The Cincinnati Bengals’ comprehensive roster breakdown continues, drawing focus to cornerback DJ Ivey, who is steadily establishing himself as an increasingly vital depth piece entering his crucial third professional season. As the team gears up for the 2025 campaign, understanding the contributions of developing players like Ivey is essential to projecting the defensive unit’s strength and strategic flexibility.
Drafted 246th overall in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Ivey arrived in Cincinnati after a significant collegiate career at Miami. Over five years with the Hurricanes, he participated in 58 games, starting 32, where he showcased his coverage skills by recording 17 passes defensed and securing six interceptions, demonstrating his potential as an NFL cornerback.
Ivey successfully made the Bengals’ roster as a rookie, immediately contributing by playing in eight games, with defensive snaps in five of those contests. However, his promising trajectory was abruptly halted when a torn ACL sidelined him for the final three games of his rookie season and the initial six games of the 2024 season, posing a significant challenge to his early career development.
Demonstrating remarkable resilience, DJ Ivey returned from the Physically Unable to Perform list in 2024, playing in all 11 remaining games upon his activation. His ability to recover and quickly reintegrate into the defensive scheme underscored his commitment and readiness to contribute, providing crucial snaps for the Cincinnati Bengals in the latter half of the season.
Financially, Ivey is entering the third year of his four-year, $3,920,656 rookie contract, signed in 2023. For the upcoming 2025 season, his base salary stands at $1.03 million, and with the addition of his $20,164 signing bonus proration, his total salary cap hit for the Bengals amounts to $1,050,164, representing a valuable asset given his role.
While his highest single-game defensive snap count stands at 14, and he has only reached double-digit snaps twice, Ivey has strategically positioned himself as one of the top five cornerbacks on the Bengals roster. His consistent performance and dedication have elevated his standing within the team’s defensive hierarchy, highlighting his growing importance beyond snap counts.
Beyond his defensive contributions, DJ Ivey also offers substantial value on special teams, a critical aspect of weekly NFL activity. He was on pace to surpass 300 special teams snaps had he not suffered his injury in 2024, underscoring his versatility and the coaching staff’s trust in his abilities across various phases of the game.
Early indications from training camp suggest Ivey has made a strongly positive impression, with an equally promising preseason expected to create compelling dynamics within the depth chart. The question of whether he will emerge as the primary backup cornerback or if his usage will remain situational looms, yet his status as a roster lock for the Cincinnati Bengals is unequivocally secure. His continued development is key for the team’s secondary depth.
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