Bengals Rookie Minicamp: UDFA linebacker can make a strong first impression in Cincinnati's defense

Friday will be the first time we see the newest Cincinnati Bengals players in uniform.

Well, at least in practice jerseys.

Rookie minicamp will last just one day for the Bengals' 10 draft picks and several more undrafted free agents. We've already covered the bulk of the draft picks, but what about those who went undrafted? The Bengals have unofficially agreed to terms with at least 14 UDFAs following the NFL Draft. 

Here are three of those UDFAs to keep an eye on Friday. 

Aaron Casey, LB, Indiana

As one of two linebackers Cincinnati reportedly added after the draft, Casey had a pretty decent chance of being drafted in the first place. He barely made the cut for Arif Hasan's Consensus Big Board as the 23rd-ranked LB following an extensive run at Indiana. His final two years with the Hoosiers were his best as he emerged as the starting MIKE linebacker. 

After leading the defense in tackles in 2022, he was voted as a team captain and, per The Athletic's Dane Brugler, was chosen to wear the #44 jersey to represent Indiana alum George Taliaferro, who was the first African American to become an NFL draft pick. He had an even better season in 2023 with greater expectations bestowed upon him.

Casey surely checks the character boxes the Bengals look for, and with potential two spots on the roster open at linebacker, this is his first chance to make a good impression towards making the team.

Cole Burgess, WR, SUNY Cortland

You will have trouble finding more explosive players than Burgess. The Greenwich, CN native clocked an unreal 1.43 10-yard split during the pre-draft cycle and leaped 11'5" (137 inches!) on the broad jump at 192 pounds. He could've been 10 pounds lighter and those numbers would've been equally insane.

Burgess is more than just an athlete, too. He set his school's single season receiving record with 1,375 yards and 16 touchdowns on 87 receptions in 2023. SUNY Cortland is also where Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher played quarterback in college.

Burgess' speed and explosion were made to dominate in the Summer against shirts and shorts. He will run under deep passes faster than most cornerbacks going up against him. For a team looking for more athletes like him, he's arriving in Cincinnati at the right time. 

Austin McNamara, P, Texas Tech

Hey, punters practice, too. McNamara was nearly drafted by the Bengals in the seventh round before quickly agreeing to terms with the club following the draft. His case for being drafted is arguably the strongest out of his fellow UDFAs in Cincy.  

The Bengals may not want to give up on last year's sixth-round pick Brad Robbins just yet, unless McNamara blows him out of the water this Summer. Keep in mind that Cincinnati has had three different punters the last two years, and the previous two incumbents each lost out eventually. 

Is Robbins' run at punter ending after just one year? McNamara will begin that push on Friday.