Bengals to give UFL starting player a shot at their final open roster spot right before training camp begins

Barrs, who played four years of college football at Arizona and one year at USC, was originally an undrafted free agent signing of the Tennessee Titans last year. The Titans cut him before training camp, and the Seattle Seahawks ended up picking him up right before the start of the preseason. He played in all three exhibitions for Seattle, playing just under half of his snaps at nose tackle. He was released by the Seahawks and was added to the practice squad before being released from that as well in early September.

The NFL didn't give Barrs another chance in 2024, so he went to the UFL this spring to play for the Arlington Renegades. He started all 10 games as a defensive tackle, racking up 23 tackles and a sack. 

Cincinnati signed T.J. Slaton Jr. to start at NT and added three UDFAs in Howard Cross III, Eric Gregory, and Dante Barnett from the International Player Pathway program this offseason. The club also showed interest in adding another interior player back in May when Montravious Adams visited. This was before linebacker Germaine Pratt was released and the team didn't have a roster spot open.

Now that a spot is open, Barrs could be the one to take it and add more depth to a position that needed new life. B.J. Hill was also extended, and Kris Jenkins Jr. and McKinnley Jackson return as second-year players.

Barrs would give the Bengals eight DTs on the roster, which is at least three more than they would likely carry on the Week 1 roster, but injuries can and have piled up at the position in the past. Cincinnati appears cognizant of that and is preparing if the fit exists with the former UFL starter.