Can Howard Cross III become the Bengals' next undrafted gem? It's an intriguing question, especially for fans of the Cincinnati Bengals, who are always on the lookout for hidden gems in the NFL Draft. But let's take a step back and think about it from a broader perspective. Personally, I think that Cross has the potential to be just that - an undrafted gem - but it won't be easy. What makes this particularly fascinating is the fact that Cross has already faced skepticism due to his size. At 6-foot-1 and 285 pounds, he's not the biggest defensive tackle, but he has proven that size isn't everything. In my opinion, Cross' biggest advantage is his experience playing under current Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden at Notre Dame. This gives him a unique understanding of Golden's defensive concepts, which could be a huge asset for the team. However, what many people don't realize is that Cross' success at Notre Dame wasn't just about his size. It was about his relentless motor, effort, leverage, hand usage, and football intelligence. These traits made him one of college football's most disruptive interior defenders. Now, let's consider the Bengals' current situation. The team has spent the offseason rebuilding the defensive line, and there's still room for another contributor to emerge. Cross has all the tools to become that player, but he'll need to continue developing his strength while maintaining the explosiveness that made him successful at Notre Dame. If he can do that, the Bengals may have found another overlooked talent who outplays his draft status. However, one thing that immediately stands out is the fact that Cross spent much of his rookie season on Cincinnati's practice squad. This suggests that he may need more time to develop and prove himself at the NFL level. In conclusion, while Cross has the potential to be the Bengals' next undrafted gem, it won't be easy. He'll need to continue developing his strength and explosiveness while maintaining his relentless motor and football intelligence. If he can do that, he may just outplay his draft status and become a valuable piece of the Bengals' defense. From my perspective, the key will be in his ability to adapt to the NFL level and prove that his size isn't nearly as important as his relentless motor and football intelligence.
