The Bengals signed Barnett through the NFL’s International Player Pathway program. Born in Birmingham, England, he spent three years at the NFL Academy in Leicester before a year of Division III ball at Dickinson College. Barnett will need to figure out a positional fit in Cincinnati; at 6-foot-1 and 275 pounds, he’s too small for the interior but lacks the get-off of an edge rusher.

Cross was a consistent presence on Notre Dame’s defensive line over the past four years, including second-team All-American nods in the last two under new Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden. He has an explosive first step but struggles to control encounters due to his 6-foot-1, 285-pound frame and lack of elite strength to compensate. Cross’ size may limit him in the pros, but his intangibles – handed down from his father and former Giants tight end Howard Cross – will endear him to coaches and give him a chance at a roster spot.

Etienne is a 6-foot-6, 329-pound tackle who brings a promising athletic profile to the NFL. He struggled on the right side of BYU’s offensive line in 2023 but thrived on the blindside in 2024 and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors. He has excellent length with 36-inch arms, but he has to find more ways to maximize his physical gifts with better technique and footwork.

McLaughlin spent four years at Alabama before transferring to Ohio State in 2024. As a Buckeye, he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and won the Rimington Trophy, given out annually to the best center in college football. That was despite missing the end of the season due to a torn Achilles, which required surgery and sidelined him throughout the pre-draft process. He fell out of the draft as a result, he’s an experienced, technically sound center with a reputation as a smart, dedicated worker on and off the field. With a smooth recovery, he could turn into one of the steals of the 2025 class with the potential to succeed Ted Karras as the Bengals’ starting center.