They don't play the games in April, but if they did, the Cincinnati Bengals would feature a 53-man roster with plenty to prove. 

Cincinnati officially added six rookies from the 2025 NFL Draft and unofficially 14 from college free agency. More roster moves will come in time, and the unpredictability of training camp will reshape the landscape even more. Until then, let's take a crack at what the Bengals' roster will look like when Week 1 rolls around.

Note: Players with a single asterisk (*) are 2025 draft picks and players with double asterisks (**) are 2025 undrafted free agents.

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Quarterback (2)

IN: Joe Burrow, Jake Browning
OUT: Logan Woodside, Payton Thorne**

The skinny: Everyone welcome Thorne to a finished room. Browning is not relinquishing his spot as Burrow's backup without a draft pick dedicated to competing with him for it.

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Running back (4)

IN: Chase Brown, Samaje Perine, Zack Moss, Tahj Brooks*
OUT: Kendall Milton, Gary Brightwell, Quali Conley**

The skinny: For most years it felt like going four tailbacks was too much considering the quality of the room. Now that the group is legitimately four-deep with talent, it feels right. Brooks will look to work his way up to No. 2 status behind Brown this summer. 

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Wide receiver (6)

IN: Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas, Charlie Jones, Jermaine Burton, Isaiah Williams
OUT: Cole Burgess, Kendric Pryor, Mitchell Tinsley, Jordan Moore**, Jamoi Mayes**, Rashod Owens**

The skinny: The Burton variable remains at large. Cincinnati brought in a handful of UDFAs to battle for a final roster spot, and if last year's third-round pick doesn't step up in a big way, who knows how the back half of the group looks like. Williams should have the edge as the sixth guy until further notice.

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Tight end (4)

IN: Drew Sample, Mike Gesicki, Cam Grandy, Tanner McLachlan
OUT: Tanner Hudson, Kole Taylor**
INJURY LIST: Erick All Jr.

The skinny: There are expectations for McLachlan to look like a more well-rounded tight end and if he can hold his own, there's a contractual advantage to keeping him over Hudson. They kept five last year so it's not out the question to do the same again, but four is the safer projection for now. All will eventually go on Injured Reserve as he recovers for 2026.

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Offensive line (9)

IN: Orlando Brown Jr. (LT), Dylan Fairchild* (LG), Ted Karras (C), Lucas Patrick (RG), Amarius Mims (RT), Cody Ford, Jalen Rivers*, Matt Lee, Jaxson Kirkland
OUT: Cordell Volson, Devin Cochran, Andrew Coker, Andrew Stueber, Tashawn Manning, Seth McLaughlin**, Caleb Etienne**

The skinny: Fairchild will have every chance to do what Volson did three years ago and emerge as the starting left guard. The specific names he battles for are to be decided, but Patrick played right guard last year for the New Orleans Saints so slotting him there makes sense for now. Ford and Rivers being swing backups with Lee behind Karras makes total sense, and Kirkland as the ninth instead of a more expensive Volson does as well. McLaughlin is already a fan favorite but his Achilles injury will stunt his chances of pushing Lee off the team this year.

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Defensive line (10)

IN: Trey Hendrickson (DE), B.J. Hill (DT), T.J. Slaton (NT), Myles Murphy (DE), Joseph Ossai, Shemar Stewart*, Kris Jenkins Jr., McKinnley Jackson, Cedric Johnson, Howard Cross III**
OUT: Cam Sample, Isaiah Thomas, Raymond Johnson III, Eric Gregory**, Dante Barnett**

The skinny: I had 11 jotted down here assuming a draft pick would be spent on a defensive tackle. Instead, three UDFAs are expected to provide depth this summer at a position with plenty of question marks. I think Cross has the best chance out of this entire class of college free agents to make it through factoring in his connection with defensive coordinator Al Golden. Sample and Johnson figure to be the two fighting the most for a spot, and despite Sample getting name-dropped by Golden this weekend, it makes more sense to keep Johnson and his rookie contract. 

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Linebacker (5)

IN: Logan Wilson, Demetrius Knight Jr.*, Barrett Carter*, Oren Burks, Maema Njongmeta
OUT: Germaine Pratt, Shaka Heyward, Craig Young, Joe Giles-Harris

The skinny: Pratt's time in Cincinnati is short with both Knight and Carter coming to town. The drafting of two backers will also make it tougher for Njongmeta and Heyward to both make the team. The former gets the nod for me since he played an entire season's worth of special teams last year.

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Cornerback (6)

IN: Dax Hill, DJ Turner, Josh Newton, Cam Taylor-Britt, DJ Ivey, Marco Wilson
OUT: Jalen Davis, Micah Abrahan, Nate Brooks, Lance Robinson, Bralyn Lux**

The skinny: Figuring out the starting duo and trio here will be fascinating so don't pay too much attention to Taylor-Britt being fourth in the order here. Ivey is well liked in the building and Wilson was retained early in free agency. 

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Safety (4)

IN: Geno Stone, Jordan Battle, Tycen Anderson, Daijahn Anthony
OUT: PJ Jules, Jaylen Key, Shaquan Loyal**

The skinny: What an important season this will be for Stone. Still just 26 years old and entering another contract year, the Bengals are rolling with him despite a new DC taking over. I have to think Anderson will get looks if Stone falters early on in the year, but this is an easy four to project. 

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Specialists (3)

IN: Evan McPherson (K), Ryan Rehkow (P), Cal Adomitis (LS)
OUT: William Wagner**

The skinny: Wagner was arguably the best long snapper to leave the college ranks this year, so there's some potential competition for Adomitis.  

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Final Word

Positions such as QB, RB, S, and ST feel very easy to project four months into the future. Everything else has real potential to change. Injuries are inevitable, and surprise stories from undrafted names are always welcome. There will always be an unexpected cut or two as well.

That's what July and August are for, but first, the Bengals will kickoff rookie minicamp and OTAs in May.