriots, we will break down a player on the roster including his background, contract status, and path towards making the team.

Today, we peek into the secondary and get to know safety PJ Jules, another college free agent signing of the Bengals this spring. Jules has some versatility to his game, which may help him stick around throughout the summer and into the regular season. 

PJ Jules

• Age: 23
• Year: 1st
• Position: Safety
• College: Southern Illinois
• Previous Teams: None
• Jersey Number: 37

Jules signed with the Bengals as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. A three-year starter at Southern Illinois, Jules saved his best season for last in 2023, earning Consensus All-American and 1st-Team All-MVFC honors. He also finished 6th in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the nation's top FCS defensive player.

While he's listed on the Bengals' roster as a safety, Jules actually played most of his snaps last season in the slot. He repped 485 times at the position compared to 203 in traditional safety alignments, per Pro Football Focus. His positional versatility helped him rack up 111 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 11 pass breakups. 

Contract details

Jules signed a three-year college free agent deal with the Bengals in May that will pay him the minimum salary for the 2024 season.

His salary will cost $795,000 for the entire season if he's kept on the team for the entire regular season, but with a $5,000 signing bonus prorated throughout the deal, his cap hit as of now is $796,666 for the year.

Roster chances

No position for Cincinnati was more aggressively addressed than safety back in free agency, which makes Jules' plight for the 53-man roster very challenging. Geno Stone and Vonn Bell are set to be the starters with Jordan Battle and Tycen Anderson backing them up. There's also seventh-round pick Daijahn Anthony who should make a push to crack the top four. 

Where does Jules fit in all of this? It's tough to say at the moment with the top three fully healthy and Anderson on track to return from a torn ACL.  

Jules' ability to come down and play the slot does give some added value, but the Bengals are so stacked at that position with Mike Hilton, Dax Hill, DJ Turner II, and Jalen Davis all as viable options. Even Anthony can play there in a pinch.

Injuries would not do the Bengals any good, especially in the secondary, but it's the only logistical way for Jules to make the team when September comes around. 

Chances of making the roster: 10%

Previous player breakdowns

• Kwamie Lassiter II
• Domenique Davis
• Nate Gilliam
• Shaka Heyward
• Jaxson Kirkland
• Devin Cochran
• Justin Blazek
• Tre Mosley
• Cam Grandy