Bengals 2025 Roster Breakdown: Daijahn Anthony has more to offer than his infamous rookie moment

Anthony is entering his second season as a backup safety for the Bengals.

John Sheeran — Cincinnati Bengals News Writer
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Cincinnati Bengals safety Daijahn Anthony (33) celebrates a stop on the opening kick off of the first quarter of the NFL Week 16 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. The Bengals led 17-0 at halftime.
© Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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.

33 days remain until the Bengals’ first game of the 2025 season, taking us to No. 33 Daijahn Anthony.

Daijahn Anthony

Age: 24
Year: 2nd
Position: Safety
College: Ole Miss
Previous Teams: None
Jersey Number: 33

Anthony enters his second season in the NFL and with the Bengals after being drafted 224th overall in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He spent five years at the college level with three different programs, starting with Division II Shepherd University (2019-20), then Liberty University (2021-22) and finally finishing at the University of Mississippi in 2023. He had a share of the team lead with three interceptions in his lone season at Ole Miss.

Cincinnati kept Anthony on the 53-man roster throughout his entire rookie season. He earned a minor role as a situational safety in the first two weeks of the season. He was infamously called for defensive pass interference in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs, an infraction that led to the Bengals losing via a field goal in the final seconds. Anthony only played four defensive snaps for the rest of the season but remained a consistent contributor on special teams.

Contract Details

Anthony is entering the second year of his four-year, $4,137,784 rookie contract he signed last year. He can earn a base salary of $960,000 this season. When adding on his signing bonus proration of $29,446, his 2025 salary cap hit is $989,446.

Roster Outlook

Anthony is not a starter nor is he a true special teams staple, but he’s still favored to make the team as one of the main backups. His experience last year under safeties coach Jordan Kovacs helps his case even with a new defensive coordinator in Al Golden leading the charge.

It’s not impossible for someone like Jaylen Key or PJ Jules to bump Anthony off the team, but it would take an unexpected preseason from all parties involved to switch up the safety room that should look very similar to last year. Anthony will remain a key backup for both Geno Stone and Jordan Battle.

Roster odds: 90%
Projected role: Backup safety

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