MVP honors, family history, and other fun facts about every 2025 undrafted free agent signed by the Bengals

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By John Sheeran | Last updated May 9, 2025 11:43 AM ET

Rookie minicamp for the Cincinnati Bengals is set to begin, and 13 undrafted free agents are now officially a part of the team. Cincinnati's UDFAs join the club's six selections from the 2025 NFL Draft, bringing this year's rookie class to 19 players.

UDFAs sign three-year contracts rather than four-year contracts draft picks sign. Signing bonuses also vary for free agents signed out of college, so there's minimal penalty for clubs to waive them.

Two UDFAs made Cincinnati's initial 53-man roster last year. Here are the 13 hoping to achieve that feat this offseason with a fun fact about each of them.

Dickinson College DT Dante Barnett

Barnett is a part of the NFL International Player Pathway program. Born in Birmingham, England, he only played one year of college football at Dickinson College in 2022. He trained at the NFL Academy in North London.

Fun fact: Barnett is one of 13 athletes from this year's IPP class, and one of two from the United Kingdom.

Arizona RB Quali Conley

Conley played in 12 games last year for Arizona. He spent the 2023 season at San Jose State and started his college career at Utah Tech from 2021-22.

Fun fact: Conley led the Wildcats last year with 745 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.

Notre Dame DT Howard Cross III

Cross played in 66 games for the Fighting Irish going back to the 2019 season. He started 13 games in each of the last two seasons, posting 94 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and six sacks.

Fun fact: Cross is the son of former 13-year NFL player Howard Cross Jr., who won a Super Bowl with the 1991 New York Giants.

BYU OT Caleb Etienne

Etienne started every game for BYU at left tackle in 2024 on his way to First Team All-Big 12 honors. He was previously at Oklahoma State from 2021-22.

Fun fact: Etienne played for two different community colleges before transferring to Oklahoma State in 2021.

Arkansas DT Eric Gregory

Gregory played all six years of his collegiate career for the Razorbacks and started the final three. He posted career-highs in 2024 with 42 tackles, five tackles for loss, and three sacks.

Fun fact: Gregory has a daughter, named Aurora, who was born last April.

Texas Tech CB Bralyn Lux

Lux played the last two years at Texas Tech and his lone interception of the 2024 season was returned for a touchdown. He spent the previous three years at Fresno State.

Fun fact: Lux was a teammate of Bengals' sixth-round draft pick Tahj Brooks at Texas Tech.

Cincinnati WR Jamoi Mayes

Mayes wrapped up his college career playing the 2024 season for Cincinnati. He started 11 out of 12 games and recorded 29 catches for 349 yards and one touchdown. He spent the previous four years at Chattanooga.

Fun fact: Mayes was a Georgia high school state champion in track and field.

Ohio State C Seth McLaughlin

McLaughlin played the 2024 season for Ohio State, the winners of the College Football Playoff National Championship. McLaughlin unfortunately suffered a torn Achilles prior to the postseason but did start 10 games at center. He spent the previous four years at Alabama, where he started 25 games.

Fun fact: McLaughlin won the Rimington Trophy in 2024, given to the nation's best center.

Duke WR Jordan Moore

Moore started his career at quarterback for Duke but played his final three seasons at wide receiver. He posted career-highs in receiving yards (861), yards per reception (15.7), and yards per game (66.2) in 2024.

Fun fact: Moore was named Duke’s Carmen Falcone Most Valuable Player in 2024.

Oklahoma State WR Rashod Owens

Owens played in all five years he was at Oklahoma State and saw his best season in 2023 when he racked up 63 catches for 895 yards and five touchdowns. He also repped at tight end.

Fun fact: Owens was named the MVP of the 2023 Texas Bowl in which he caught 10 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns.

West Virginia TE Kole Taylor

Taylor started in 12 games for West Virginia in 2024 and racked up 43 receptions for 448 yards and three touchdowns. It was his second year at WVU after he transferred from LSU, where he played from 2020-22.

Fun fact: Taylor has the fourth-most receptions for WVU tight end in program history.

Auburn QB Payton Thorne

Thorne started the last two years at quarterback for Auburn and was a two-year starter and captain for Michigan State in the two years prior. He redshirted his true freshman year in 2019 and started one game in 2020. He threw for 10,961 yards and 86 touchdowns to 43 interceptions in 53 games played.

Fun fact: Thorne's father and grandfather played college football and his other grandfather was the head coach of Division III's North Central.

Michigan LS William Wagner

Wagner played five seasons as Michigan's long-snapper, logging 53 career games and 478 snaps with the Wolverines. He was one of three Patrick Mannelly Award finalists for the nation's top long-snapper. In his career

Fun fact: Wagner was rated as the top long snapper in this year's draft class by The Athletic's Dane Brugler.