(Editor’s Note: Dale Altman is a friend of Cincy Jungle and our podcast network. He is one of the hosts of the highly entertaining Bengals & Brews podcast, as well as an NFL Draft analyst. He and his co-hosts have long been supporters of the site and our associated shows, and we are happy to share his respected insights on a couple of rookies the Bengals signed as UDFAs.
Altman has recently become a trusted source for draft evaluations, averaging an 85% accuracy rate on his top-100 prospects and where those players were ultimately selected over the past two years. In addition to his successful podcast and draft work, Altman is also a founder of Project Game Dey, a charitable initiative aimed at sending military veterans and individuals with disabilities to Bengals games.
If you would like a copy of Altman’s comprehensive 2025 Draft Guide, you can message him directly on X @BengalsBrews or @DaleAltman. We will also be publishing it here on Cincy Jungle for your reference.)**
One of the first players to sign an undrafted free agent contract with the Cincinnati Bengals after the NFL Draft was Howard Cross III from Notre Dame. Cross wrapped up his sixth and final season at Notre Dame by helping the team reach the National Championship Game.
Al Golden has to be excited to bring one of his former team leaders from Notre Dame with him to Cincinnati—especially considering the Bengals didn’t use any draft capital on the position. Golden coached Cross for three of his six college seasons, and now that relationship will continue in the Queen City.
Howard Cross III
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 285
Age: 23 (turning 24 on July 31, 2025)
Year: 6th-year Senior
RAS: 4.69
Background
Howard Cross III is the son of Howard Cross Jr., who played 13 seasons with the New York Giants as a tight end. During his time with the Giants, he appeared in two Super Bowls, winning one. Howard Cross III was encouraged to play multiple sports growing up but always had the most passion for the one his father played—football.
In high school, he was not only a 4-star football recruit but also a state champion wrestler at Saint Joseph Regional in New Jersey. On the football field, he earned numerous accolades, finishing his senior season as a first-team All-State selection and being named the New Jersey Player of the Year. He ultimately committed to Notre Dame, choosing them over his other two finalists, Duke and Michigan.
In 2023, he began gaining recognition as a legitimate NFL prospect. That season, he was considered one of the biggest risers on the Senior Bowl board by then-executive director Jim Nagy. He finished the year with 66 tackles, 2 sacks, and 39 pressures, which ranked 8th out of 143 defensive tackles who played at least 50 percent of the required snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
Even though his draft stock was rising, he chose to return to Notre Dame for a sixth and final season. Despite playing through injury down the stretch and into the playoffs, he helped lead Notre Dame to the National Championship Game. His tackle production dipped in 2024, but he still posted career highs in tackles for loss (5.5) and sacks (4).
He was recognized as a second-team All-American in both 2023 and 2024. It’s also worth noting that he faced frequent double teams and played out of position as a nose tackle for the majority of his snaps during his time in South Bend.
His NFL projection is to play primarily as a 3-technique defensive tackle. The combination of decreased tackle production, injury, and size limitations likely contributed to him going undrafted this year.
Strengths
Strong hands/surprising power at the point of attack
Experience (2200+ snaps played at Notre Dame)
Wrestling background shows up with leverage and hand usage
Play recognition and awareness
High effort player
Athleticism (4.69 RAS)
Quick first step
Team captain in 2024
Weaknesses
Undersized for the Defensive Tackle position
Can get washed out against double teams
An ankle injury forced him to miss 3 games during the 2024 season and limited his
Effectiveness down the stretch of the season once he came back from injury
Outlook
Howard Cross III joins the Bengals as an undrafted free agent after a stellar career with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. His familiarity with Al Golden, along with the fact that the Bengals did not select a defensive tackle during this year’s draft, are two key reasons I believe he has a legitimate shot to make the 53-man roster. At a minimum, I expect him to be part of the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad during the 2025 season.
He has always been considered undersized, and many of his perceived limitations as a prospect stem from that. Still, I have a hard time betting against a player with his passion and work ethic. He’s definitely someone to watch closely during training camp and the preseason.