Seth McLaughlin was trending toward being a mid-round draft selection prior to tearing his Achilles in November. Can he make a push for a 53-man roster spot with the Bengals?
(Editor’s Note: Dale Altman is a friend of Cincy Jungle and our podcast network. He is one of the hosts of the highly entertaining Bengals & Brews podcast, as well as an NFL Draft analyst. He and his co-hosts have long been supporters of the site and our associated shows, and we are happy to share his respected insights on a couple of rookies the Bengals signed as UDFAs.
Altman has recently become a trusted source for draft evaluations, averaging an 85% accuracy rate on his top-100 prospects and where those players were ultimately selected over the past two years. In addition to his successful podcast and draft work, Altman is also a founder of Project Game Dey, a charitable initiative aimed at sending military veterans and individuals with disabilities to Bengals games.
If you would like a copy of Altman’s comprehensive 2025 Draft Guide, you can message him directly on X @BengalsBrews or @DaleAltman. We will also be publishing it here on Cincy Jungle for your reference.)**
Seth McLaughlin spent four seasons at Alabama before transferring to Ohio State in 2024. He won the Rimington Award, given to the best center in college football, despite suffering a torn Achilles tendon that ended his season early in November.
Due to the uncertainty surrounding his injury, he went undrafted and was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent.
Seth McLaughlin
- Height: 6’4”
- Weight: 304
- Age: 23
- Year: 5th -year Senior
- RAS: **Did Not Test/Injured
Background
Seth McLaughlin was a 3-star recruit and the lowest-rated recruit in Alabama’s class that season. Despite that, he worked his way into a starting role by the end of his redshirt freshman season.
He went on to start 24 games at center during his time with the Crimson Tide. In 2024, he entered the transfer portal and quickly landed at Ohio State.
He was playing the best football of his career during the 2024 season before suffering a torn Achilles during practice in mid-November. Even after the injury, he demonstrated leadership and character by staying with the team and helping them prepare for the remainder of the season and the College Football Playoff.
That preparation paid off when Ohio State went on to win the National Championship. Seth was also recognized for his performance prior to the injury, winning the Rimington Award, earning All-Big Ten honors, and being named a consensus All-American.
Despite the injury, Seth was still viewed as a potential Day 3 draft pick. However, he went undrafted and was later signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cincinnati Bengals. He is expected to make a full recovery and has stated he is on schedule to be cleared for full contact by July.
Strengths
- Patient and in control at all times as a blocker
- Experience (started 34 games at center)
- Blocking on the move and at the second level
- Only allowed seven total pressures and zero sacks in 2024
- Popular team leader
- Academic and Football IQ
- Rimington Award winner, although he only played 10 games, First-team Big Ten, and was a consensus All-American in 2024
Weaknesses
- Arm length (31”)
- Snap issues during his last season at Alabama in 2023
- Positional versatility is limited (he has played exclusively at center)
- Torn Achilles in November 2024
- Older prospect (will turn 24 in August)
- Questions about his lower body strength
Outlook
The Bengals should be thrilled to land a player with the talent, leadership, and football IQ that Seth McLaughlin possesses as an undrafted free agent. If it weren’t for his injury, he likely would have been drafted in the third or fourth round.
How quickly he can get healthy and return to the form he showed with the Buckeyes in 2024 will likely determine whether he has a realistic chance to compete for a spot on the 53-man roster or if he ends up competing more for a practice squad spot in his first season.
Either way, I expect the Bengals to keep McLaughlin around, and I can see him being in the mix a year or two from now to contend for a starting spot at center.
