Bengals 2025 Roster Breakdown: Andrei Iosivas' stock keeps rising as he enters prime breakout territory

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By John Sheeran | Last updated Jun 19, 2025 11:13 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.

80 days remain until the Bengals' first game of the 2025 season, and No. 80 Andrei "Yoshi" Iosivas is primed for the best season of his young career.

Andrei Iosivas

Age: 25
Year: 3rd
Position: Wide receiver
College: Princeton
Previous Teams: None
Jersey Number: 80

Iosivas (pronounced YO-see-vahsh) is entering his third year with the Bengals after being drafted 206th overall in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He played three seasons at Princeton (along with one year of junior varsity) and was also a three-time Ivy League track and field champion in the heptathlon. His best season was his last in 2022 when he racked up 66 receptions for 943 yards and seven touchdowns.

Impressive showings at the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine helped Iosivas get drafted out of the FCS level. He not only made Cincinnati's roster as a rookie, he contributed early and grew into a niche red zone role. Four of his 15 receptions were touchdowns in 2023, and he expanded on that role even further in 2024 as a full-time starter in the slot. He put together 36 receptions for 479 yards and six touchdowns on 61 targets.

Contract Details

Iosivas is in the third year of his four-year, $3,999,392 rookie contract. He will earn a base salary of $1,030,000 for the 2025 season, which also represents his total cash earnings for the year.

When adding on his signing bonus proration of $39,848, Iosivas' salary cap hit for the season will be $1,069,848.

Roster Outlook

Drafted during the final year of Tyler Boyd's run as the Bengals' star in the slot, Iosivas took it upon himself last year to replace the long-time starter and provide a new element of size, speed, and versatility to the position. Now he enters his third year up to 220 pounds thanks to added muscle with the hopes of building off his productive 2024 campaign.

The importance of Iosivas stepping up last year deserves proper appreciation from a macro perspective. He originally cut his teeth on the boundary and has the vertical speed to threaten cornerbacks, so if it suits the offense in certain situations, Iosivas can be moved outside to allow Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins opportune matchups inside. Add in Mike Gesicki and Cincinnati has several permutations to parse through schematically with its receiving corps.

Iosivas' stock seems to keep rising. He's a trusted option near the end zone that makes the offense harder to defend, and is on track to becoming one of the club's best late-round draft picks in some time.

Projected role: Starting slot receiver