At the 2026 NFL Draft, the Bengals added a weapon in the fourth round to help Joe Burrow. The Cincinnati Bengals signed fourth-round rookie Colbie Young to a $5.16 million deal, per Over The Cap.

The 6-foot-5 Georgia standout provides Burrow with a massive target for the 2026 season. Young joins a receiving corps built on precision and catches. Offensive lineman Jalen Rivers described him by saying, "The epitome of a Bengal."

Young is 6-foot-5, 218 pounds, and teammates have said his ability to catch the ball is one of the most impressive they have ever seen. OT Amarius Mims went on to say that Young rarely drops a pass, according to Marca.

Comparisons to Tee Higgins have been inevitable, and in a Bengals offense that is built on precision and contested catches, that kind of consistency does matter. 

Young started at Lackawanna College in 2021 before transferring to Miami and then Georgia, where a broken leg cut his final season short after eight games.

From 2022 to 2025, he played in 35 games, recording 116 receptions for 1,437 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. He averaged 12.4 receiving yards per reception.

Colbie Young Fits Into Bengals Offense

Scouts analyzed Young’s tape to project his collegiate skill set.

"Young's athletic traits, play strength, and ball skills stand out, but missed games have limited his production... On tape, he uses his size, muscle, and catch radius to beat cornerbacks in tight quarters and above the rim," NFL.com's Lance Zierlein wrote.

“His speed and separation are average,” Zierlein said. “That means he’s likely to see a higher volume of contested catches at the next level.” 

His route-running needs work, but he has a chance to be more productive in the pros, given his ability to break tackles after the catch and his overall talent. 

Young caught just 26 passes for 258 yards and a touchdown in his final season at Georgia. And has the potential to provide the required aid to Burrow and learn behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

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Written by

Abhay Bharti

Edited by

Rudra Dubey