{"time":1777164733639,"version":"2.22.2","blocks":[{"id":"mof1zwlj","type":"video","data":{"url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/6f85f0e6-7108-4162-9d21-966cc1335982/mp4","caption":"","autoplay":false,"controls":true,"muted":false,"stretched":true,"width":0,"height":0,"image":{"url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/6f85f0e6-7108-4162-9d21-966cc1335982/thumbnail"},"cdn":{"videoId":"6f85f0e6-7108-4162-9d21-966cc1335982","libraryId":"372172","collectionId":"30032062-eefd-4041-a355-12ad05bc987b","cdnBaseUrl":"https://vz-052fc010-b27.b-cdn.net","mp4Url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/6f85f0e6-7108-4162-9d21-966cc1335982/mp4","thumbnailUrl":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/6f85f0e6-7108-4162-9d21-966cc1335982/thumbnail","previewAnimationUrl":"https://vz-052fc010-b27.b-cdn.net/6f85f0e6-7108-4162-9d21-966cc1335982/preview.webp"}}},{"id":"1y8-3UA7VE","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Cincinnati Bengals wrapped up Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft by using the 140th overall pick, acquired in a trade-down with the New York Jets, on Georgia wide receiver Colbie Young. It’s a pick with upside and baggage in equal measure, and Zac Taylor knew exactly what he was walking into."}},{"id":"_hSckHd3rb","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"“Did a lot of research on him,” Taylor said. “Pitcher went down there. I feel good about the background work we did on him. Georgia felt really confident in his character.”"}},{"id":"qwSgZ_cAZu","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"That level of specificity from a head coach on a fourth-round receiver tells you everything about what this evaluation centered on. Young was arrested on misdemeanor charges of battery and assault in October 2024, suspended from the Georgia program, and didn’t play in the team’s final nine games. The accuser later retracted her statement, the charges were dropped, and Young pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct in January 2025, receiving 12 months probation, according to Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald. "}},{"id":"_2HRfE9Y_H","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Bengals weren’t blind to the press surrounding Young. But as Taylor confirmed, the organization sent a scout down to Georgia in person to do the homework and ascertained there’s nothing to worry about."}},{"id":"3_Y6hN1Bsn","type":"embed","data":{"service":"twitter","source":"https://x.com/bengals/status/2048100887558545496?s=46","embed":"https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=2048100887558545496","width":600,"height":300,"caption":"","meta":{"title":"Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) on X","site_name":"X (formerly Twitter)","description":"We have drafted WR Colbie Young with the no. 140 overall pick.","image":{"url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HGxQwg8bEAADtrU.jpg:large"}}}},{"id":"8uiyqjIl6_","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Now let’s talk about the actual football player."}},{"id":"9ipfRcjKRL","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Young ran a 4.49 forty at 6-foot-4 and 218 pounds and earned a 9.00 relative athletic score, putting him in the 90th percentile athletically among wide receivers. That combination of size and speed doesn’t grow on trees."}},{"id":"njTWWLx7R7","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Lance Zierlein of NFL.com noted he uses his size, muscle, and catch radius to beat cornerbacks in tight quarters and above the rim, calling him a nightmare to bring down after the catch. "}},{"id":"H86exUwn2M","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The production, though, never matched the tools. Young posted 26 catches for 358 yards and a touchdown in eight appearances at Georgia in 2025 before a broken leg shut him down. His college career was one interruption after another, suspension, injury, transfers, which explains why a player with his physical profile slipped to pick 140. "}},{"id":"_Aa5qN9XNJ","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Still, the Bengals believe the tools are real and the character situation is resolved. One scout told The Athletic’s Dane Brugler during the pre-draft process: “He likes to be coached and is a student of the game. Reserved but polite. He’ll fit in any locker room.” "}},{"id":"Mvwo9Gi4IN","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Taylor also confirmed Saturday that Young is in the mix right away for the No. 3 receiver spot, competing with incumbent Andrei Iosivas. Young grew up idolizing Tee Higgins’ contested catch ability, and now he gets to learn from Higgins directly. That’s not nothing for a young receiver still developing his route tree."}},{"id":"HLhhGnQlTa","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The ceiling here is a red-zone weapon and chain-mover who wins 50-50 balls and creates yards after contact. The floor is a depth piece who never puts it together consistently enough to threaten for a starting job. At pick 140, that’s a bet worth making, as long as the Bengals did their homework. Taylor says they did."}}]}

Ayomide Adeduyite

ayoadeduyite@RoundtableIO

Sports Reporter and Analyst

Should Bengals GM Duke Tobin Really Consider DeAndre Hopkins?

NFL Announces Draft Grade for Bengals, AFC North

Bengals Facing Myles Murphy Dilemma After Major Contract Decision

Cincinnati Bengals Fans Receive Exciting NFL Draft News

Bengals RB Chase Brown Expected to Make Huge Leap in 2026

Two-time Super Bowl Champion Bryan Cook Reveals Title Goals for Bengals

Bengals Make Myles Murphy Decision Before 2026 NFL Season

Bengals GM Duke Tobin Dismisses Trey Hendrickson Talks Ahead of 2026 NFL Season

Bengals Reveal Plan for Joe Burrow’s Contract

Bengals’ Demetrius Knight Jr. Sends Message to Fans Amid Calls for Linebacker Reinforcements

Bengals GM Duke Tobin Doubles Down on Pass Rush Comments After NFL Draft

Breaking Down Every Bengals Pick From the 2026 NFL Draft

Should the Cincinnati Bengals Sign Undrafted DT Dontay Corleone?

Bryan Cook Reveals Cincinnati Bengals’ Main Goal After 2026 NFL Draft

Cincinnati Bengals Expect Tacario Davis to Compete for Starting CB Spot

Zac Taylor Sends Message After Bengals Draft Wide Receiver

Bengals Announce Draft-Day Trade With Jets

Bengals Drafted Tee Higgins Six Years Ago Today

Did the Cincinnati Bengals Make a Mistake Trading the No. 10 Pick for Dexter Lawrence?

Cincinnati Bengals Can’t Afford to Waste Pick 41: Here’s Who They Should Take