Bengals Player Profile: Josh Newton transitioning from possible starter to fighting off roster bubble
Josh Newton is entering a crucial third season in the Cincinnati Bengals’ cornerback room. He feels like a true coin-flip to stick around just one year after he was pushing for starting reps.
We’re 42 days (six weeks!) away from the Cincinnati Bengals’ preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles. As each day passes, we’ll be going over a member of the Bengals’ 90-man roster. Check out previous player profiles here.
The next name in our series has a nickname of a fruit.
Josh Newton Player Profile
Age: 25
Year: 3rd
Position: Cornerback
College: TCU
Jersey Number: 28
Josh “Fig” Newton Lew was selected with the No. 149 overall in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Bengals. Prior to the NFL, Newton spent two years (2022-23) at TCU following four years (2018-2021) at Louisiana-Monroe. His peak in college came in 2023 when he was named a team captain and led the Horned Frogs to a College Football Playoff National Championship appearance.
Newton started his Bengals career as a backup CB and would come off the bench to start the final six games of his rookie season following DJ Turner II’s season-ending injury. His experience earned him a legitimate shot at becoming a Week 1 starter in 2025, and he won that battle over Turner. That would also be one of only two starts he would make as Turner ascended over him very early on. Newton would come off the bench and play in 14 total games.
Contract details
Newton is entering the third year of his four-year, $4,357,276 rookie contract with the Bengals. His base salary for 2026 is the minimum $1,075,000 for his experience, which is also how much cash he’s making this season. When adding on his signing bonus proration of $84,319, his salary cap hit will be $1,159,319.
Roster outlook
There were plenty of Newton fans two years ago when he was drafted. That support has died down a bit as just hasn’t been enough on the field. His roster spot, as a result, is very much up for grabs leading up to Week 1.
Cincinnati has its starting outside corners in Turner and Dax Hill. Jalen Davis, Ja’Sir Taylor, and Bralyn Lux are going to be battling for the slot job. Tacario Davis was just drafted in the third round, and DJ Ivey has lasted three years as depth and a useful special teamer.
Newton is not a guarantee to last with this group. His main competition figures to be Ivey as one of the backups on the boundary. If all three nickelback options make the team, it would likely be the end of Newton’s time on the roster.
He feels like a true coin-flip to stick around.
Roster odds: 50%