Undrafted Free Agents 2017: Bengals announce college free agent signings, tryouts

The Cincinnati Bengals have announced their list of undrafted free agents signed following the 2017 NFL Draft.

The list is headlined by Illinois linebacker Hardy Nickerson, Kentucky running back Stanley ‘Boom’ Williams, Penn State linebacker Brandon Bell, and Colorado defensive tackle Josh Tupou. All of these players had draftable grades this year, but they all went undrafted and will now try to earn roster spots in Cincinnati.

Most of these players have already signed a deal, but some of them are only coming for tryouts while hoping to earn a contract after the conclusion of rookie minicamp, taking place through Sunday. Not all players who are in Cincinnati on a tryout basis this weekend have been announced, just three players with local ties. Those players are quarterback Tyler O’Connor of Michigan State, who is from Lima, Ohio (Lima Central Catholic High School), cornerback Brandon Neal of Thomas More, who is from Cincinnati (Lakota West High School) and attended Thomas More College and center Joe Spencer of Illinois, who is from Mason, Ohio (Mason High School).

The next round of OTA workouts are from May 22-25. That’s when a lot of these rookies will get their first taste of the NFL as they look to show they belong in this league. While undrafted free agents don’t draw nearly as much fanfare as draft picks, the Bengals usually find at least one quality player who didn’t hear his name called during the draft.

Recently undrafted free agents who made the Bengals’ 53-man roster as rookies include Ryan Hewitt, Alex Erickson, Troy Hill and Vontaze Burfict.

Here is the entire list of undrafted free agent signings and the tryouts that have been confirmed so far:

*Player receiving tryout and has not yet been signed to a deal.