Howard Cross

Bengals signed DL Howard Cross III.

The son of the longtime New York Giants tight end, Cross III (6’1/285) arrived on campus in 2019 and spent three seasons starting for the Irish as a pugnacious, undersized three tech. He emerged as a force to be reckoned with in 2023, recording an eye-popping 66 tackles and 39 pressures with a phenomenal 90th percentile defensive grade en route to being named Second Team All-American. Cross III entered 2024 as a potential Day 2 selection, but he failed to capitalize on that momentum, as his production dropped to a 71st percentile defensive grade with his pressure and stop totals being cut in half despite playing the same amount of reps. While quick with active and loaded hands, Cross III stalls out when latched onto by blockers and gets washed out in run defense. Cross III is squat and light for three tech work at the NFL level, but his high motor and NFL bloodline means he will likely get a shot to make it in the pros. Joining former DC Al Golden in Cincinnati probably won’t hurt his odds of making the roster.