The undrafted free agent with the best chance at making the Bengals' roster has just one player to beat in a competition
The Cincinnati Bengals signed 13 college free agents following the 2025 NFL Draft. The vast majority of them will simply hope to make the practice squad by the end of the offseason as making the initial 53-man roster is a challenge only a select few can realistically accomplish without luck on their side. Long snapper […]
The Cincinnati Bengals signed 13 college free agents following the 2025 NFL Draft. The vast majority of them will simply hope to make the practice squad by the end of the offseason as making the initial 53-man roster is a challenge only a select few can realistically accomplish without luck on their side.
Long snapper William Wagner doesn't necessarily need luck. He just needs to be better than Cal Adomitis, the only other long snapper on the roster.
Wagner, the University of Michigan's long snapper for the past five years, joins the Bengals the same way Adomitis did three years ago. The former UDFA signing in 2022 did not win the job as a rookie, but Adomitis took it over regardless due to injury in Week 2 of that season.
Adomitis has been without true competition ever since. He will get a battle with Wagner, as the coaching staff intends on facilitating one.
Zac Taylor lays out Bengals' long snapper battle
Cincinnati extended Adomitis' contract for another year early in the offseason, but there's no guaranteed money coming his way and the Bengals don't owe him a dime if he doesn't make the team. That was a sign from the club, and the signing of Wagner, rated as the top long snapper from this year's NFL Draft class according to The Athletic's Dane Brugler, sealed the deal.
Head coach Zac Taylor, in conjunction with special teams coordinator Darrion Simmons, will let Adomitis and Wagner go mano a mano this summer for the job.
"We're excited, Darrin's excited. That's a great competition for us to have," Taylor said to reporters. "We want competition across the board, long snapper's no different. William has come in with great attitude, ready to compete. Cal will be the same way, and so we'll just see how that transpires."
Special teams is an area the Bengals can improve in 2025, specifically with field goals. Placekicker Evan McPherson's struggles prior to his season-ending injury are mostly on his shoulders, but the operation of the entire battery can be put under the microscope as well. Adomitis' snapping, Ryan Rehkow's holding, and the overall timing of the trio was never established with any firm consistency.
All three are back and two with new contracts to boot, but only Adomitis has a competitor on the team to fend off. If Wagner's presence doesn't elevate his performance, Adomitis is easily the most likely to be booted from the trio.
How much Adomitis and Wagner rotate reps throughout the offseason will be worth monitoring. A true battle would feature both players getting equal opportunity, but chemistry is also critical for the unit's success. Will inserting Wagner into the equation become harmful for both McPherson and Rehkow? That's certainly a risk with this approach.
But Wagner would not have signed in Cincinnati if there wasn't a job to win. The draft's top long snapper should have first choice at open competition around the league, and he landed on the Bengals. That says a lot.
There are more well-known UDFAs on the Bengals' roster such as Seth McLaughlin and Eric Greogry. Wagner has a better shot than any of them to stay on the team simply because of what's in front of him, and the assurance of competition from his new head coach.
Let the best snapper win.
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