4 Bengals UDFAs who can make a difference in 2022

Making the Cincinnati Bengals squad as an Undrafted Rookie Free Agent this year will be a monumental task but there are a few who can make a difference in 2022.

There is not much room for error for the UDFA class of 2022 but that does not mean a contribution to the Cincinnati Bengals‘ success from one or more rookie free agents is impossible. After the dust settles, a few will find themselves on the practice squad or the final 53.

Here are four players who could be called upon and how they can make an impact this year.

All stats courtesy of FOX Sports

Kendric Pryor

While Kwamie Lassiter II is grabbing the headlines, there is another receiver to whom you need to pay close attention. For now, Kendric Pryor is flying under the radar. However, expect that to change soon.

Pryor, the former Badger wideout, reportedly ran a 4.38 40 at his pro day.

Pryor has excellent hands and plays with confidence. He does not look like a blazer when you watch him but that is because the wideout looks so smooth. He has quick feet and is very shifty in tight spaces. Both of those qualities show up when the ball is in his hands. He was used a lot on jet sweeps and the underneath passing game.

Wisconsin got the ball in his hands quickly. As a result, Cincinnati may use him in the slot even though he was primarily on the outside at Wisconsin.

While with the Badgers, Pryor accumulated 99 receptions and 1,265 yards receiving. He also averaged 10.2 yards a carry on 40 rushing attempts. Receiving + Rushing = Versatility. Additionally, he is a tough and willing run blocker, so — even more versatility.

When it comes to not having the most eye-popping statistics, Pryor is a bit like running back Chris Evans. He made the most of the limited opportunities he was given and once the ball was in his hands, you saw his talent.

Some of his talents were witnessed firsthand by first-round pick Dax Hill when Pryor was able to make a few nice plays against a stingy Michigan defense.

Pryor has the speed, quickness, and toughness to play on special teams. If he can make some plays there, he might get a few reps on offense at some point during the season, thus allowing him to make an impact in 2022.

Kwamie Lassiter II

Speaking of the aforementioned Kwamie Lassiter II, he has a chance to make an impact sooner rather than later. The former Kansas receiver has been receiving praise throughout Bengals nation for a whole now and rightfully so.

It should come as no surprise though. Like Pryor, Lassiter II plays with confidence, has strong hands, and is an excellent down-the-field blocker. Also, like Pryor, he spent the majority of his time on the outside.

What he has over Pryor and some other receivers he will be competing against is his experience with returning punts. He averaged 13.5 yards per return in his final season with the Jayhawks. That will immediately make him an option for the final roster.

At the time, no one imagined that T.J. Houshmandzadeh would be one of the best Bengals receivers in history. After all, he was sitting behind established starter Darnay Scott, former first-pick Peter Warrick, and fellow 2001 rookie and second-round pick Chad Johnson.

Lassiter II can make an impact similar to Houshmandzadeh. That is to say, he can go from late round/undrafted to making the team primarily as a special teamer and eventually work his way up the depth chart to become a more significant part of the offense.

That does not mean that he is going to be Houshmandzadeh. However, we have seen a late-round receiver with similar skill sets have a trajectory comparable to the path Lassiter II is looking to take and he is already impressing.

Clarence Hicks

Last season at UTSA, Clarence Hick had 16.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. Those numbers are the best single-season totals among all current Bengals defenders heading into their rookie year. Hicks offers something most of the Bengals linebackers do not: a potential elite-level pass rushing ability from the linebacker position.

As a linebacker, Hicks will be asked to play some in coverage. He can and has, but that is not his forte and it may not have to be. The Bengals seem to be loading up on defenders who can get to the quarterback from different areas of the field. For now, Hicks may be the best option for creating pressure from the linebacker spot.

Of course, we may look at that differently if players like Wyatt Hubert or Joseph Ossai are listed as linebackers in the future. For now, however, they are classified as defensive ends, which opens the door for Hicks to bring something different to the linebacker’s room.

What about his versatility? Sometimes a player does not need to be versatile. If you can be elite at one thing, do that. If Hicks can be consistently a disruptive force in the offensive backfield and contribute on special teams, that should be enough to get him on the field in 2022.

Brendan “Bookie” Radley-Hiles

Trent McDuffie and Kyler Gordon grabbed all the headlines as far as Washington Huskies defensive backs are concerned. However, the starting slot corner for the Huskies was Brendan Radley-Hiles.

Radley-Hiles is currently listed as a safety/corner on the Bengals’ official website. He was used primarily as a slot corner while playing for Washington. However, his versatility will give him an advantage if he can show he can make plays from the safety position.

As with Hicks, Radley-Hiles has the ability to make plays in the offensive backfield. He played the same role for the Huskies as Dax Hill played for the Wolverines. Radley-Hiles can cover receivers, tight ends, backs out of the backfield, and blitz from the slot corner position.

Radley-Hiles is also in the mode of Mike Hilton. The depth chart behind Hilton and Hill at slot corner is up for grabs. If Hill is used more in a safety role or even a boundary corner role, that could open up an opportunity for a corner who thrives in the slot and provides depth at safety. Also, special teams are a must.

It will not be easy, but there is a path for some of the UDFA’s to make the team and contribute this year.

Who Dey?!