Bengals Player Profile: Swayze Bozeman is Cincinnati’s only veteran addition at linebacker
While he doesn’t have much experience playing in an NFL defense, Swayze Bozeman has the special teams chops to compete for a 53-man roster spot.
We’re 58 days away from the Cincinnati Bengals’ preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles. We’re profiling every player on the Bengals’ 90-man roster leading up to the end of the preseason and final cuts. Check out previous player profiles here.
Our next player in the series was a former preseason hero from a few years ago.
Swayze Bozeman Player Profile
Age: 27
Year: 2nd
Position: Linebacker
College: Southern Miss
Jersey Number: 47
Swayze Bozeman was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Kansas City Chiefs following the 2024 NFL Draft. Prior to the NFL, he spent five years at Southern Miss after transferring from Copiah–Lincoln Community College.
Kansas City kept Bozeman on its practice squad for all of 2024, and elevated him to the active roster for three games. He was elevated for all three of the Chiefs’ postseason games as well, including their Super Bowl LVIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. In total, he played 117 snaps for K.C. as a rookie, with most coming on special teams.
The Chicago Bears signed Bozeman to a futures contract days after the Super Bowl. Chicago kept him on its offseason roster up until final cuts. The New York Giants signed him to their practice squad and played him in six games. He was waived in the middle of the season, but brought back after a few days. He played 139 snaps for the Giants, again, mostly on special teams.
New York released Bozeman back in May, and Cincinnati claimed him off waivers the next day.
Contract details
Bozeman signed a futures deal with the Giants at the start of the offseason, and the Bengals are inheriting it. His contract is for one-year, $1,075,000. His base salary, cash figure, and salary cap hit for 2026 is the same $1,075,000 amount.
Roster outlook
While he doesn’t have much experience playing in an NFL defense, Bozeman has cut his teeth on special teams for two different clubs. That’s going to be his best way of making the 53-man roster anyways.
Oren Burks might be tough for Bozeman to overtake as the primary backup. Joe Giles-Harris and Shaka Heyward are the two names who should be very aware of his presence. That may be a three-way battle for two roster spots come August.
Roster odds: 30%