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 take a look at edge defender Jeff Gunter. One of just six draft picks from the Bengals’ 2022 NFL Draft class, the former seventh-round selection has remained with the club entering his third season. But are his days numbered in the Queen City?
Jeff Gunter
- Age: 25
- Year: 3rd
- Position: Edge defender
- College: Coastal Carolina
- Previous Teams: None
- Jersey Number: 93
Gunter was drafted by the Bengals with the 252nd overall pick (10 away from Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy) in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He was drafted out of Coastal Carolina, where he played for four years. Following a breakout season in his sophomore year when he earned First Team All-Sun Belt honors and led the team with 14 tackles for loss, he committed a transfer to Syracuse before switching to NC State, which is next to where he grew up.
But not even his hometown college could keep him as Gunter transferred back to CCU for 2020. He earned First Team All-Sun Belt honors again that season after leading the entire FBS in forced fumbles with six(!). Another productive year in 2021 capped off an impressive four-year run in college that got him drafted later than expected to Cincinnati.
Gunter not only made the Bengals’ initial 53-man roster as a rookie, he saw action in 10 games that season. That momentum was stifled the following offseason as he was waived leading up to the 2023 season. He was signed back to the practice squad where he remained for the entire season.
Contract details
Gunter signed a one-year futures deal with the Bengals back in January that will pay him the minimum salary for a player with his level of experience.
His salary will cost $915,00 for the entire season if he’s kept on the team for the entire regular season, and his cap hit for the year is the same amount.
Roster chances
Competition should be running high at the bottom of the Cincinnati’s depth chart at edge. Cam Sample and Joseph Ossai have been holding onto roster spots for longer than Gunter’s been around the team, but with one year remaining on their respective deals, this could be the year for a new face to take one of the five spots.
Gunter’s main competition for that fifth and likely final edge spot figures to be rookie Cedric Johnson, drafted in the sixth round this past April. Johnson is still just 21 years old and is packaged with better athleticism than Gunter brings to the table. There might be more incentive to give Johnson a shot considering he’s on a four-year deal.
The most likely scenario is Sample and Ossai outlast Gunter and Co. for those spots, and Gunter will have to earn a practice squad spot once more. Raymond Johnson III showed last year that even a dominant preseason sometimes isn’t enough to create shockwaves on the roster. Injuries are always going to be what opens doors. Gunter will likely need something he can’t control to happen.
Chances of making the roster: 20%
Previous player breakdowns
- Kwamie Lassiter II
- Domenique Davis
- Nate Gilliam
- Shaka Heyward
- Jaxson Kirkland
- Devin Cochran
- Justin Blazek
- Tre Mosley
- Cam Grandy
- PJ Jules
- Eric Miller
- Michael Dowell
- Lance Robinson
- Noah Cain
- Elijah Collins
- Rocky Lombardi
- Cole Burgess
- Aaron Casey
- Maema Njongmeta
- Austin McNamara
- Devonnsha Maxwell
- Matt Lee
- Daijahn Anthony
- Cedric Johnson
- Tanner McLachlan
- Josh Newton
- Travis Bell
- Allan George
- Shedrick Jackson
