Throughout the summer leading up to the regular season, we will go through the entire 2024 Cincinnati Bengals roster. Every single day until the season opener against the New England Patriots , we will break down a player on the roster including his background, contract status, and path towards making the team.
Today, we're getting to know rookie wide receiver Cole Burgess. He's only been on the team for about two months, but he's already one of the most explosive players to ever wear a Bengals practice jersey. His incredible athleticism should help him make an interesting roster case this summer.
Cole Burgess
- Age: 24
- Year: 1st
- Position: Wide receiver
- College: SUNY Cortland
- Previous Teams: None
- Jersey Number: 17
Burgess signed with the Bengals as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. He quickly developed at Division III Cortland and led the team in receiving as a true sophomore in 2019. What happened after was far less fortunate. His 2020 season was wiped out due to COVID and he missed the entire 2021 season after being suspended two semesters for throwing a Halloween party during the pandemic.
Two years had passed since Burgess played a snap of football, but he picked up right where he left off in 2022 by leading the team in receiving touchdowns. He saved his best season for last in 2023, posting program records in all major receiving categories and becoming the most productive receiver in Cortland history as the Red Dragons won their first national title. Burgess followed the season with impressive pro day results (1.43 10-yard split, 137" broad jump) but ultimately went undrafted in a deep receiver class.
Contract details
Burgess signed a three-year college free agent deal with the Bengals in May that will pay him the minimum salary for the 2024 season.
His salary will cost $795,000 for the entire season if he's kept on the team for the entire regular season, but with a $15,000 signing bonus prorated throughout the deal, his cap hit as of now is $800,000 for the year.
Roster chances
Burgess is one of the more exciting UDFAs on the team this year, but his path to the initial 53-man roster isn't going to be easy. He's working against at least six receivers who are virtually guaranteed to make the team, and another three are above him in terms of experienced in the system. It will take nothing short of a phenomenal preseason and multiple injuries for Burgess to have a chance at making the team.
What should keep Burgess in the building, beyond his incredible athleticism, is his connection with offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher. The two are Cortland alumni as Pitcher was a quarterback for the Red Dragons from 2008-11. Pitcher's familiarity with the program gave Cincinnati an edge on scouting Burgess and bringing him altogether.
Pitcher can hypothetically lobby for Burgess to make the team all he wants, but even he knows another more proven wideout will be cut due to that decision. The path for Burgess to make the team doesn't exist... yet.
Chances of making the roster: 5%
Previous player breakdowns
Related: Bengals Roster Breakdown: Rocky Lombardi arrives at firmly established quarterback room in Cincinnati
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