The Cincinnati Bengals didn’t have many surprises during the stretch of OTAs and minicamp.
Joe Burrow was in town doing the expected stuff with his cast of weapons and a fully returning offensive line. With its new faces, the defense had a positive, quiet stretch.
Maybe one of the most notable exceptions, though, was cornerback Josh Newton, who just got a spotlight from ESPN’s Ben Baby as the biggest surprise player of the stretch.
“The third-year cornerback filled in as an outside corner and had an interception in a 7-on-7 period, Joe Burrow’s lone offseason blemish,” Baby wrote. “Newton hasn’t really been considered a viable option at that spot, but he might have put himself in the discussion as a depth player at outside cornerback behind Dax Hill and DJ Turner.”
We’ll see if Newton can turn the corner and secure a spot on the depth chart for himself.
The fifth-round pick from 2024 was an option to be a slot starter but hasn’t emerged there. This offseason, the Bengals signed Ja’Sir Taylor in free agency for that role to compete with Newton and Jalen Davis.
Players cross-training at different spots during this time of year isn’t a shocker. But for Newton, showcasing the versatility to go inside-out will dramatically improve his chances at getting on the field, never mind making the final 53 if the competition gets really serious during training camp.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals’ biggest recent surprise shakes up depth chart outlook
Reporting by Chris Roling, Bengals Wire / Bengals Wire
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By Chris Roling, Bengals Wire | USA TODAY Network
